Archive for February, 2005

DEAD AIR: Media murders in Mindanao

Monday, February 28th, 2005

Just received this on my e-mail. Read on.

DEAD AIR: Media murders in Mindanao an I-Witness documentary by Howie Severino and his team tonight, after Saksi, Feb. 28, 2005 GMA7

Even in the age of television, radio is still king in many places in the Philippines. That is why provincial broadcasters–the princes of the airwaves who can influence millions–are getting killed. Threatened and insulted, those with power and guns retaliate, sometimes with deadly consequences. (more…)

Vatgirl

Friday, February 25th, 2005

Saw this at proxima centauri ‘s. He got it from Pinoy Weekly.

Text Terrorism

Thursday, February 24th, 2005

Recently, I’ve been receiving this message from well-meaning friends who don’t want me to be in danger:


Msg Rcvd FR KATRINA Ponce Enrile- frm a friend n d military. Avoid rockwell n oakwood makati areas n isetann carriedo. Military intelligence confirms threats of bombing activities in d coming days! grenade throwng incdnt at solcom hq last nyt cud b part of a bigger scenario. dis coms frm a General frend, he says probabilities r high. Pls pass.

Ponce Enrile denied she was the source of the message, according to a report by the Manila Times. (more…)

Bombings and National ID

Monday, February 21st, 2005

After the Valentine’s Day bombings, the government wants to implement the national ID system saying it could deter crime. Why fear if you have nothing to hide, its spokesperson say.

What about the citizens’ right to privacy?

Free Gmail Invites

Saturday, February 12th, 2005

(Note: This offer has already expired. Please check out Google-Powered Piercing Pens Webmail For You.)

We’ve got 50 more free Gmail invites. Post a comment and we’ll send you one. :)

Impeach Gloria? Why not?

Thursday, February 10th, 2005

Impeach Gloria? Why not?

In a speech before the Philippine Constitution Association on Constitution Day, February 8 at the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park, Makati City, Senator Aquilino Pimentel charged Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust and suggested that Philconsa consider “filing necessary impeachment papers against the President.”

His charges were:

1. Illegal use of the trust funds raised through the road users tax and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for her own purposes during the last presidential election.

2. The President’s illegal authorization of the payment of $68 million or P3.762 billion for the purchase of six search and rescue vessels for the use of the Coast Guard without congressional authority.

3. The President’s willful and blatant abuse of her appointing power. (more…)

Marcos Money and Human Rights Victims

Wednesday, February 9th, 2005

While I agree that the human rights victims during the Marcos dictatorship deserves justice, I view as correct recent decision by a US court which declared cannot overturn a foreign country’s Supreme Court. The Philippine Supreme Court earlier ruled that the recovered $683 million, a portion of the estimated $5 to 10 billion Marcos ill gotten wealth, belongs to the government.

Since Marcos used the state mechanism in suppressing citizens and violating their rights, I think it is the current government’s duty to see to it that the victims will get justice–part of which is getting compensated. (more…)