Category: News

About The So-Called “Encounter” In Sitio Puting Bato, Brgy. Washington, Escalante City, Negros Occidental

PRESS STATEMENT November 17, 2018
Reference: Rey Alburo
Northern Negros Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (NNAHRA)

I. “Abu Sayyaff or ISIS Landed in Coastal Areas of North Negros” is a story that came from the mouths of soldiers deployed in Sitio Puting Bato, Brgy. Washington, Escalante City, Negros Occidental. Early morning of November 16, the soldiers who occupied the residential areas did not wear any nameplates so the residents became wary and asked about their presence. It was the soldiers from the 62nd IB and 79th IB who told the residents that “naa Abu Sayyaff diri,” (They are after the Abu Sayyaff). This story immediately spread in the community.
Why Scare the People with This False Information?

II. The Encounter is Fake. The news of an ENCOUNTER in Sitio Puting Bato, Brgy. Washington, Escalante City was first reported by local radio stations like Hapi Radio Sagay, Bombo Radyo Bacolod and Aksyon Radyo Bacolod before noon of November 16. The reports said that the military engaged 10 elements of the CPP-NPA in a “running gun battle.”

Residents of Puting Bato attest that soldiers already swarmed the whole area by as early as 5:00 am. The so-called encounter happened only around 10:00 am, according to the AFP. Classes in the nearby elementary school was already ongoing at that time. Before the so-called “encounter,” teachers and students were ordered by soldiers to stay down, indicating that soldiers were already planning on firing their weapons.

The residents, who did not dare go out because of the “Abu Sayyaff scare,” said that they could not see who the soldiers were firing at. But while some soldiers appeared to be maneuvering and shooting, many other soldiers were just relaxed and even cooking rice very near the so-called “encounter site.” The shots came from only one direction and was more like indiscriminate firing or strafing. This caused panic and fear among many residents because the military fired in the populated area, and shots were flying near the elementary school.

III. Militarization is Real and the AFP Confirms This. The military poured several armed units into the area as confirmed by Col. Benedict Arevalo of the AFP’s 303rd Brigade. The units he mentioned were the 79th Infantry Battalion, 6th Special Action Force Battalion, Joint Intelligence Task Group and CAFGU/SCAA.

Checkpoints were held to control the movement of the population. All transportation was on hold. Relatives of residents were not allowed to immediately check on their family. Media coverage was also constricted. These facts were also confirmed and reported by field reporters of local radio stations.

IV. FAKE NEWS: Suspects in the Sagay Massacre were in puting bato.
THE TRUTH: A family of survivors of the sagay massacre are trying to rebuild their lives with their relatives in the puting bato but the military continues to threaten and harass them. The family is repeatedly maligned by the police and military as “fake grandparents” of the 14-year old witness but the truth is that they are survivors of the massacre and their own son was one of those killed.

For several instances since his deployment last month, Col. Benedict Arevalo of the 303rd Brigade of the AFP has repeatedly publicly maligned and red-tagged human rights organization KARAPATAN-Negros and now, the Northern Negros Alliance of Human Rights Advocates or NNAHRA as “nagpapanggap na advocates” (pretending to be advocates) and “ginagamit lang ng CPP-NPA” (only used by the CPP-NPA). Just as Col. Lozanies before him, who red-tagged the bungkalan and the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW), we condemn Arevalo for his dangerous statements against legitimate peasant organizations and human rights advocates.

Let us not wait for another massacre to happen here in Escalante City. Remember that the 1985 Welgang Bayan was a brave action against dictatorship and tyranny. All the tyrants will fall and the truth shall prevail.

The people of Negros will never allow the sacrifices of our martyrs to go to waste!

RESIST CRACKDOWN!
FIGHT TYRANNY!
STOP KILLING FARMERS!

Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura
Federation of Agricultural Workers | Philippines

‘The division of Palawan is not the appropriate answer to the existing weak governance, corruption, and natural resource use issues in the province,’ says the Save Palawan Movement

Keith Anthony S. Fabro
Published 10:49 AM, November 07, 2018
Updated 10:49 AM, November 07, 2018

3 PALAWAN PROVINCES? The image shows lawmakers’ proposed division of Palawan into 3 provinces

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines – A civic group wants to block the passage of a proposed bill dividing Palawan into 3 provinces, which is up for second reading at the Senate next week.

Campaigner Cynthia Del Rosario of the Save Palawan Movement claimed that the “railroaded” House Bill 8055, which the House of Representatives approved in August, reached the Senate “without undergoing prior public consultation.”

“Such consultation will show that there was no true clamor from the people; rather, it was a plan conceived by a handful of local politicians,” Del Rosario told Rappler on Tuesday, November 6.

She was referring to Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez, the provincial board members, and the 3 Palawan congressmen who have pushed for the proposal.

In supporting the proposed measure, Alvarez had said that dividing Palawan into 3 provinces would speed up the delivery of basic services to residents and further boost the provincial economy.

Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on local government, endorsed the bill.

He announced this in a Facebook post that drew mixed reactions, mostly negative ones from Palawan residents who claimed they were “blindsided” by the speedy progress of the proposed measure in Congress.

Angara had also stressed in his post that the proposal was “not motivated by partisan political concerns, nor a gerrymandering exercise,” but was fitting since Palawan is the biggest province in the Philippines in terms of area.

‘One Palawan’ campaign

In a bid to delay or even stop the bill’s approval, the Save Palawan Movement recently launched the “One Palawan” campaign, gathering signatures against the proposed measure.

“The division of Palawan is not the appropriate answer to the existing weak governance, corruption, and natural resource use issues in the province,” Del Rosario said.
She pointed out that the taxpayers would bear the cost of creating these provinces.

“The huge costs entailed in creating provinces, as well as holding a plebiscite, will be shouldered by taxpayers’ money. This is unnecessary because the Palaweños did not ask for the division in the first place,” Del Rosario added.

Del Rosario, a Puerto Princesa resident, also questioned a provision in the bill stripping city residents of their right to vote in a plebiscite that would give them the chance to accept or reject the proposal.

“Puerto Princesans were not consulted nor included in a scheduled plebiscite on the bill. They will wake up one day without a province and they did not know how it happened,” she added.

While declared a highly urbanized city, the campaigner said vote-rich Puerto Princesa is still defined as “a political unit that will be ‘directly affected’” by the effects of division.

The definition, Del Rosario mentioned, is stated in the “law (1987 Constitution and the Local Government Code) and jurisprudence (Supreme Court decision on Umali v. Comelec case, among others).” Based on this, she said, “the city residents should be included in the plebiscite.” Continue reading

Greetings of Peace in Christ!

Pope Francis, in his prayer video, called the internet “a gift from God” that “have brought with it a lengthening of horizons and a widening for so many people.” The Pope reminds us Catholics of the responsibility that comes with this gift, and that such blessing should be used “towards inclusiveness which respects others for their differences.”

With the influx of information easily available on the internet and social media, it is highly essential to properly inform, train, and equip online missionaries in terms of handling technological advancements; giving emphasis on the authenticity of the content, sources, and intentions, making them effective advocates of God’s truth.

YouthPinoy, in collaboration with Areopagus Communication, Inc. and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ Media Office will be holding the 7th Catholic Social Media Summit (CSMS) and Catholic Social Media Awards 2018 (CSMA).

This year’s CSMS and CSMA Awards Night will be held at Siena College, Quezon City on November 17, 2018. The Summit will start at 8 o’clock in the morning and the awards night at 7 o’clock in the evening.

1. The Summit for this year is themed #Activate and is inspired by the scriptural passage from James 2:22 “You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works.” This will empower attending online missionaries on activating themselves as they discover strategies on delivering truth in social media, wherever they are.

This year’s Catholic Social Media Summit is also the start of a 3-year campaign called ACT (Activate – 2018, Connect – 2019, Transform-2020) that will be fully operational on 2021 as we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines.

