DA officials admit fertilizer scam documents missing
By Marvin Sy And Jess Diaz
The Philippine Star 12/07/2005
Officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) led by Secretary Domingo Panganiban admitted to the Senate yesterday that the documents pertaining to the release of P728 million in fertilizer funds were missing.
Panganiban, however, snubbed the initial hearing of the House of Representatives good government committee on the fertilizer fund scam totaling P2.8-billion. So did Budget Secretary Romulo Neri.
The two Cabinet members failed to send a representative to the inquiry. Also, they did they write the committee to explain why they could not attend.
During the budget hearing for the agriculture department at the Senate, the DA officials said the request document for the release of the funds by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the "program of work" or description of the program that accompanied the funding request could not be found.
What the DA had with them was only a copy of the annex to the request made to the DBM that was signed by former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante which contained the list of the alleged proponents of the program.
But Bolante and other key DA officials who could shed light on the controversy failed to attend the budget hearing.
According to Ofelia Agawin, director of the DA’s financial and management service, Panganiban has been seeking information about the request for the fertilizer fund from the office of the Undersecretary for Finance Belinda Gonzales, but they have not yet received any documents.
She said they remained unaware of the reasons for the release from the DBM and what happened to the funds after being released.
"We’re not aware of the request, we haven’t seen the request," Agawin said.
At the House inquiry on the fertilizer fund controversy, the undersecretaries of Panganiban and Neri — Gonzales and Mario Relampagos of budget — also snubbed the committee hearing, together with former agriculture secretary Luis "Cito" Lorenzo and Bolante.
Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor, committee chairman, told his colleagues they would send a second invitation to the officials.
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, whose privilege speech two weeks ago prompted the inquiry, said the controversial Executive Order 464 was most likely behind the no-show by the invited officials.
"If they do not attend future hearings, that is their own lookout. They won’t be able to give their side of this irregularity," he said.
He said based on the reports of the Commission on Audit (COA) that he has read, "this is a case of unpardonable full-scale corruption."
Lagman wanted to grill Panganiban, Neri, Gonzales and Relampagos on where and how fertilizer and farm input funds released by Malacañang three months before last year’s presidential election and totaling P2.806 billion were spent.
The opposition claims the money was used for Mrs. Arroyo’s election campaign, an accusation that Malacañang has denied.
Lagman said based on clarifications she has been making to the media about the scam, Gonzales appears to be more knowledgeable about the funds, including where they were spent, than Panganiban.
It was Gonzales and another agriculture official who met three weeks ago with Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., chairman of the Senate agriculture committee, which has been inquiring into the fertilizer fund scam.
According to Magsaysay, the two officials told him that if he pursued the inquiry, it could lead to the doorsteps of "executive officials, congressmen and some senators." He said he considered that as a form of blackmail or threat. Gonzales denied trying to threaten Magsaysay.
As for Relampagos, he signed the budget document containing the first release of P728 million, made on Feb. 3, 2004, a day after Bolante had requested it. Bolante submitted a list of 110 congressmen, 53 governors and 26 town mayors as "proponent-recipients" to support his request.
During yesterday’s hearing, COA officials confirmed their findings in Bicol on the overpricing of fertilizer using tens of millions of pesos in funds Bolante had allocated to congressmen. They said the price padding ranged from 800 percent to 1,300 percent.
COA director Tobias Lozada said auditors discovered that fertilizer purchased with the congressmen’s pork barrel funds was also overpriced.
He said the lawmakers gave the funds to two private foundations, which procured the fertilizer from only one supplier.
He named the fund recipients as People’s Organization for Progress and Development Foundation and Philippine Social Development Foundation, and the supplier as Jo-Chris Trading.
Lozada said auditors tried to locate the foundations at their common address in Bicutan, Taguig that is listed in documents on file with the agriculture department but could not find them.
He said the two foundations also received tens of millions in the Caraga Region, Region 10 and in Cebu.
The committee decided to include these foundations and other fund recipients and suppliers in its investigation. Disappearing habit? Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin Drilon said Magsaysay is now considering placing Bolante, Gonzales, DA assistant secretaries Ibarra Poliquit and Felix Montes on the Bureau of Immigration’s hold-departure list "given the habit of certain officials to disappear."
