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War on drugs, a war against the poor

“Gusto ko i-stress yung issue na maraming drug-related killings at yung mga mahihirap, yung mga maralitang Pilipino ang pangunahing tinatamaan.”

Published

8 years ago

November 24, 2016

Nhuj Pascua

The government’s brutal campaign against illegal drugs is a war against the poor, speakers said during the forum titled “Batas, Hindi Dahas,” held last Wednesday, Nov. 23.

Michael Beltran of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap said that the spiraling number drug-related killings in the country target the minorities.

“Gusto ko i-stress yung issue na maraming drug-related killings at yung mga mahihirap, yung mga maralitang Pilipino ang pangunahing tinatamaan,” said Beltran.

Beltran stated that poverty caused many to venture into illegal drug trading.

“Mayorya ng mga drug-dependent sa Pilipinas ay mahihirap, ang pagtutulak lang ang kanilang kabuhayan.”

According to the 2015 Nationwide Survey on the Nature and Extent of Drug Abuse in the Philippines released last August, 53.20 percent of drug abusers in the country are unemployed.

Marielle Marcaida, of the University of the Philippines Political Science Core Group, said that their should be a “more humane” method in reducing drug use, suggesting methods grounded in science and research.

“Treat drug addiction as a public health concern, not a criminal offense,” Marcaida said.

Fr. Delfo Canceran O.P. of the UST Ecclesiastical Faculties said that drug offenders should be given another chance instead of killing them.

“The Church uphold the right to life of all human beings,” he said. “Extrajudicial killings rob the chance to reform one’s life.”

Canceran points out that extrajudicial killings are violation of to the Church. “Social order need not be paid at the expense of lives,” he said.

“Batas, Hindi Dahas” was organized by senior Sociology students in partnership with the UST Simbahayan Community Development Office, UST Sociological Society, UST Junior High School Social Studies Department, and the Artlets Student Council. – T. Aquino.

Nhuj Pascua

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Darkness looms in PH, Dagohoy warns

“Darkness looms when we allow precious lives destroyed by drugs, when we fail to hear the cries of the widows and children of thousands of men and women who were killed because of it,” he said.

Published

8 years ago

December 16, 2016

Nhuj Pascua

Photo by Mark Sulit

Rector Rev. Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. warned of a looming darkness in the country, hitting the bloody war on drugs of the Duterte administration and historical revisionism.

In his homily during the Paskuhan Mass, Thursday, Dec. 15, Dagohoy slammed drug use, the rampant extrajudicial killings and the poor justice system in the Philippines.

“Darkness looms when we allow precious lives destroyed by drugs, when we fail to hear the cries of the widows and children of thousands of men and women who were killed because of it,” he said.

“Darkness looms when we fail to fix our criminal justice system and instead take the easier route to punish the law offenders by death, depriving them the opportunity to reform their lives and extinguish from them their sense of hope.”

Dagohoy also criticized historical revisionism in his homily.

“Darkness looms when we fail to tell the stories of the lives of those who generally fought for freedom, [against] the atrocities of martial rule, and allow incontrovertible facts of history replaced by imagined benevolence and illusions of power and grandeur,” he said.

It can be recalled that the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was stealthily buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani last Nov. 18 after the Supreme Court ruled that President Duterte had all the right to allow the burial – moves that critics say propagate historical revisionism.

Amid the issues in the country, Dagohoy urged Thomasians to share the sense of peace this Christmas with their loved ones.

“Peace that can only be with us if we remain proclaiming, celebrating and serving the Gospel of Life in every situation, peace that can only be with us if we learn to share the sorrows, the sense of loss and anguish of the victims of violence and support them in their search for justice,” he said.

“Peace can only be with us if only we continue narrating the stories of those who struggled for freedom and peace, freedom and democracy, so that it would never be stolen from us.”

‘No reason for admin to release statement’

Daghoy told TomasinoWeb after the Mass that there is no reason for the University administration to release a statement on the burial of Marcos as student councils and organizations have already made their stances.

“Well, mayroon namang ginawang actions ang mga Thomasian. I have seen the statement issued by the Central Student Council and other Thomasians,” he said.

UST was the only “Big Four” school which was absent during the Nov. 30 protest at the People Power Monument in Quezon City which saw UP Chancellor Michael Tan, Ateneo de Manila University President Fr. Jett Villarin, and De La Salle Philippines President Jose Mari Jimenez coming onstage in solidarity with the protest.

Dagohoy explained that he respects the sentiment of the Thomasian community on the issue.

“Well, we cannot actually separate the feelings or the sentiments of one sector of the [Thomasian] community; so that could mean, when we support and when we agree with the statement of one sector, that means we upheld the sentiments.” –C.C.M.

