Philippines: Stop the killings, stop silencing dissent (tags)
This is the statement of a seven-member delegation of the Progressive Alliance (PA) and the Party of European Socialists (PES) that have visited Manila this week to assess the situation and to demonstrate solidarity in support for democracy in the Philippines. The delegation was hosted by Akbayan Party, a member of Progressive Alliance.
Philippines: Bongbong Marcos is a false prophet of unity (tags)
Akbayan PartyList today countered Senator Bongbong Marcos’s calls to elect politicians who will push for unity, saying the ambitious scion of the dictator does not fit the quality he endorses.
Philippines: Alarming incidents of political violence related to 2016 polls (tags)
Akbayan Party-List condemns in the strongest terms possible the recent spate of political violence In what seems to be a prelude to the coming May 2016 elections, involving elected officials and others running for public office.
Statement of Solidarity With the People and Government of Greece (tags)
The following statement is issued by various progressive individuals and organizations from many parts of the world, but mostly in Asia-Pacific. A copy of the statement has already been sent to Syriza's international department.
Various Groups in the Philippines Conduct a Peace March (tags)
Various groups unite and conducted a peace march from Sandiganbayan to the House of Representatives in support of the immediate passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and for lasting peace in Muslim Mindanao.
Fatal encounter: Jennifer Laude meets US Marine Corps (tags)
PHILIPPINES: As I peered at Jennifer Laude’s serene face in the open casket, I saw the wound on her forehead that was barely concealed by the mortician’s make up. I did not see the bruises on her neck and shoulders, but a person familiar with the autopsy said they were severe.
The State of Reform in the Philippines (tags)
Akbayan on Aquino’s 5th State of the Nation Address
Philippine President told: Re-energize the campaign for reforms (tags)
Philippines: As President Benigno Simeon Aquino III prepares to deliver his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA), Akbayan Party-list urged him to "re-energize the campaign for reforms" by carrying out "deeper and broader institutional changes" in his last two years in office.
Time to act with urgency and determination to improve the lives of Filipino workers (tags)
Philippines: As the country observes the International Labor Day, Akbayan Party would like to draw attention to the inability of the current economic growth to translate into an improvement in the lives of ordinary workers from both the urban centers and the countryside. While the Aquino administration takes pride on the 7.2 % growth rate for 2013, it cannot mask the fact that this growth has been insufficient to curb massive unemployment and poverty.
Akbayan welcomes Philippines-MILF deal with hopes for inclusive peace (tags)
Akbayan Party today said it welcomes with high hopes the signing of the last annex to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the Aquino government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Philippines: Time to punish pork plunderers and reform the budget system (tags)
Akbayan Partylist welcomes the unanimous decision of the Supreme Court declaring unconstitutional the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) as well as all forms of congressional insertions with the aim of creating lump sum funds for projects primarily determined by lawmakers.
Philippine Partylist Akbayan to President Aquino: Abolish the pork (tags)
Akbayan Party today called on President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to immediately and without conditions abolish the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) following the shocking revelations in the recent COA audit on the heels of the P 10 Billion Napoles-pork barrel scam. The progressive-coalition partner of Aquino said that the pork barrel is "incompatible with the President's reform agenda."
Five-point approach to manage Chinese and US presence in the West Philippine Sea (tags)
Akbayan Partylist today proposed to the Aquino government a "five-point approach" in handling the current territorial dispute with China and the increasing involvement of the United States in the conflict.
Philippines: 25,000 Workers March to Mendiola on Labor Day (tags)
Chiding President Aquino’s pronouncement that Labor Day should be celebratory with both labor and capitalists greeting each other for “doing a good job” for the past year, workers renewed the call for government to create “not just jobs” but “more regular jobs with living wage.”
Philippines: Akbayan slams Chinese incursion into Tubbataha Reef (tags)
Akbayan Party-list today slammed the incursion of a Chinese fishing vessel into the Tubbataha reef, which the group said is engaged in "state-led" poaching activities at the marine protected area in Palawan.
