The New People’s Army-North Central Mindanao Region (NPA-NCMR) mounted six successive offensives against the focused military operations (FMO) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the region last August. At least 10 soldiers were killed in the offensives including two officials. The NPA attacked operating soldiers at Sitio Traktor, Barangay Mahagsay, San Luis, Agusan […]
Second part of the series on the Duterte regime’s borrowing binge. Read the first part, “Pandemic borrowing binge,” in Ang Bayan, August 21, 2020. The regime’s economic officials on August 26 projected the government debt to reach a record-high ₱10.16 trillion by the end of 2020. This is higher by 31% than the debt recorded […]
The International Day of the Disappeared is commemorated globally every August 30 to demand justice and remember struggles of thousands of victims of enforced disappearances who were secretly imprisoned or killed by reactionary states. Victims in the Philippines include Elena Tijamo, a development worker in Central Visayas who was abducted by agents of the Duterte […]
Around 190 Aeta families were forced to evacuate to Barangay Aglao, San Marcelino, Zambales last August 21 after their community in Barangay Buhawen was bombed by the military using four helicopters. Majority of the evacuees are children. Nine residents, including four minors, were illegally detained by 703rd IBde troopers who accused them of being members […]
The Covid-19 pandemic exposed the Philippines’ lack of capacity to research and manufacture important drugs and vaccines. The Department of Science and Technology itself admitted that the country has no research facilities to develop a Covid-19 vaccine. Even before the pandemic, no local or foreign company manufactured a single vaccine inside the country. As of […]
Suspected Bagani and Black Fighters paramilitary agents killed Bae Imelda Ansabo, 50, in Barangay Mahongkog, Magpet, North Cotabato on August 23 at 2 p.m. Ansabo was on her way to the farm with her pregnant daughter when she was ambushed by the suspects. The victim was shot and then hacked repeatedly. Ansabo was a Manobo […]
In the Philippines, foreign companies dominate the supply of drugs in almost all categories (antibiotic, anti-hypertension, anti-cancer and others) compared to local companies. These are generally 30-80% more expensive than generic brands. Added to the high costs is the 25-45% mark-up by local and foreign distributors for branded drugs and almost 60% for branded generics. […]
Joint elements of the police and military arrested Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Camarines Sur chairperson Nelsy Rodriguez inside the group’s office in Bagumbayan, Naga City in the evening of September 6. A female agent disguised herself as a barangay health worker to enter the office. She was followed by eight policemen in plainclothes who presented the […]
Hundreds of coconut planters protested in front of the Philippine Coconut Authority in Legazpi City, Albay on August 20 to demand a dialogue, aid, increase in the farmgate prices of copra, and the immediate return of the coco levy fund. The protest coincided the 47th year of the Presidential Decree 27 which imposed the collection […]