Philippine News Digest 46
December 07 - December 23, 2002
Contents:
NBI charges two foreigners for employing minors in bars
Inmates fast to protest abuses in jail
Lawyers act to end judicial corruption
NBI charges two foreigners for employing minors in
bars
The National Bureau of Investigation charged Australian
Terrence George Matthews and American Thomas Glenn Jarrel for employing
minors as dancers and prostitutes in at least two bars on Fields Avenue,
Angeles City's red light district. The charges also include four Filipino
women identified as Editha Araquel, Rea de la Cruz, Shirley Delbo and Rita
Samudio. The raids rescued at least eight girls whose age range from 13 to
17 old. Six of the girls are now undergoing therapy and rehabilitation at
the PREDA Children's Home in Olongapo City. Source:
Tonette Orejas, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 23 December 2002.
Inmates fast to protest abuses in jail
The 169 inmates of the Tarlac Provincial Jail staged a hunger
strike December 19 following a week of noise barrage to protest alleged
abuses committed by Teody Dupitas, deputy jail warden, and to demand his
transfer. The inmates accused Dupitas of beating them for no apparent
reason, Two inmates have already died since Dupitas employed a
“military-style exercise program.” Dupitas has been on AWOL (absent
without leave) since the time when detainees started the protest against
him. Source: Ronaldo
Dizon, Philippines
Daily Inquirer, 20 December 2002.
Lawyers act to end juducial corruption
Private lawyers from the country's top ten law offices
organized themselves into a movement against “hoodlums in robes” launched
August 21, 2002.. Dubbed “Operation Clean Hands,” the movement's main
goal is to cleanse the judicial system of corrupt justices, judges,
prosecutors and lawyers. Former Solicitor General Frank Chavez, who heads
the operation, said its main thrust is “to reaffirm and maintain the
dignity and purity of the law profession, and the essence of true
justice.” Source:
Michael Lim Ubac, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 7 December 2002.
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