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Students join forces vs Marcos burial

Protesters in black were unfazed by intermittent rain as they slammed Friday, Nov. 25, at the Quirino Grandstand the covert burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Published

8 years ago

November 26, 2016

Nhuj Pascua

Photo by Johmar Damiles

Protesters in black were unfazed by intermittent rain as they slammed Friday, Nov. 25, at the Quirino Grandstand the covert burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

In the University, members of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines and the League of Filipino Students gathered at the Plaza Mayor at around 2 p.m. and marched around the Quadricentennial Park in a silent protest to encourage more Thomasians to join the rally.

Protesters broke into chants as they exited Gate 2 at España Boulevard.

Police were deployed along España to maintain security during the protest.

“Kaya namin pinapadala ‘yun [pulis], hindi naman kami [nandito] para pigilan ‘yung mga nagra-rally diyan. Nirerespeto namin ang karapatang ‘yan. Nandito kami para sa security ng dalawang panig,” said Sr. Insp. Philipp Ines.

Thomasian protesters were joined by students from the University of the East, Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, National Teachers College and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines at Mendiola.

From Mendiola, protesters converged with other activist groups along Kalaw Avenue and marched to Luneta.

Pro-Marcos

Police estimate that the anti-Marcos crowd at Luneta reached 4,000 to 5,000 people.

Meanwhile, some 30 supporters of Marcos, President Rodrigo Duterte and the Supreme Court dubbed Duterte Youth were also present at Luneta and held their picket across Quirino Grandstand.

“Hindi na ako bilanggo ng nakaraan. Kasi kung uungkatin at uungkatin mo ‘yung nakaraan mabuhuhay ka lang nang nasasaktan,” said Nemuel Noche, a junior Political Science student from Adamson University.

Impact on youth

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said that he is worried about the impact of the burial on the future generation.

“The first impact is the revision of history. ‘Yung mga human rights violation victims ay hindi pala totoo dahil bayani pala si Marcos,” Colmenares said.

“Second impact is the lesson learned, kasi pwede ka pala magnakaw, maging diktador, tapos human rights violator, tapos pwede kang maging bayani.”

“We are here, because we want to make sure that the future will not revive the Marcosian ideology of plunder, repression and abuse,” he said.

However, Sister John Mary Mananzan of St. Scholastica’s College says that Marcos’ burial has a positive effect on the youth.

“Blessing in disguise na si Marcos ay binulabog ng kaniyang pamilya, kayo ngayon ang namulat. Millenials are the heroes,” Mananzan said.

Black ribbon movement

Last Nov. 21, the Central Student Council in cooperation with local student councils, launched the “Black Ribbon Movement” as protest against the injustices committed during Martial Law.

“We cannot be neutral or silent because this is an issue that affects the nation as a whole. It is a reminder that we must always have a rational disposition or stand,” said Artlets Student Council President Ysa Marasigan.

Marasigan also clarified that the movement is not an alternative to street protests.

“We have no problem with street protests most especially in times like this. We just thought that bringing it to the building would be a reminder to the Artlet community that apathy must stop,” she said. – P. Jamilla, J. Pimentel, R. Peralta, C. Dumaua, E.M. Bola, R. Arellano, M. Dela Paz

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Planning to join the Marcos burial protest tomorrow? Here are some details

Anti-Marcos groups are organizing a large protest at Luneta tomorrow in response to the stealthy burial the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Published

8 years ago

November 24, 2016

Anna Mogato

Anti-Marcos groups are organizing a large protest at Luneta tomorrow in response to the stealthy burial the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

In UST, student organizations and councils will first assemble at the Tan Yan Kee lobby at noon.

Protesters will then assemble at 1 p.m. at the Plaza Mayor for a noise barrage.

They will march to the University’s Gate 2 at 2 p.m. where they will hold a short program before heading to Mendiola at 3 p.m. to join with other students from the University Belt.

The University Belt contingent will march from Mendiola to Luneta Park at 4 p.m. for the “National Day of Unity and Rage” organized by the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses in Malacañang (Carmma) and other youth groups.

“Let us rage against the revision of history and the reversal of people’s judgement. Let us hold President Rodrigo Duterte accountable for the burial. Let us reject Duterte’s alliance with the Marcoses that is aiding the rehabilitation of the dictator and the return of his heirs to Malacañang. Let us hold accountable the Supreme Court for insulting the victims of the dictatorship and for obfuscating the crimes of the dictator,” said Carmma in an invitation letter posted on Facebook.

“The rally is being organized to provide a venue for our collective indignation, to show those in power that the fight does not end with the interment of the dictator’s remains,” it continued.

Duterte has denied any knowledge of the burial.

Another protest will be held on Nov. 30 at the People Power Monument and at the heroes’ cemetery.