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Roque nominated for UK’s Freedom of Expression award

Published by Ellen on April 14, 2009

harry-roque Congratulations to lawyer Harry Roque who is short-listed for an Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards.

Index on Censorship is Britain’s leading organization promoting freedom of expression. The awards are co-sponsored by the Economist, the Guardian, The Robert Gavron Trust and Bindman’s, a leading law firm in London.

Roque is a nominee for the Bindmans Law and Campaigning Award. The Award aims to recognise lawyers and campaigners who have fought repression or who have struggled to change political climates and perceptions, especially those who have used or established legal means to fight injustice in the field of freedom of expression. Special attention is given to people using or establishing legal precedents to fight injustice.

Index on Censorship’s website specifically cites Roque’s efforts in a class action suit on behalf of several dozen journalists against First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo whose “attacks on journalists seemed a blatant attempt to intimidate the press into silence.”

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Pagwawaldas ng pera sa Dubai

Published by Ellen on April 13, 2009

Kunwari sa mga press release ng Malacanang ay inaasikaso ni Arroyo ang paghihirap ng mamayang Pilipino sa gitna ng krisis pang-ekonomiya kung saan libo-libong OFW ang nawawalan ng trabaho.

Pero sa totoo lang patuloy ang pagwaldas ng pera ng taumbayan sa sariling luho kasama na ng kanyang mga alagad.

Sumulat sa aking blog si Ares Gutierrez, isang Pilipinong manunulat na nagtatrabaho sa XPRESS sa Dubai, tungkol sa bisita ni Arroyo. Sabi ni Ares, inis na inis raw siya nang pinakilala ni Arroyo ang sangkaterba niyang kasama.

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RP files claim over Benham Rise with UN

Published by Ellen on April 12, 2009

by Tessa Jamandre
VERA Files

THE Philippines has filed before the United Nations a claim over Benham Rise, an extinct volcanic ridge off the east coast of Luzon, beating the May 13 deadline for states to submit claims over their extended continental shelves.

The Philippine delegation deposited the claim with the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) in New York on April 8, making clear it was only a “partial submission.”

This means that other submissions, including those over disputed territories, would be made later. The disputed Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), also known as the Spratly Islands, and Scarborough Shoal are also said to be part of the country’s extended continental shelf and are believed to contain oil, natural gas, minerals and polymetals.

By filing the claim over Benham Rise, which is undisputed territory, the government has stopped the clock on the UN deadline and buys time to sort out border issues with its neighbors over the KIG and Scarborough.

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Why Arroyo frequents Dubai

Published by Ellen on April 12, 2009

Gloria Arroyo is becoming a frequent visitor of Dubai in recent months, especially since the financial crisis in the United States that hit hard her family’s favorite investment firms, Lehman Brothers and Merryl Lynch.

Serge Remonde’s spin is that Arroyo is on a two-day visit to Dubai to “ seek more job employment for the country’s expatriate workers.” What has become of her labor officials that taxpayers are subsidizing with billion of pesos in salaries and allowances?

After fleeing Thailand’s protesters, Malacañang said Arroyo went to Dubai accompanied by “ Press Secretary Serge Remonde, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, among other Cabinet members, and some congressmen.”

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ASEAN summit aborted

Published by Ellen on April 12, 2009

Protesters storm Thai hotel; Arroyo, leaders flee
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PATTAYA, THAILAND – Helicopters evacuated foreign leaders out of this beach resort city after anti-government protests forced the Thai government to postpone the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders Summit.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo boarded a civilian helicopter which landed on the roof of the luxury Royal Cliff Grand Hotel, where the meeting was being held, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said by telephone from Pattaya.

“She’s very safe, and very OK,” said Remonde, adding that Ms Arroyo and the other leaders were never in any danger. “The protesters were not rowdy,” he said.

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Prusisyon ng sakripisyo ng Panginoon

Published by Ellen on April 11, 2009

preparing-dolorosa-for-parade dolorosa-ready-for-the-procession finishing-touches-for-the-santo-intiero1

Noong Biyernes Santo, sumama ako sa prusisyon doon sa aming baryo.

Doon sa amin sa Guisijan sa bayan ng Laua-an, probinsiya ng Antique, dalawang relihiyon ang maraming miyembro: ang Iglesia Pilipina Indipendiente o Aglipayan church at Romano Katoliko.

Mas malaki ang Aglipayan, ang simbahan na itinatag ng makabayang si Fr. Gregorio Aglipay dahil gusto niya ang relihiyon na hindi lamang nakabase sa Kristiyanismo kungdi na rin sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas at kaugalian ng mga Pilipino.

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Coming full circle in one year

Published by Ellen on April 5, 2009


VERA Files started with Spratlys, baseline and extended continental shelf. One year after, it’s again Spratlys, baseline and extended continental shelf.

On March 25 last year VERA Files came out with a two-part special report on the government’s scrambling to meet the deadline set by the United Nations for the submission of the Philippine claim of its extended continental shelf, the underwater extension of the land.

The deadline set by the Convention of the Law of the Sea, which the Philippines ratified 24 years ago, for coastal states to declare their extended continental shelf is May 13, 2009.

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