"I am aghast at the state of things," Drilon said. "The Commission on Audit rendered an adverse opinion… meaning it is a mess, in layman’s language."
He said the DA’s fertilizer program, officially the Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program in 2004, was described as assistance for the local government units to boost their agriculture production and to increase the income of farmers.
"When we asked what this program was, the secretary said, in effect, the program was non-existent because he could not produce the program," Drilon said.
In a deposition made for the committee on agriculture last Oct. 26, former budget secretary Emilia Boncodin confirmed the release of P728 million to the DA for the purchase of farm inputs.
The release was charged against the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Program as a continuing appropriation under Republic Act No. 9206.
She said the releases were made by the DBM upon the request of the DA based on a formal request submitted to the DBM.
Magsaysay noted that the DA does not have an internal audit service and relies exclusively on the reports of the Commission on Audit which comes after the transactions have been made.
He expressed disappointment over the absence of Bolante and Gonzales during yesterday’s hearing and indicated that he would ask for the hold-departure order from the BI.
As of yesterday, Magsaysay had already asked the BI to place Bolante, Gonzales and Montes on its watch list.
"Among Filipinos this is a given — when someone is hiding something, they avoid (appearing)," Magsaysay said in Filipino.
For his part, Sen. Manuel Roxas II said the government should conduct a special audit of the DA’s use of the P728 million in order to establish a money trail and
accountability of public officials involved.
"We must ensure that the intended recipients benefited from the funds and the officials involved are held accountable for any misuse," Roxas said.
"The audit should establish the money flow from the Department of Budget and Management down to the ultimate beneficiaries," he added.
The P728 million represents 26 percent of the P2.806 billion total funds of the DA.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Monday, December 05, 2005
a reading elite?
This story was taken from www.inq7.net (here)
Solons appalled RP's grade schoolers can't even read
First posted 03:10am (Mla time) Dec 03, 2005
By Philip C. Tubeza, Alcuin Papa
Inquirer
PROVIDING yet another depressing statistic on the appalling state of public education in the country, the Department of Education has reported to Congress that fully 75 percent of elementary school graduates "cannot read independently"-and lawmakers are so alarmed they want education resources to go for the first three years of basic schooling.
Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya, the chair of the House appropriations committee, yesterday said this came from the diagnostic test results of elementary school students submitted by the DepEd to Congress which is reviewing the department's proposed budget for 2006.
Andaya said the findings pointed to the "low quality and quantity" of elementary school students leading legislators to propose that the DepEd focus its attention and resources on Grades 1 to 3.
"The battle cry is 'All resources to the Grade 1 to 3 fronts.' This means that the teacher, book and classroom shortages in the first three grades will be addressed first," he said.
The report showed that 75 percent of public elementary school graduates cannot read without the help of somebody, Andaya said.
High attrition
Of the 100 students who enter Grade 1, only 58 finish elementary school and go on to high school, he said.
And of 58 high school freshmen, only 48 will graduate, he added.
"Of the 100 pupils who enter Grade 1, only 76 will reach Grade 4. This is an alarming casualty rate which has triggered proposals in the House to focus new school resources in the early grades of basic education," Andaya said.
Andaya likened the education system to a conveyor belt. "Only half of those who begin the trip will reach the high school finish line, with 25 percent falling off within three years of coming on board," he said.
Confluence of problems
Though the DepEd did not cite a particular reason for the low quality and quantity of elementary school graduates, he said this may have been caused by the "confluence" of problems plaguing the education system like the lack of classrooms, books and even untrained teachers.
He noted that more than 200 schools in the country's most highly urbanized area reported that classrooms there served more than 100 students each.
He said 73 percent of physics teachers in public schools were not even physics majors.
Of the P119 billion budget being proposed for education in 2006, P2.9 billion has been earmarked for the hiring of new teachers and their salaries, P2 billion for 5,000 new classrooms, P1.8 billion for 36.2 million new textbooks and manuals, and P1 billion for 1.33 million new chairs.
But even with a larger budget allocation for next year, the DepEd yesterday said P119 billion (up from P112 billion in 2005) would not be enough to cover the projected shortages in classrooms, teachers, desks and chairs next school year.
In a press briefing yesterday, DepEd officer in charge Fe Hidalgo said the country's education system would not experience any improvement in services, particularly in meeting the gap in facilities, with such a limited budget.
