Barug Katawhan leader shot dead in Davao Oriental

Kagawad Cristina Jose of Brgy. Binondo, Baganga Municipality, Davao Oriental (Kilab Multimedia)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines- A Barangay Kagawad of Binondo, Bagangga Municipality, Davao Oriental and a leader of Barug Katawhan was shot dead Monday evening, March 4.

The victim, CRISTINA JOSE,  was one of those who led the 3-day protest rally outside the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Davao. Jose is also a member of the party-list group Bayan Muna.

According to human rights advocate, Karapatan Southern Mindanao, Jose and all those who participated in the 'Kampuhan' were allegedly harassed by the Barangay Captain and the military from 67th IBPA.

"Supposedly, she was on her way to Davao City after the session to report the cases of Human Rights Violations, but she was brutally killed", said Karlos Trangia, spokesman of Barug Katawhan.

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares, in a text message, condemned the killings and called for an immediate investigation.

Colmenares said that whoever the perpetrators are should be punished.

Balita: Rep. Teddy Casiño naghain na ng kandidatura sa pagkasenador

Larawan kuha niTine Sabillo

Hindi napigil ng walang humpay na pagbuhos ng ulan si Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño upang ituloy ang paghahain ng kandidatura sa pagkasenador. Sa gitna ng malakas na buhos ng ulan, simbolikong tumakbo si Casiño at mga tagasuporta nito mula sa simbahan ng San Agustin patungong Comelec.

"Makabuluhan po ang ating pagtakbo dahil ipinakita po natin na ang labang ito ay hindi lamang kailangang pagpawisan at paghirapan kundi ang labang ito ay laban ng sambayanang Pilino at hindi lang ng iisang tao,' ani Casiño.

Sinamahan ng iba't ibang grupo si Casiño sa kanyang literal na pagtakbo. Ilan sa mga grupong ipinakita ang kanilang suporta sa paghahain ng kandidatura ni Casiño ay ang Bayan Muna partylist, Gabriela Women's party, Anakpawis partylist, Kabataan partylist, Akap-Bata partylist, Piston partylist, Courage partylist, Kalikasan partylist, Migrante partylist, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Kilusang Mayo uno at iba pa.

Pabirong binigkas ng kongresista na tanging sya lamang marahil ang nag-file ng kandidatura na basang-basa at naka-short. Sa kabila nito, seryoso at malinaw umano ang plataporma niya na kumakatawan sa ordinaryong mga mamamayan.

"Ito na po talaga. Wala nang atrasan. Ang masisiguro ko po lamang ay ibubuhos natin ang lahat upang manalo tayo at magkaroon ng boses ang karaniwang tao sa loob ng Senado," sabi ni Casiño, sa harap ng kanyang mga tagasuporta.

“Iba Naman!” ito ang tema ng kandidatura ni Casiño bilang pagtugon sa kahilingan ng nakararami.

“Ang tanong ng marami, wala na bang iba? Kaya nga po ako nangangahas na tumakbong senador ay para may iba naman. For so many decades, the same old political clans and vested interests have dominated the Senate”, ayon kay Casiño.

Dagdag pa ni Casiño, nararapat  bigyan ng ibang pagpipilian ang mamamayan sa darating na eleksyon mula sa nakasanayang ng mga kandidato.

Si Casiño ay tatakbo sa ilalim ng Koalisyong Makabayan ng Mamamayan (Makabayan).

Para sa mga kasamang nangahas sa unang pagkakataon

Kuha ni Anto Balleta

Hindi ito pangkaraniwan. Wala ako sa inyong mga practice. Hindi ko rin napanood ang inyong unang pagtatanghal. At wala rin akong mga larawan ninyo. 

Wala akong ibang nagawa kundi makibalita sa pamamagitan ng facebook, text o pagtatanong sa ibang mga kasamang nakapanood sa inyong pagtatanghal. Sabi nila, ayos naman daw, maganda. Kwento rin sa akin ng kasama ninyo sa pagtatanghal, ayon sa feedback ng mga nakapanood ay maganda at maayos naman daw kaya nga lang ay may ilang flaws.

BAYAN calls on P-NOY to end killings

People's organizations led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) marched from the España Blvd to the Mendiola bridge near the Malacanang Palace last July 19 to call on the Aquino Administration to end extra-judicial killings against activists.

In a statement, BAYAN secretary general Renato Reyes said that President Benigno Aquino should condemn and junk the counter-insurgency program OPLAN BANTAY LAYA of the former administration and end political killings.

There are three victims of political killings under the new Aquino government so far, on top of 1,205 victims of extra-judicial killings under the Arroyo regime. Oplan Bantay Laya (Operation Freedom Watch) is the military counter-insurgency plan that is being blamed for thousands of human rights violation in the last nine years. 

Kodao Productions. Jaime de Guzman and Mona Bernardo

Bayan Muna Calls for an immediate investigation of Baldomero's killing

Members of Bayan Muna Partylist together with human rights advocate group KARAPATAN and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) today held a protest in Mendiola to condemn the assassination of Fernando I. Baldomero of Lezo, Aklan, who was shot dead early yesterday.

Baldomero is a Sangguniang Bayan member and Bayan Muna provincial coordinator Lezo, Aklan. It is the first case of political killings under Aquino-regime.

In a statement, Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casiño demands an immediate and thorough investigation on the possible involvement of military and military-backed death squads in this continuing climate of impunity against government critics. He also stressed that Baldomero is the first and should be the last victim of extrajudicial killing under the Aquino government.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) through  Renato Reyes said Mr. Aquino should use the full force of law to arrest the perpetrators. BAYAN also remind Aquino of his avowed commitment to end extrajudicial killings and punish their perpetrators.

Meanwhile, KARAPATAN Chair Marie Hilao-Enriquez calls on the present administration to immediately conduct an investigation, and to arrest and punish the perpetrators of the Baldomero killing. Enriquez added that the complete justice announcement of Aquino is nothing if the political killing and impunity is still prevalent and continuing.

Militant groups deemed the incident as part of the ongoing counter-insurgency program OPLAN BANTAY LAYA (Operation freedom watch) of the Armed Forces of the Philippine

A personal appeal for the May 10 elections

Dear Friends,

This Monday, we go to the polls to elect a new set of officials for our country. Let us take this opportunity to vote into office progressive leaders whose integrity is beyond doubt; whose commitment to serve our people and readiness to sacrifice self-interest for the common good is matched by their track record.

For partylist, please vote Bayan Muna (number 122 on the ballot).

I am currently one of Bayan Muna's representatives in Congress and, with your support, hope to serve for a third and final term. My fellow nominees, Atty. Neri Colmenares and Atty. Joven Laura, are brilliant lawyers who have chosen the less trodden path of human rights and public interest lawyering. Together, we shall continue to be a voice of the marginalized and underrepresented sectors in Congress, advocates of genuine reform and social change, and examples of righteous, principled and competent leadership.

Senator Chiz Escudero for Liza Maza and Satur Ocampo

Senator Chiz Escudero endorses Nationalista Party guest senatorial candidates Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza during the unveiling of Ka Bel's sculpture in Plaza Miranda.