We are requesting you to send your Media Team (Social Media & Communicators) from your Parish, Diocese, organization, or group to attend this year’s summit – we can reserve seven (7) slots or more for your team/group. We look forward to a partnership with you in this Online Mission of Evangelization.

Here are the registration details for your reference.

Catholic Social Media Summit version 7

Regular Rate: 1,200 php per head
Walk-in Rate: 1,500 php per head (With food, without summit kits)
Promo: Early Bird Registration (August 15 – September 8): P999
Group of 10: 1,000 per head

Registration is inclusive of food, snacks, summit kits, and a free ticket to the CSMA Awards Night (dinner excluded).

Registration opens August 15, 2018. Kindly visit catholicsocialmediasummit.com for more information.

2. The CSMA Awards Night will recognize The Best Communicator of Catholic Content throughout various Social Media Platforms in the Modern Age. Now on its fourth year, this initiative aims to be the leading go-to for netizens seeking the best Catholic resources online.

We are positive that some of the pages, website, programs, or accounts you or your Parish, Diocese, organization, or group manage could be a potential finalist in this year’s Catholic Social Media Awards. Nominations will start on September 1, 2018.

Continue reading

They were different people and times but all went to the Philippines and faced the same challenges, issues and obstacles

Sister Patricia Fox, Father Michel de Gigord and Father Brian Gore. (Photos by Melo Acuna and Jire Carreon)

UCANews | Melo Acuna, Manila, Philippines
November 8, 2018

They went to different places in the Philippines and during different periods in the country’s history, but they encountered very similar situations and challenges.

In the news recently was the departure of Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox who was declared an undesirable alien by the government for joining the cause of poor farmers and workers.

The nun had made the Philippines her home for 27 years. She said she has fond memories of the people, especially those on the periphery, the people living on the edge.

She said she got involved in projects geared to bring livelihoods to farmers and help them in their advocacy for rights to their lands, livelihoods, peace, justice and security.

“All these are universal human rights which the church sees as integral,” she said.

For her efforts, the government did not renew her missionary visa and forced her to leave the country by not extending her temporary papers.

Getting in jail for the poor

In 1969, another Australian missionary also went to the Philippines.
Columban Father Brian Gore, who was then only 25 years old, arrived in the country with no idea what was waiting for him.

It was before former dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law across the archipelago.

Little did the young priest know that what awaited him were poor farm workers in sugar plantations of Negros Occidental province where he later became chaplain of the Federation of Free Farmers.

“I’d been told they had no money to buy medicine,” Father Gore recalled. They even considered themselves as the property of the landowners.

He went on to organize Basic Christian Communities, which were later accused by the Philippine military of being “fronts” for communist guerrillas.

(UPDATED) Wage Order No. 22 will take effect 15 days after publication in a newspaper, but labor groups say the increase won’t help workers struggling with rising inflation

Aika Rey @reyaika
Published 12:50 PM, November 05, 2018
Updated 9:46 PM, November 05, 2018

SEEKING WORK. Hundreds troop to the Quezon City Hall for a job fair on May 1, 2018. File photo by Darren Langit/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday, November 5, confirmed the P25 across-the-board wage hike for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila.

New minimum wage rates for agricultural workers, firms in the manufacturing sector with at most 10 workers, and firms in the retail as well as service sectors with at most 15 workers will earn at least P500 daily, from the previous P475.

Non-agricultural workers, meanwhile, will soon have a daily minimum wage of P537 from P512.

Under Wage Order No. 22, the P10 cost of living allowance (COLA) will also become part of the basic pay.

Previously, the minimum basic pay ranged from P465 to P502, with an additional P10 COLA.

National Wages and Productivity Commission Executive Director Criselda Sy explained that the integration of COLA in the basic pay means bigger computations for overtime pay and 13th month pay.

The new wage order will be effective 15 days from publication in a newspaper. Sy said a copy of the order will be sent to their office on Monday afternoon.