International Women's Day in the Philippines (tags)
Women groups hail ‘triple wins,’ but warn of complacency
Philippines: Akbayan pushes for universal healthcare (tags)
In line with its 15th founding anniversary, Akbayan Party-list yesterday launched a “health festival” in Manila to draw attention to the need for the Aquino government to carry out a universal healthcare program to provide comprehensive “social health protection’ to Filipinos.
RH victory in Philippine Congress, a historic leap forward for women (tags)
Akbayan Party-list joins the Filipino people in celebrating our historic victory in the passage of the Reproductive Health bill in the second reading of the House of Representatives. Through Representatives Walden Bello and Kaka Bag-ao, Akbayan reiterated the voice of the people when it voted for life, choice, and reproductive health rights. We join the people in enjoying the fruit of more than a decade of struggle—a long and arduous journey towards the enactment of a law that will uphold and safeguard their right to a better future. Finally, after years of perseverance, the people have emerged triumphant.
Philippine Congress called to to pass "vital five" legislative bills (tags)
Akbayan Party-list urged Congress to pass important reform measures it dubbed as the “Vital Five” or the “VV” legislative bills. According to the party-list group, the “VV bills” composed of pending pieces of legislation in Congress namely the Reproductive Health bill, Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill, Anti-political dynasty Bill, the Sin Tax Bill, and the amendments to the Cybercrime Prevention Law, were necessary reform bills.
On the Israeli-Gaza Conflict (tags)
Manila, Philippines - Akbayan Party strongly and categorically condemns the Israeli armed forces’ (navy and air force) constant bombardment and shelling, numbering above 100, of the Gaza strip, hosting more than 1.7 million people in one of the most densely-populated areas in the world. Despite its claims of engaging in surgical operations against militant and ‘terrorist’ elements within Gaza, Israel’s air raids and naval shelling have contributed to rising casualties among civilians, including journalists and children, caught in the firing line.
Filipinos slams US over toxic dumping; renews call for abrogation of VFA (tags)
'Not the trash bin of a superpower': Philippine solons, groups denounce U.S. toxic waste dumping in Subic
PHILIPPINES: Akbayan pushes for institutional teaching of Martial Law atrocities (tags)
On the 40th year commemoration of the declaration of martial law, Akbayan Party filed a resolution urging the institutional teaching of the atrocities committed during martial law under the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos in all levels of education.
PHILIPPINES: Akbayan calls on Sandiganbayan to issue warrant of arrest against Arroyo (tags)
Akbayan Chairperson Risa Hontiveros called on the Sandiganbayan today to issue a warrant of arrest against former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) in connection with the plunder charge filed against her and several others before the anti-graft court by the Office of the ombudsman.
PHILIPPINES: Much has been won; much still to be fought for (tags)
Akbayan on President Aquino’s 3rd State of the Nation Address
PHILIPPINES: Akbayan hails farmers’ triumph in Hacienda Luisita decision (tags)
Akbayan Party today congratulates the farmer-beneficiaries of Hacienda Luisita. The decision of the Supreme Court (SC) to order the total distribution of more than 6,000 hectares of Hacienda Luisita unequivocally validates the decades-long struggle of the farmers for agrarian reform. This also serves as an affirmation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program-Extension with Reforms (CARPER) and outright repudiation of the Stock Distribution Option (SDO).
Akbayan calls on Filipinos to defend sovereignty against US and Chinese interests (tags)
Akbayan Party today called on Filipinos to be vigilant and engaged in defending the country's sovereignty from different foreign interests. The statement was made coinciding with the formal start of the United States' Balikatan military exercises with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and several allies, and amid the unresolved tension at the Panatag shoal involving the Philippines and China.
On Philippine Foreign Policy (tags)
1) Needed: Firm but Deft Diplomacy, not War Games 2) Akbayan to Chinese government: Defuse standoff, pull vessels out of Scarborough shoal 3) Akbayan condemns North Korea’s planned rocket launch 4) Akbayan (Citizens Action Party) congratulates Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy
Renewable energy solution to oil price hikes (tags)
Manila, Philippines: Akbayan Party today urged the Aquino administration to push for renewable energy as a long term solution to oil price hikes. Akbayan lawmaker Walden Bello said that the spiraling cost of fuel should send alarm signals to the government and stress the urgency of pushing for renewable energy to address the country’s energy needs.