She explained that a large chunk of the DepEd's budget, or 90 percent, would go to payment of the salaries of around half a million public school teachers.
With the remaining 10 percent, the department has to reckon with a projected 2.7-percent increase in the student population next school year and 7 percent inflation, Hidalgo said.
Playing catch up
To be able to close the gap in resources and still provide quality education, the DepEd would need a P133-billion budget, and this has to grow by about P8 billion annually until 2015, with an 11-percent increase in the initial year, Hidalgo said.
"We will never catch up until the required budget is met for us to implement quality programs and projects on a grand scale. The quality of teaching and learning will not improve," Hidalgo said.
According to figures from the DepEd, the country spends a paltry P6,354 per student every year.
Just before the opening of classes this year, the DepEd closed the gap in classroom shortages mainly through the "stop-gap" measure of "multiple shifting" of classes. But this meant reducing the time that students spent inside the classroom, officials said.
Calling on business sector
Hidalgo also called on the public, particularly the business sector, to help the DepEd with its programs directed at closing the resource gaps.
But Undersecretary Ramon Bacani said the department would make sure that "we are able to utilize whatever budget is given to us in the most efficient way."
Solons appalled RP's grade schoolers can't even read
First posted 03:10am (Mla time) Dec 03, 2005
By Philip C. Tubeza, Alcuin Papa
Inquirer
PROVIDING yet another depressing statistic on the appalling state of public education in the country, the Department of Education has reported to Congress that fully 75 percent of elementary school graduates "cannot read independently"-and lawmakers are so alarmed they want education resources to go for the first three years of basic schooling.
Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya, the chair of the House appropriations committee, yesterday said this came from the diagnostic test results of elementary school students submitted by the DepEd to Congress which is reviewing the department's proposed budget for 2006.
Andaya said the findings pointed to the "low quality and quantity" of elementary school students leading legislators to propose that the DepEd focus its attention and resources on Grades 1 to 3.
"The battle cry is 'All resources to the Grade 1 to 3 fronts.' This means that the teacher, book and classroom shortages in the first three grades will be addressed first," he said.
The report showed that 75 percent of public elementary school graduates cannot read without the help of somebody, Andaya said.
High attrition
Of the 100 students who enter Grade 1, only 58 finish elementary school and go on to high school, he said.
And of 58 high school freshmen, only 48 will graduate, he added.
"Of the 100 pupils who enter Grade 1, only 76 will reach Grade 4. This is an alarming casualty rate which has triggered proposals in the House to focus new school resources in the early grades of basic education," Andaya said.
Andaya likened the education system to a conveyor belt. "Only half of those who begin the trip will reach the high school finish line, with 25 percent falling off within three years of coming on board," he said.
Confluence of problems
Though the DepEd did not cite a particular reason for the low quality and quantity of elementary school graduates, he said this may have been caused by the "confluence" of problems plaguing the education system like the lack of classrooms, books and even untrained teachers.
He noted that more than 200 schools in the country's most highly urbanized area reported that classrooms there served more than 100 students each.
He said 73 percent of physics teachers in public schools were not even physics majors.
Of the P119 billion budget being proposed for education in 2006, P2.9 billion has been earmarked for the hiring of new teachers and their salaries, P2 billion for 5,000 new classrooms, P1.8 billion for 36.2 million new textbooks and manuals, and P1 billion for 1.33 million new chairs.
But even with a larger budget allocation for next year, the DepEd yesterday said P119 billion (up from P112 billion in 2005) would not be enough to cover the projected shortages in classrooms, teachers, desks and chairs next school year.
In a press briefing yesterday, DepEd officer in charge Fe Hidalgo said the country's education system would not experience any improvement in services, particularly in meeting the gap in facilities, with such a limited budget.
She explained that a large chunk of the DepEd's budget, or 90 percent, would go to payment of the salaries of around half a million public school teachers.
With the remaining 10 percent, the department has to reckon with a projected 2.7-percent increase in the student population next school year and 7 percent inflation, Hidalgo said.
Playing catch up
To be able to close the gap in resources and still provide quality education, the DepEd would need a P133-billion budget, and this has to grow by about P8 billion annually until 2015, with an 11-percent increase in the initial year, Hidalgo said.