The order was signed by DOLE, the Department of Trade and Industry, National Economic and Development Authority, and an employers’ group representative. Labor group representatives signed the order, but with reservations.

The wage order can still be appealed within 10 days upon publication. But Sy said there were no appeals that had been successfully granted in the past.

Higher inflation?

Asked whether the regional board could have approved a higher increase, Sy explained that doing so might lead to “secondary inflationary effects.”

‘How thick-skinned our politicians can be! Even those with very strong criminal cases against them, they run,’ says Bishop Broderick Pabillo

Ernesto M. Hilario, Manila Philippines
November 5, 2018

Members of the Marcos family, including Imelda Marcos (second from right), file their certificates of candidacy for next year’s Philippine mid-term elections. Imelda is running for governor of Ilocos Norte province. (Photo by Jire Carreon/ucanews.com)

Has the Philippines run so low on competent and qualified public officials that the same families who have governed for many years now want to continue to dominate the country’s political system in the years to come?

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo doesn’t think so, and he believes others deserve the chance to serve in public office.

The prelate, who also serves as chairman of the Episcopal Commission on the Laity of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, has urged voters to shun candidates from political dynasties next May, when the midterm elections for senatorial and various local positions will take place.

The 1987 charter states that, “the state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

The problem is that in leaving the matter of prohibiting political dynasties to members of the legislature, many of whom themselves come from established political families, the authors of the constitution have doomed the enterprise to fail on an epic scale.

Bishop Pabillo issued the appeal after President Rodrigo Duterte claimed political dynasties are flourishing because the public is clamoring for them.
He said voters have six months to discern which candidates deserve to be elected as servants of the people.

“Political dynasties [only] thrive because we vote for them,” he said.
“Starting from today, let us take some time to get to know the candidates. Certain criteria can be used to sift the wheat from the chaff,” he added.

“As voters, let’s show the politicians that we are better than them, that we have more sense than them, that we are more discerning. Let’s show them we know how to choose.”

Bishop Pabillo said voters should check the background of lesser-known candidates because “they may well serve as a breath of fresh air for politics in our country.”

Office of the Episcopal Commission on Clergy

November 5, 2018

Your Eminencies & Excellencies:

Greetings of Peace!

The Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons is over. We are grateful to Your Excellency (Eminence) for your cooperation in celebrating this year’s activities. May this year continue to set us on fire despite the many weaknesses we encounter along the way. Let us continuously renew ourselves as renewed servant leaders of communion.

Herewith, please find a copy of the Closing Prayer for the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons. We propose the following dates for your consideration:

• November 25, 2018 Solemnity of Christ the King, closing ceremony or liturgy where the prayer for the Clergy and Consecrated Persons.
• December 02, 2018 Opening of the Year of the Youth.

Let us accompany our young people through our life’s witnessing as renewed Servant-Leaders of communion for the New Evangelization. Let us guide and give them inspiration so that they could live and respond to the call of Jesus through their mission in loving service.

Together with our Blessed Mother, Mary Star of the New Evangelization, let us be agents of transformation in our country and in the world.

Episcopal Commission on Clergy (ECCler)
Episcopal Commission on Mutual Relations between Bishops and Religious (ECMR)
Episcopal Commission on Seminaries (ECS)
Episcopal Commission on Vocations (ECV)

Prayer for the Closing of the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons

O God Most Loving Father, you called us to be fully and ever united to You and with one another as members of the One Body of Christ. In Jesus, your Son, we confidently move forward in tPrayerhe spirit of collaboration and co-responsibility journeying as one family in faith, hope and love.
As we close this Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons, we thank You for the gift of their vocation from and for Your People. Pardon them in their weaknesses. Guide, strengthen, protect and embrace them to persevere in their continuous personal conversion. May they always become humble bearers of the Gospel of Your love through their joyful service, suffering and sacrifice.