No to US and Chinese expansionism (tags)
PHILIPPINES: Akbayan Party condemns plans for increased United States military presence in the country amid burgeoning Chinese military expansionism. We believe these acts by the two superpowers will inevitably destabilize the West Philippine Sea and Southeast Asian region.
Reform the Philippine Judiciary! Remove Chief Justice Corona! (tags)
The Bantay Gloria Network today said that with Chief Justice Renato Corona hounded by serious charges of amassing ill-gotten wealth, he should follow the example of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez who opted to resign rather than face a prolonged impeachment trial.
Philippine Chief Justice Corona urged to resign (tags)
TWO days after a "court holiday" was declared in support of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona, Bantay Gloria Network (BGN) responded with a "national day of action" to press for the removal of Corona from his post.
Philippine police asked to respect human rights (tags)
Akbayan Party to PNP: Respect People's Right to Protest, Observe Maximum Tolerance
PHILIPPINES: SC Reversal on Hacienda Luisita, A Triumph of CARPER, Agrarian Justice (tags)
We in Akbayan Party welcome the Supreme Court's reversal of its previous ruling on the Hacienda Luisita case. It is a great victory not only for the beneficiaries but also for every Filipino farmer. Now it is crystal clear, land distribution is the sole, genuine avenue of agrarian reform. Likewise, this decision affirms the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program- Extension with Reforms (CARPER) - farmers must own the lands they till and it is the onus of government to guarantee it.
Former Philippine President Arroyo charged with electoral fraud (tags)
MANILA: The former Philippine president Gloria Arroyo has been charged with electoral fraud in a move that could pave the way for her arrest, after the government rushed the case to a regional court to keep her from leaving the country.
Philippines: No state burial for Marcos is step toward justice (tags)
Akbayan Party lauded President Aquino’s declaration that the administration will not accord a state burial for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, saying that this is a positive step toward the issuance of justice and rectification of Marcos’ atrocities during the Martial Law.
Akbayan and the Struggle for a New Philippines (tags)
(Speech at the Gene Viernes and Silme Domingo Awards Event, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington State, July 2, 2011.)
PHILIPPINES: The Rough and Rugged Road toward Change (tags)
Akbayan Party?s Statement on the First Year of the Aquino Government
No to Sabre-Rattling! A Negotiated Political Settlement to the Spratly Islands Dispute! (tags)
The Party of the Laboring Masses - Philippines condemns any actions that increase military tensions in the region and contribute to a regional military conflict, by countries that lay claim to the Spratly Islands. We are opposed to any sabre-rattling and stand for a negotiated, political settlement, of the disputed claims to the area. Therefore we deplore China?s strong-arm tactics and bullying, which undermines efforts towards a peaceful, political settlement, of the disputed claims.
World March of Women in the Philippines (tags)
Today, women in the Philippines and all over the world gather in different places and spaces to show our collective strength and make our collective voice heard as we speak out our sufferings, challenges, triumphs and aspirations. Our voices are joined together as we resist the abuses and marginalization wrought upon us by economic policies that discriminate against giving women productive employment, just wages and benefits at the workplace, and opportunities for livelihood and income; by societies that allow, or even promote, violence to be committed against women with impunity; by governments and public institutions that turn a blind eye to the human rights of women.
Progressive Partylists in the Philippines support Reproductive Health Bill (tags)
Around a hundred members of the PM, Akbayan and PLM joined officials of government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs) in a press conference that called on President Benigno C. Aquino III to include the RH bill among government’s priority measures.
Philippine Govt creating a climate of fear to put country under Martial law (tags)
Philippine Democratic Left Parties statements regarding Ampatuan Massacre and the declaration of Martial Law in Maguindanao
Philippines - Citizens’ Action is Best Response for Disaster (tags)
Saying that the country needs to unite in order to confront and address the calamities brought about by typhoon Ondoy, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Walden Bello on Monday asked every Filipino here in the Philippines and those overseas to summon their Bayanihan spirit and help the victims in any way possible.