"We will never catch up until the required budget is met for us to implement quality programs and projects on a grand scale. The quality of teaching and learning will not improve," Hidalgo said.
According to figures from the DepEd, the country spends a paltry P6,354 per student every year.
Just before the opening of classes this year, the DepEd closed the gap in classroom shortages mainly through the "stop-gap" measure of "multiple shifting" of classes. But this meant reducing the time that students spent inside the classroom, officials said.
Calling on business sector
Hidalgo also called on the public, particularly the business sector, to help the DepEd with its programs directed at closing the resource gaps.
But Undersecretary Ramon Bacani said the department would make sure that "we are able to utilize whatever budget is given to us in the most efficient way."
Wala pa ring katarungan sa Aurora
TRO Laban sa Mayor ng Casiguran (pabor sa IDC): Simbolo ng Kawalang Katarungan! Mga Pagkilos Laban sa Muling Operasyon ng Logging sa Aurora, Paiigtingin!
Mahigpit na kinokondena ng Multi-Sectoral Action Group (MSAG) Aurora, ang pagpapalabas ng TRO laban kay Casiguran, Aurora Mayor Reynaldo Bitong. Ang TRO na inisyu ni RTC Branch 66 Judge Soluren ay bunsod ng Petition for Mandamus, with prayer for TRO, na isinampa ng Industries Development Corporation (IDC) laban sa naturang Mayor. Nagsasaad ang TRO ng pagbabawal kay Mayor Bitong na:
Ang kaso ay nagsimula matapos hindi bigyan o payagang mag-renew ni Mayor Bitong ng business/ Mayor’s Permit ang IDC. Ayon sa Mayor, walang maipakita ang kumpanya na kopya ng Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) para sa kanilang logpond, sawmill at veneer plant na nasa bayan ng Casiguran. Wala rin di umanong ibinigay na kopya ng kanilang Integrated Operational Plan (IOP) ang kumpanya upang may pagbatayan ang munisipalidad kung paano protektahan ang babayin ng Casiguran kung saan itinatapon ng IDC ang kanilang kusot (saw dust) at iba pang basura at ang paggamit ng kumpanya sa baybaying ito bilang daungan.
Ang IDC ay kumpanya ng logging na mahigit apatnapung (40) taon nang nagpapasasa sa kagubatan ng Aurora. Ito ang isa sa mga kumalbo at patuloy na pumapanot sa mga kabundukan ng Dinalungan, Casiguran at Dilasag (DICADI). Naging mainit ang pagtutol ng mga mamamayan ng Casiguran matapos makaranas ng matinding pagbaha ng putik at landslide noong Hulyo 2003, sa paghagupit ng Bagyong Harurot na sumira sa daang milyong halaga ng mga ari-arian at imprastraktura.
Pansamantalang nahinto ang operasyon ng IDC matapos ipag-utos ng DENR ang moro-morong “suspension” ng operasyon ng mga kumpanya ng logging sa buong bansa noong Disyembre 2004, matapos muling makaranaa ang Aurora ng mga flashflood. Sa kabila nito, ipinag-utos ni DENR Sec. Mike Defensor ang lifting ng harvesting operation ng IDC noong August 17, 2005 (isang araw matapos payagan ang muling operasyon ng San Jose Lumber sa Samar). Sa kabila ng TRO na ipinalabas ng hukuman, naninindigan ang mga mamamayan ng Dinalungan, Casiguran at Dilasag, na HADLANGAN ang anumang muling operasyon ng Industries Development Corporation (IDC) o anumang kumpanya ng logging sa kanilang bayan. Habang pinakikitunguhan ng lokal na pamahalaan ang usapin sa hukuman, paiigtingin naman ng Save DICADI Movement, sa pakikipatulungan ng Multi-Sectoral Action Group (MSAG) Aurora at mga kaalyadong organisasyon, ang pagsusulong ng mga pagkilos ng mamamayan upang hadlangan sa lahat ng paraan, ang muling operasyon ng mga kumpanya ng logging at pagtatangka ng pagmimina sa Aurora.
