On the death of Filipino Comedian-Activist Arvin “Tado” Jimenez (tags)
We mourn the untimely loss of an artist, comrade, and friend who had been one of standard-bearers of our party during the local elections in May last year.
Philippine Leftists launch election campaign to take on traditional politicians (tags)
At a one-day assembly of more than 500 delegates on November 28, the militant socialist Party of the Laboring Masses (PLM - Partido Lakas ng Masa) introduced its candidates for national elections scheduled for May 13 next year.
Philippine political dynasties must end (tags)
MANILA, Philippines – Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño on Tuesday urged voters to use the upcoming 2013 elections to end political dynasties by voting for new faces and new names.
PHILIPPINES: The ghosts of martial law (tags)
On September 21, forty years ago, President Ferdinand E. Marcos declared martial law. For almost 13-and-a-half years afterwards, the country suffered terribly from a brutal and corrupt dictatorship. Among the victims of the grave violations of human rights under martial law were the following: 3,257 “salvaged” (summarily executed), 35,000 tortured, and 70,000 incarcerated, as documented by historian Alfred McCoy.
"I HAVE TO BELIEVE IN MY OWN MESSAGE - NOTHING IS EVER IN VAIN (tags)
IT IS TRUE THAT I ONCE SAID THAT THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE MY TOUGHEST FIGHT EVER FOR THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS IN ISABELA. FAUSTINO “BOJIE” DY IS NOT THE MOST FORMIDABLE OPPONENT AMONG THE DY BROTHERS, HE IS NOT THE MOST POPULAR , HE IS NOT THE MOST CAPABLE, BUT THEIR FAMILY IS AT THEIR MOST DESPERATE TO WIN THE ELECTIONS. SIX YEARS IS TOO LONG FOR THEM TO BE OUT OF THE CAPITOL AND THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT POWER FOR THREE MORE YEARS. ON THE OTHER HAND, MY RUNNING MATE, 3-TERMER CONGRESSMAN EDWIN UY, AND I HOPED THAT IF WE DEFEAT THE DY AND ALBANO DYNASTIES IN THESE ELECTIONS, WE WOULD HAVE TOTALLY FREED OUR PROVINCE FROM THEIR TRANSACTIONAL, TRADITIONAL WAY OF POLITICS AND EVERYTHING IT REPRESENTS.
National Victory? Local Defeats, Political Dynasties Consolidates. (tags)
BANTAY PILIPINAS correspondents and media news broke the sad news that political dynasties and hweteng lords defeated the good guys in the last elections. This while there was wide spread rejoicing over the national victory of the LP. Isabela Gov. Maria Gracia Cielo “Grace” Padaca and Pampanga Gov. Eddie “Among Ed” Panlilio—who both had to contend with politically entrenched families—were among the casualties in the country’s first automated national elections. This is the local level. Questioning her loss to Rep. Faustino Dy III in the gubernatorial race, Padaca on Friday said: “I weep for Isabela … Padaca, a crusader broadcaster was swept to power by the people's mandate.
Fight Violence against Women and Defenseless Civilians Dismantle Warlord Dynasties (tags)
-KAISA KA is enraged by the gruesome massacre in the boundary of Ampatuan and Shariff Aguak in Magindanao the other day that included more than 20 women among its victims. This is the first ever slaughter after Bud Bagsak and Bud Dajo massacres that killed this big number of women in just one day. The killing of defenseless civilians in their numbers, some of them did not even belong to the party that filed an opposition certificate of candidacy, their speed in burying the dead using government backhoe with the name of the governor printed on it and the inability of the military to prevent this from happening show the barbarity of the perpetrators and immense power they have at their disposal.
AF3IRM/GABNET STATEMENT ON THE MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE: (tags)
AF3IRM/GabNet condemns the murder of some 50 persons in Maguindanao, Philippines, including some 14 women, who appear to have been raped as well, and scores of media people. It is ironic that at the start of 16 Days of Activism against Violence against Women, the Philippines should once again make news around the world for an act so vile it boggles the mind.
Political Fiefdoms Dig In (tags)
A look at the election outcome in some of the political turfs would show whether the geopolitical balance of power has changed without necessarily shaking the infrastructures of political dynasties in those areas. The clan of Macapagal-Arroyo has been in power for 58 years, broken only by the Marcos dictatorship. Even if the clan has spun out its political presence in Camarines Sur and Negros, it has a lot of damage control coming up what with the province of Pampanga - considered Mrs. Arroyo's bailiwick and father Diosdado's birthplace - going to a new governor,