News
NPA seizes 5 firearms in Western Samar ambush
The Arnulfo Ortiz Command (AOC) of the New People�s Army (NPA) in Western Samar seized five high-powered firearms and other military equipment in an ambush on elements of the 34th IB between Barangay Quezon, San Jorge and Barangay Palencia, Tarangnan on March 3. Two soldiers were killed and an undetermined number wounded on the enemy side, while the NPA did not sustain a single casualty. The troops were aboard a Hummer Military Vehicle when they were ambushed.
According to the AOC, the 34th IB was punished because of �continued inhumane acts of its Reengineered Special Operations Teams (RSOT)�, such as setting up camps in chapels, schools and homes of civilians, harassing the barriofolk, accusing them of being NPA members, and forcing civilians to act as guides in their military operations.
Government employees stage protest
Thousands of teachers, health workers and other government employees launched a national day of protest on March 16 to demand a P3,000 across-the-board increase in their monthly salaries. Among the participating organizations were the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) and the All Government Employees Unity.
In Manila, thousands of government employees converged in Mendiola where they held a program. They assailed this year�s recently approved P907.56-billion national budget for not having any provision for increasing the salaries of government employees. Meanwhile, a third of the budget will go to debt payments.
The government employees said that their pegged salaries can no longer keep up with rising prices of commodities.
Central Luzon drivers go on strike
Jeepney, FX, van and tricycle drivers launched a transport strike in Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Quezon provinces on March 16 to protest relentless increases in the prices of petroleum products, the spiraling cost of toll fees in the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the increase in the value-added tax. The rallyists also called for the junking of the oil deregulation law.
In Bulacan, it was morning when rallyists blocked the NLEX Tabang exit in Guiguinto. That day, 60% of transportation was paralyzed in the province.
In Pampanga, demonstrators gathered at the toll gate in Dau, Mabalacat and symbolically closed the NLEX.
In Tarlac, the protest paralyzed up to 98% of public transportation. According to the local chapter of the Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON), 60% of the 15,000 tricycles plying Tarlac City�s 76 communities joined the protest.
In Lucena City, there were no more passenger jeepneys plying the streets as early as 7:30 a.m.
Meanwhile, the NLEX teamed up with the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the regional police commands under Dir. Avelino Razon in trying to stop the protest. The transport strike succeeded anyway despite the deployment of policemen to monitor movements in Metro Manila and nearby provinces and despite Razon�s order to arrest protesters at the NLEX.
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