Sa tukoy, pasisiglahin ng MSAG Aurora ang paglulunsad ng mga pag-aaral sa malawak ng bilang ng mamamayan kaugnay sa usapin ng logging at mining; palalakasin ang mga organisasyon at pormasyong nagsusulong ng laban sa malawakang logging; at pasisigabuhin ang mga pagkilos mula sa petisyon hanggang sa iba’t ibang porma ng mga kilos-protesta at malawakang mobilisasyon. Kabilang na sa mga aktibidad na ito ay ang ilulunsad na Provincial Conference on Logging and Mining sa December 12 at 13, 2005.
Muli, pinag-iibayo ng MSAG Aurora ang panawagan para
Reference:
Multi-Sectoral Action Group (MSAG) Aurora
c/o BATARIS Formation Center
Baler 3200 Aurora
Mahigpit na kinokondena ng Multi-Sectoral Action Group (MSAG) Aurora, ang pagpapalabas ng TRO laban kay Casiguran, Aurora Mayor Reynaldo Bitong. Ang TRO na inisyu ni RTC Branch 66 Judge Soluren ay bunsod ng Petition for Mandamus, with prayer for TRO, na isinampa ng Industries Development Corporation (IDC) laban sa naturang Mayor. Nagsasaad ang TRO ng pagbabawal kay Mayor Bitong na:
- isara o ipag-utos ang pagsasara ng logpond, sawmill at veneer plant ng IDC na nasa Brgy. Dibacong, Casiguran, Aurora;
- hadlangan o ipag-utos na hadlangan ang pagpasok ng mga truck ng IDC o pagdadala ng troso ng mga ito mula sa Dilasag patungo sa planta nito sa Dibacong, Casiguran;
- pigilan/ pagbawalan o ipag-utos na bawalang pumasok sa trabaho ang mga kawani ng IDC; o
- anumang hakbang na makakahadlang sa operasyon ng IDC;
Ang kaso ay nagsimula matapos hindi bigyan o payagang mag-renew ni Mayor Bitong ng business/ Mayor’s Permit ang IDC. Ayon sa Mayor, walang maipakita ang kumpanya na kopya ng Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) para sa kanilang logpond, sawmill at veneer plant na nasa bayan ng Casiguran. Wala rin di umanong ibinigay na kopya ng kanilang Integrated Operational Plan (IOP) ang kumpanya upang may pagbatayan ang munisipalidad kung paano protektahan ang babayin ng Casiguran kung saan itinatapon ng IDC ang kanilang kusot (saw dust) at iba pang basura at ang paggamit ng kumpanya sa baybaying ito bilang daungan.
Ang IDC ay kumpanya ng logging na mahigit apatnapung (40) taon nang nagpapasasa sa kagubatan ng Aurora. Ito ang isa sa mga kumalbo at patuloy na pumapanot sa mga kabundukan ng Dinalungan, Casiguran at Dilasag (DICADI). Naging mainit ang pagtutol ng mga mamamayan ng Casiguran matapos makaranas ng matinding pagbaha ng putik at landslide noong Hulyo 2003, sa paghagupit ng Bagyong Harurot na sumira sa daang milyong halaga ng mga ari-arian at imprastraktura.
Pansamantalang nahinto ang operasyon ng IDC matapos ipag-utos ng DENR ang moro-morong “suspension” ng operasyon ng mga kumpanya ng logging sa buong bansa noong Disyembre 2004, matapos muling makaranaa ang Aurora ng mga flashflood. Sa kabila nito, ipinag-utos ni DENR Sec. Mike Defensor ang lifting ng harvesting operation ng IDC noong August 17, 2005 (isang araw matapos payagan ang muling operasyon ng San Jose Lumber sa Samar). Sa kabila ng TRO na ipinalabas ng hukuman, naninindigan ang mga mamamayan ng Dinalungan, Casiguran at Dilasag, na HADLANGAN ang anumang muling operasyon ng Industries Development Corporation (IDC) o anumang kumpanya ng logging sa kanilang bayan. Habang pinakikitunguhan ng lokal na pamahalaan ang usapin sa hukuman, paiigtingin naman ng Save DICADI Movement, sa pakikipatulungan ng Multi-Sectoral Action Group (MSAG) Aurora at mga kaalyadong organisasyon, ang pagsusulong ng mga pagkilos ng mamamayan upang hadlangan sa lahat ng paraan, ang muling operasyon ng mga kumpanya ng logging at pagtatangka ng pagmimina sa Aurora.
