Philippine News Digest 71
March 8, 2004 ·
Contents:
-Indigenous peoples harassed by military
-World celebrates International Women’s Day
-Asian women’s life is under the threat of HIV
Indigenous peoples harassed by military
Militarization in the countryside particularly in Zambales continues un-abetted affecting mostly indigenous peoples, according to reports received by Fr. Donal O’dea, coordinator of the Zambales Indigenous People’s Apostolate. A few weeks ago in Palauig, an Aeta was reported missing and is suspected to be dead while two others were able to escape from the raid conducted by the military. Last February 7, a certain Ka Agustin Daylo from San Felipe, Zambales was shot to death by still un-identified perpetrators in broad daylight. He was with his family cleaning their backyard when the incident happened. On March 9, an encounter broke out between the military and the New People’s Army killing eight rebels and one from the government’s side. Two others were wounded.
World celebrates International Women’s Day
President Gloria Magacapal-Arroyo signed on the occasion of International Women’s Day Republic Act 9262 otherwise known as the Anti-violence Against Women and Their Children Act that penalizes the abuse of female partners and their children by imprisonment of up to 16 years. Kalakasan Foundation, a group that works against domestic violence, explained that the law protected only women and children because there were no statistics showing men on the receiving end of domestic violence. Meanwhile, the women’s rights group Gabriela staged a rally in Manila to call for a rollback in prices of basic commodities since the worsening economic situation is especially hard on women who handle the family budget. In Baguio City, some 200 indigenous women’s rights advocates from 13 countries participating in the Asia Indigenous Women’s Conference donned their traditional clothes and joined a rally marking international women’s day along Session Road. Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, 9 March 2004.
Asian women’s life is under the threat of HIV
