Negros barriofolk’s barricade. Residents of Sityo Cabiti, Barangay Santol, Binalbagan surrounded the house of their villagemate Lucia Sales in the early morning of March 20 to protect her against raiding soldiers and police. Sales was targeted by state forces because of her affiliation with the Asosasyon para sa Kauswagan sang mga Mangunguma kag Mamumugon sa Uma.

27th death anniversary of Flor Contemplacion. Migrante staged a picket in Mendiola, Manila last March 17 in commemoration of the execution of Flor Contemplacion. Contemplacion, a domestic helper, who was hanged in Singapore for murder. She was meted out the death penalty in the country in 1995. She was a victim of the Philippine reactionary state’s negligence on migrant Filipinos.

Justice for New Bataan 5! Programs were held last March 11 in Davao City, Cebu City and Quezon City to call for justice for New Bataan 5 after the autopsy report on Chad Booc was released. Investigations revealed that Booc was killed after being sprayed with bullets. Although no official autopsy was done on the remains of Elgyn Balonga and Gelejurain Ngujo II, their bodies bore visible evidence of similar gunshot wounds and bruises.

No tax on teachers’ allowance. Members of Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) staged a picket in front of the Comelec last March 10 to lambast the 20% tax imposed on their election allowance. Local unions of ACT report that the meager ₱2,000 allowance will be reduced by ₱400 for taxes. In the past, the tax was only at 5%, and was demanded to be repealed.