Sa tukoy, pasisiglahin ng MSAG Aurora ang paglulunsad ng mga pag-aaral sa malawak ng bilang ng mamamayan kaugnay sa usapin ng logging at mining; palalakasin ang mga organisasyon at pormasyong nagsusulong ng laban sa malawakang logging; at pasisigabuhin ang mga pagkilos mula sa petisyon hanggang sa iba’t ibang porma ng mga kilos-protesta at malawakang mobilisasyon. Kabilang na sa mga aktibidad na ito ay ang ilulunsad na Provincial Conference on Logging and Mining sa December 12 at 13, 2005.
Muli, pinag-iibayo ng MSAG Aurora ang panawagan para
- Wakasan na ang anumang uri ng komersyal na operasyon ng logging sa buong lalawigan ng Aurora. Nangangahulugan ito ng pagkansela o pagbawi sa anumang uri ng permit (TLA/ IFMA/ SPLTL/ CBFM) ng mga konsesyunaryo at pagpapatigil sa operasyon ng mga sawmill: (1) Pacific Timber Export Corporation (PATECO) sa Dilasag; (2)Industries Development Corporation (IDC) sa Dinalungan, Casiguran at Dilasag; (3) RCC Lumber sa Dinalungan;(4) Toplite Lumber sa Dipaculao;(5) Verdant Agro-Forest Development Corporation (VAFDC) sa Dipaculao; (6) Inter-Pacific Forest Resources Corporation (IFRC) sa San Luis at Dingalan; (7) Benson Realty Development Corporation sa San Luis; (8) San Roque Sawmill Corporation sa San Luis; at(9) Green Circle Properties Corporation sa Dingalan;
- Imbistigahan ang mga tiwaling opisyal at kawani ng mga kinauukulang ahensya partikular ang DENR at papanagutin sila sa mga pagpapabaya at pakikipagsabwatan sa mga mapanira ng kalikasan.
- Isabatas ang Large-Scale Commercial o Corporate Log Ban sa Aurora. Matapos kanselahin ang logging permit, hwag nang magbigay pa ng kahit anong instrumento para sa komersyal na operasyon ng logging. Dagdag dito, dapat ding patawan ng bayad pinsala ang mga kumpanyang nagpasasa at sumira sa kagubatan ng Aurora; at papanagutin sila sa mga nasirang ari-arian at buhay ng mga biktima ng mga nakaraang pagbaha.
- Magkaroon ng Tunay at Komprehensibong Rehabilitation Program partikular sa mga lugar na sinalanta ng mga kumpanya ng logging. Sa kagyat ay kailangang maideklara ang mga watershed, lalo na ang mga nasa kritikal na yugto ng pagkasira. Kaakibat din nito ang puspusang rehabilitasyon at pagpapaunlad ng mga ito.
- Kailangang magbalangkas ang pangmatagalang plano para sa tunay pangangalaga at rehabilitasyon ng kalikasan. Dapat ding tiyakin na ang ahensya sa pagpapatupad nito ay tunay na nagmamalasakit sa kapakanan ng higit na nakararaming mamamayan at hindi ng iilan at mga dayuhan.
Reference:
Multi-Sectoral Action Group (MSAG) Aurora
c/o BATARIS Formation Center
Baler 3200 Aurora
On Human Rights Report 2005
This story was taken here
Militant group accuses government of rights abuses
First posted 08:18pm (Mla time) Dec 02, 2005
By
Agence France-Presse
A HUMAN rights group accused Friday the government of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of using political killings to eliminate its opponents and maintain power.
Rights group Karapatan said 2005 was one of the worst years for human rights abuses in the Philippines since the days of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was ousted in 1986.
In its "Human Rights Report 2005", the non-governmental organization accused the Arroyo administration of the "wanton use of repression and state terror" to stay in power.
Karapatan, a left-leaning group opposed to Arroyo, said it had documented 874 cases of rights violations against 99,011 individuals across the country between January and November 30.
The release of its report comes a day after the murder of journalist George Benaojan, 27, who was gunned down in the central island of Cebu on Thursday.
He became the 10th journalist to have been murdered in the Philippines this year and the 73rd journalist murdered in the country since democracy was restored following the overthrow of Marcos.
