Author: Julian Alejandro

Reposted below is the full text of the “Free the Sagfada 11 petition”. which calls for the release of the 11 young mountaineers accused of being communist rebels.

To: Philippine Government, Police Force, Military, Justice Department

Last February 14, a group of 11 backpackers went to Baguio to join the festivities in the annual Baguio Flower Festival and proceed to the idyllic mountain paradise of Sagada. They were Rundren Berloize Lao, 24, from Davao City; Aldoz Christian Munoza, 18, single, of Santolan, Pasig City; Darwin Alazar y Padilla, 21, single, native of Tipuso, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan; Arvie Nunez, 21, single, native of Silang, Mayaw, Lucena City; Ray Lester Mendoza y Esquerra, 16, from San Francisco, Makati City; Neil Russel Balajadia, 25, single, from Santolan, Pasig City; Jethro Villegas, 21, single, of Malagos, Calinan, Davao City; Anderson Alonzo, 18, single, also of Malagos, Calinan, Davao City; Ronron Pandino, 20, single, from San Quintin, Laguna; Frencess Ann Bernal, 15, single, of Camupang, Marikina City; and Jefferson dela Rosa y dela Cruz, 20, single, of Santolan, Pasig City. All of them just wanted to have some fun, after their musical tour (they came from a punk music event that was held in Tarlac).

Continue reading “Sagada 11 Petition”

Gloria Arroyo’s calibrated preemptive response (CPR) policy that suppresses the people’s right to free assembly has just been declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Below is an excerpt from the decision released today:

Furthermore, Calibrated Preemptive Response (CPR), insofar as it would purport to differ from or be in lieu of maximum tolerance, is NULL and VOID and respondents are ENJOINED to REFRAIN from using it and to STRICTLY OBSERVE the requirements of maximum tolerance. The petitions are DISMISSED in all other respects, and the constitutionality of Batas Pambansa No. 880 is SUSTAINED.

The Supreme Court yesterday voided parts of Executive Order No. 464, upholding Congress’s right to compel Palace officials to appear in congressional hearings in aid of legislation. But it declared as constitutional parts of the EO that bans executive officials from appearing during the question hour.

Read the full text of the decision here.

After the New York Times, now it’s the American think tank Heritage Foundation that has not-so-good things to say about President Arroyo:

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is in trouble.

The political situation in her island nation is in crisis. Her popularity ratings have dropped into the low teens. “People power” demonstrations break out regularly in Manila. She recently survived an alleged coup attempt.

Arroyo appears to have given up on convincing her constituents of her competence. Instead, she has resorted to the methods many dictators use to silence criticism.

Here’s the link to the full article : In Philippines, killing of journalists growing problem

The late Fernando Poe Jr. is now a national artist. Others in the list are Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Bien Lumbera and BenCab.

Arroyo conferred the title to them last March 30 following the recommendation by the Joint Boards of the Commissioners of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Trustees of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, according to an INQ7.net report.

I wonder how what Susan Roces and FPJ fans will react. Lumbera, for his part, is a vocal critic of Arroyo.

Many would probably think the national artist award is a form of “vote-buying” now that the president is again on a campaign trail for cha-cha.

Sponsored post:

GMA would love that Pinocchio gig. Imagine, she had rhinoplasty without actually undergoing one? hehehe

Isn’t it great? If the Pinocchio curse would be on flat-nosed people like me, we won’t need the services of a Manila or New Jersey rhinoplasty expert. All we have to do is keep on lying like some leader we know. Hehe.

From the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website

1. Introduction

“The Church… must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice.” (Deus Caritas Est, 28) This challenging call of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, impels us to express to you, our beloved People of God, our deep concern over the attempt of certain sectors to make hasty and substantial changes to our Constitution, supposedly through the “People’s Initiative” provision in our present charter. We speak to you, not as lawyers or politicians, but as Shepherds, applying principles of our Catholic Social Teaching to our present situation, and inviting you to discern, decide and act in the light of the Gospel.

We recognize and respect those many concerned and thoughtful Filipinos who see constitutional reform as necessary remedy to the country’s many problems at present. In our pastoral statement of January 2006, we already stated that “we agree that certain aspects of our Constitutions may need amendments and revisions.” What we wish to challenge and express unease about is the process by which these changes are being brought about.

Continue reading “CBCP’s Pastoral Statement on PIRMA”