Bayan marches for Morong 43

By Carmela Quidoles

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) marched last April 14, 2010, demanding
the transfer of the 43 health workers, who were tagged by the military as alleged
members of the New People’s Army (NPA), to a civilian detention facility.

Bayan, along with other human rights groups, marched from Welcome Rotonda
to Don Chino Roces Bridge. They demand the immediate transfer of the health
workers from Camp Capinpin Rizal to a civilian detention facility.

Protesters believe that the Armed Forces of the Philippines should release the 43
workers since the military have no sufficient proofs that these 43 are members of
the New People’s Army (NPA).

Protesters had effigies of black coffins which symbolize human rights violations in
the Philippines. They had pictures of the victims of extrajudicial killings during
Arroyo’s tenure.

Almost 1, 188 died because of EJK base from the data of Karapatan (Alliance for
the Advancement of People’s Rights).

Bayan also states the need for a Truth Commission to be established on the next
administration.

Truth Commission should be initiated in the next administration to investigate and

prosecute civilians and military officials who are responsible for human rights
violations.

This Commission would help in punishing the human rights violators who get
away with crimes because of impunity.

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 Kid sexually abused by a solvent user
By Carmela Quidoles

A young girl was sexually harassed by a group of men who were addicted to
solvent-sniffing at around 8pm of April 13, along Mabini corner Pedro Gil in
Malate Manila.

Base from the statements of the child, she was approached by the suspect
named Michael Tan. He asked where her cousin was, who is younger than her,
because he wants to molest her.

When she saw her cousin, she was already with a group of men. The suspect,
together with the other men, started touching the victim. They slid their hands
inside her shirt and touched her chest and genital as well.

After the incident, the child told her grandmother the abuse. They immediately
reported it to the Women and Children’s Protection Desk of Police Station 5 in
Manila.

The young girl adds that she met Tan at Bahay Kanlungan, a government
organization which shelters the abused and exploited.

In the Philippines, the prevalence of these solvent-users or the so-called "rugby

boys" has been a problem for years due to extreme poverty.

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 Fire ruins a warehouse
By Carmela Quidoles

A fire razes a vacant warehouse in Sampaloc, Manila last April 13 at around 10

in the evening.

The cause of the fire is still unknown. The fire originated at 173 Vicente Cruz
Street of Sampaloc, Manila. A call from a concerned resident was dispatched to
Station 2 of Manila Police District. PO3 Nogoy of the said post was sent to
investigate the occurrence.

No person was reported injured in the incident. The damages on the property are
still under investigation.

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