Karapatan secretary general Marie Hilao-Enriquez said the number of political killings of journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders and community leaders "surpasses that of any regime after Martial Law".
"The number of cases of political killings increased by more than 100 percent compared to the 63 victims in 2004," the report said.
"Of the 150 victims of political killings, 80 were confirmed activists critical of the Arroyo regime.
"The remaining 68 were not known to be affiliated with any political party or organization but were suspected by the military to be sympathizers, supporters, friends or relatives of Communist or Muslim rebels."
The group also cited the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, which says 36 journalists have been murdered since Arroyo came to power in 2001.
"In almost all cases of political assassinations and extrajudicial killings, military elements and or paramilitary death squads and vigilante groups were the primary suspects. To date, none of the killings under the Arroyo regime has been solved," Enriquez said.
The government could not immediately be contacted for comment, but it has previously said such charges are overblown, often by leftist groups with ties to communist guerrillas.
Militant group accuses government of rights abuses
First posted 08:18pm (Mla time) Dec 02, 2005
By
Agence France-Presse
A HUMAN rights group accused Friday the government of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of using political killings to eliminate its opponents and maintain power.
Rights group Karapatan said 2005 was one of the worst years for human rights abuses in the Philippines since the days of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was ousted in 1986.
In its "Human Rights Report 2005", the non-governmental organization accused the Arroyo administration of the "wanton use of repression and state terror" to stay in power.
Karapatan, a left-leaning group opposed to Arroyo, said it had documented 874 cases of rights violations against 99,011 individuals across the country between January and November 30.
The release of its report comes a day after the murder of journalist George Benaojan, 27, who was gunned down in the central island of Cebu on Thursday.
He became the 10th journalist to have been murdered in the Philippines this year and the 73rd journalist murdered in the country since democracy was restored following the overthrow of Marcos.
Karapatan secretary general Marie Hilao-Enriquez said the number of political killings of journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders and community leaders "surpasses that of any regime after Martial Law".
"The number of cases of political killings increased by more than 100 percent compared to the 63 victims in 2004," the report said.
"Of the 150 victims of political killings, 80 were confirmed activists critical of the Arroyo regime.
"The remaining 68 were not known to be affiliated with any political party or organization but were suspected by the military to be sympathizers, supporters, friends or relatives of Communist or Muslim rebels."
The group also cited the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, which says 36 journalists have been murdered since Arroyo came to power in 2001.
"In almost all cases of political assassinations and extrajudicial killings, military elements and or paramilitary death squads and vigilante groups were the primary suspects. To date, none of the killings under the Arroyo regime has been solved," Enriquez said.
The government could not immediately be contacted for comment, but it has previously said such charges are overblown, often by leftist groups with ties to communist guerrillas.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Church-people not safe
Press Statement
Nobyembre 28,2005
TAONG-SIMBAHAN, HINDI LIGTAS SA PAGHAHASIK NG TERORISMO NG ESTADO!
Apatot, San Esteban – Dakong alas-diyes ng gabi ng Nobyembre 28, matapos manggaling sa isang Paralegal Training ng Ilocos Human Rights Advocates bilang Resource Speaker, si Pepe Manegdeg, Coordinator ng Rural Missionaries of the Philippines(RMP) ng Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines(AMRSP) para sa Ilocos at Cordillera Region ay binaril at pinatay ng mga di pa nakikilalang armadong kalalakihan na lulan ng motorsiklo sa National Highway sa lugar na ito.
Ayon sa traysikel drayber na naghatid kay Manegdeg sa highway mula sa naturang training, dalawang lalaki ang nakaabang na sa waiting shed kung saan bumaba si Manegdeg upang mag-abang ng bus papuntang Manila. Susunduin ni Manegdeg sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) ang kanyang maybahay na parating galing abroad. Dagdag pa, pagbaba ni Manegdeg mula sa traysikel na sinakyan, bigla itong sinunggaban ng isa sa mga lalaking nakaabang habang ang isa pa ay nagsilbing look out. Ayon sa mga saksi, bago sinunggaban si Manegdeg ay nakipag-usap pa ang isa sa kanyang cellphone at tinanong ang kausap ng “Sir, kukunin na ba namin ito?” Pagbaba ng cellphone ng lalaki ay sabay sunggab kay Manegdeg. Nang pumalag at tinangkang tumakbo ni Manegdeg, ayon sa iba pang mga saksi ay pinaputukan ito ng anim na beses. Lima ang tumama sa iba’t ibang parte ng katawan ni Manegdeg.