As we welcome the Year of the Youth, May all of us be renewed Servant-Leaders of communion for the New Evangelization. Make us gracious in affirming the beauty and giftedness of the Filipino youth.
Encourage us to accompany the young to fulfill their mission in loving service. With Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, may we continue to be agents of transformation in our country and in the world.
Amen.

Of 33 recorded cases in last two years half involved rape, women’s group says 

Filipino women hold a protest to voice their concerns during this year’s observance of Women’s Day. (Photo by Jire Carreon)

ucanews.com reporter, Manila, Philippines
November 1, 2018

A study by a research center for women has revealed that 56 Filipino policemen were involved in 33 cases of violence against women in the past two years.

The result of the study was released on Oct. 31 in the wake of reports that a police officer in Manila allegedly raped the 15-year-old daughter of a suspected drug dealer.

Data collated by the Center for Women’s Resources showed that of the 33 cases since July 2016 when President Rodrigo Duterte came to power, 13 cases involved minors.

“It is appalling how the authorities become bolder in committing abuses against women and minors,” said Jojo Guan, executive director of the center.

Half the cases recorded, or 16, involved rape, while seven were described as “acts of lasciviousness.”

“It is enraging that these abuses continue,” said Guan.

“Disturbingly, the culture of impunity is more rampant,” noted Guan, adding that the fact that the perpetrators remain scot-free “shows how the government protects and covers up their messes.”

Guan called on the government to release the names of the policemen involved in the abuses.

Benedictine nun Mary John Mananzan, a leading women’s rights activist, said what is happening is “totally inhumane.”

“The ones who are supposed to defend us violate the law and commit these crimes,” said the nun as she appealed to abuse victims “to expose these crimes” and file charges.

“Do not be afraid. Victims or their families can come directly to us. We can provide legal assistance and protection,” the nun said.

Guillermo Eleazar, police director in the National Capital Region, said the Philippine National Police “would show no mercy” to members of the force involved in abuses.

“[We] will not tolerate such abuses and we will bring all perpetrators to justice,” said Eleazar, adding that the “56 rotten minds” constitute only 0.03 percent of the 185,000 strong police force.

“We will not allow them to deface this institution,” said the police general.

At least 1,889 cases of involuntary disappearances have been recorded since martial law was declared in the early 1970s

Families of victims of involuntary disappearances light candles and offer flowers in honor of their missing loved ones in Manila on All Souls’ Day. (Photo by Jire Carreon)

ucanews.com reporter, Manila, Philippines
November 2, 2018

Families of victims of enforced disappearances in the Philippines, or “desaparecidos,” offered flowers and candles for their missing loved ones on All Souls’ Day as they protested what they described as “government inaction” on the issue.

“Let us bury the remains and build tombstones with their names. Allow us to grieve with dignity,” said Erlinda Cadapan, mother of a missing student activist, during a protest outside Manila’s Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.

“We have nowhere to offer candles and flowers. Give us the chance to provide decent burial for them,” said Cadapan, who also serves as spokeswoman of the group Families of Desaparecidos for Justice.

The activity was also a chance for families of victims to “celebrate” the conviction of a former army general who was accused of the abduction and disappearance of Capadan’s daughter, Sherlyn, and another student activist, Karen Empeño.

“He is now in jail, but I am not happy because my daughter and Karen are still missing,” said Cadapan. “I will only be at peace once I see the body.”

At least 1,889 cases of involuntary disappearances have been recorded in the country since martial law was declared in the early 1970s, according to human rights group Karapatan.

Karapatan spokeswoman Maria Christina Guevarra said most of the victims were farmers, community leaders and human rights activists.

The greatest number of cases happened during the administration of former president Corazon Aquino, with at least 821 cases.

At least six people were reported abducted and are still missing since President Rodrigo Duterte came to power in 2016.

The ecumenical group Promotion of Church People’s Response called on church leaders to start a “ministry for the missing bodies and souls.”

“We encourage religious institutions to take a hand in bringing justice to victims of involuntary disappearances. Let us pray for the souls and help find the bodies,” said Nardy Sabino, the group’s secretary-general.