News
Judges launch protest actions
COURT services in Manila and other cities and municipalities throughout the country were temporarily disrupted on October 6 when judges launched protest actions. Magistrates and court employees demanded the ratification of Senate Bill 2018, which provides for a 25% increase in their salaries and allowances. In Cebu City, justices suspended hearings scheduled that day. Meanwhile, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Cebu City and its provincial chapter expressed support for the protesting magistrates. In Negros Occidental, courts in seven cities and ten other towns closed for the day.
Protests rock GSIS
WIDESPREAD protests rocked the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) from October 6 to 8 due to cases of large-scale corruption involving its management. Government employees launched a protest march on October 8 in Manila led by the Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE). Up to 5,000 gathered in front of the GSIS head office in Pasay City to demand the ouster of GSIS president and general manager Winston Garcia.
COURAGE also led protest actions in the cities of Baguio and San Fernando in La Union and likewise in Lucena City. Four hundred government employees from 26 different agencies in Tacloban City launched protests led by COURAGE-Eastern Visayas. Five hundred members of COURAGE launched a caravan in Bacolod City. In Iloilo City, COURAGE and Protect Our Funds, the local alliance of government employees, marched to the GSIS regional office before holding a noise barrage.
Bolivians oust Sanchez-Lozada regime
DESPITE support from the US government, Bolivian Pres. Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada�s regime collapsed on October 17 after a month-long bloody people�s uprising led by the Bolivia Workers Central. Vice Pres. Carlos Mesa replaced him. The regime left 86 dead and over a thousand injured civilians. Miners, students, teachers, peasants, indigenous Indians and Catholic religious celebrated in the streets when they heard the news of the hated president�s resignation. The month-long uprising was triggered by worsening poverty and the growing burden imposed on the people by imperialist �free market globalization�.
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