Ayon pa sa mga saksi, pagkatapos pagbabarilin at patayin si Manegdeg ng dalawang kalalakihan, isinakay ang ginamit na motorsiklo sa isang puting pick-up palabas at palayo sa lugar na pinangyarihan. Iniwan ang bangkay ni Manegdeg sa tabi ng daan matapos itong kaladkarin.
“Ang karumaldumal na pagpaslang kay Pepe ay malinaw na larawan ng karahasan ng estado. Si Pepe Manegdeg ay kilalang matapat na church worker na taos-pusong tumutulong sa pagtataguyod at pakikipaglaban para sa karapatang pantao,” ayon sa PCPR.
Idinagdag din ng IHRA na ang nangyari kay Manegdeg ay ilan lamang sa mga napakarami nang kaso ng paglabag sa karapatang-pantao sa ilalim ng rehimen ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na kung saan ay nagpapakita ng marahas na pamamaraan ng estado upang patahimikin at supilin ang mga indibidual o mga grupo na puspusang nagtataguyod sa karapatang pantao.
Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) - ILOCOS
Nobyembre 28,2005
TAONG-SIMBAHAN, HINDI LIGTAS SA PAGHAHASIK NG TERORISMO NG ESTADO!
Apatot, San Esteban – Dakong alas-diyes ng gabi ng Nobyembre 28, matapos manggaling sa isang Paralegal Training ng Ilocos Human Rights Advocates bilang Resource Speaker, si Pepe Manegdeg, Coordinator ng Rural Missionaries of the Philippines(RMP) ng Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines(AMRSP) para sa Ilocos at Cordillera Region ay binaril at pinatay ng mga di pa nakikilalang armadong kalalakihan na lulan ng motorsiklo sa National Highway sa lugar na ito.
Ayon sa traysikel drayber na naghatid kay Manegdeg sa highway mula sa naturang training, dalawang lalaki ang nakaabang na sa waiting shed kung saan bumaba si Manegdeg upang mag-abang ng bus papuntang Manila. Susunduin ni Manegdeg sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) ang kanyang maybahay na parating galing abroad. Dagdag pa, pagbaba ni Manegdeg mula sa traysikel na sinakyan, bigla itong sinunggaban ng isa sa mga lalaking nakaabang habang ang isa pa ay nagsilbing look out. Ayon sa mga saksi, bago sinunggaban si Manegdeg ay nakipag-usap pa ang isa sa kanyang cellphone at tinanong ang kausap ng “Sir, kukunin na ba namin ito?” Pagbaba ng cellphone ng lalaki ay sabay sunggab kay Manegdeg. Nang pumalag at tinangkang tumakbo ni Manegdeg, ayon sa iba pang mga saksi ay pinaputukan ito ng anim na beses. Lima ang tumama sa iba’t ibang parte ng katawan ni Manegdeg.
Ayon pa sa mga saksi, pagkatapos pagbabarilin at patayin si Manegdeg ng dalawang kalalakihan, isinakay ang ginamit na motorsiklo sa isang puting pick-up palabas at palayo sa lugar na pinangyarihan. Iniwan ang bangkay ni Manegdeg sa tabi ng daan matapos itong kaladkarin.
“Ang karumaldumal na pagpaslang kay Pepe ay malinaw na larawan ng karahasan ng estado. Si Pepe Manegdeg ay kilalang matapat na church worker na taos-pusong tumutulong sa pagtataguyod at pakikipaglaban para sa karapatang pantao,” ayon sa PCPR.
Idinagdag din ng IHRA na ang nangyari kay Manegdeg ay ilan lamang sa mga napakarami nang kaso ng paglabag sa karapatang-pantao sa ilalim ng rehimen ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na kung saan ay nagpapakita ng marahas na pamamaraan ng estado upang patahimikin at supilin ang mga indibidual o mga grupo na puspusang nagtataguyod sa karapatang pantao.
Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) - ILOCOS
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)