NPC to stage benefit concert for massacre victims

Calls for apprehension of remaining suspects 
THE National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) is set to commemorate the 8th anniversary of the infamous 2009 ‘Ampatuan Massacre’ on Thursday, November 23 with a benefit concert to aid the families of the members of the media who were among the 58 victims.

Dubbed, ‘Konsiyerto Para sa Katarungan, Ikalawang Yugto’ performers of the concert would also come from the ranks of media practitioners who have musical talents. Venue of the event is at the ‘Bambu Intramuros’ located inside the NPC compound in Manila.

“As we again commemorate this tragic day for Philippine journalism, we call on the public and our media colleagues to support this benefit concert.

“By doing so, we not only help those in need but more importantly, we also remind everyone that we continue to hold high the banner of press freedom and justice despite the passage of years,” said NPC Pres. Paul M. Gutierrez of the Journal Group.

Gutierrez noted this would be the second year the NPC opted to stage a benefit concert to remember the event with the aim of helping the families of the remaining members of the press who continued with their fight for justice.

Of the 58 massacre victims, 32 of them were members of the press, Gutierrez noted.

“The NPC has purposely decided to focus its attention in helping alleviate the situation of the families of our murdered colleagues who are still continuing the fight for justice as we recognize the efforts of the Duterte administration to protect the ranks of the Philippine media with the formation last year of a presidential task force to protect the members of the press,” Gutierrez explained.

Gutierrez was referring to the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) formed by Malacañang with the signing last October 11, 2016, by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte of Administrative Order (AO) No. 1.

Last Friday, November 17, 2017, the NPC and other media groups composing the task force was given a briefing of the cases filed against the Ampatuan clan and their supporters by Department of Justice (DOJ) assistant secretary Juvy Manwong during a meeting at the task force’s new office inside the Malacañang compound.

During the meeting, Gutierrez called for the members of the task force to assist the authorities in the apprehension of the remaining 82 suspects who are still at large, according to the DOJ.

Manwong, for her part, added the prosecution has already rested its case and that it is now the turn of the defense to present its evidence and witnesses.

During last year’s commemoration, the NPC managed to raised P50,000 thru a benefit concert. The amount was then divided equally among the families of fallen journalists.

Since the 2009 incident, the NPC continues to support the education of the child of one of the fatalities, Andres Teodoro of Mindanao Inquirer/People’s Forum. (NPC MEDIA RELEASE)

Major General Lauro Catalino Dela Cruz takes over as Air Force chief

Major General Lauro Catalino Dela Cruz took over the helm of the Philippine Air Force Tuesday morning, replacing outgoing Air Force chief Lieutenant General Oscar Rabena in a turnover ceremony at Villamor Airbase.

Before his designation as Air Force chief, Dela Cruz was Chief of Air staff. The 32nd Commanding General of the Air Force, he belongs to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1980.

In his speech, dela Cruz said the Air Force will be the country’s “wings for peace.”

He said they will be ready at all times to defend the Philippines’ territorial integrity and to serve people during calamities.

President Benigno Aquino III presided over the turnover ceremony Tuesday morning.

In his speech, the President thanked the Air Force for helping the victims of tropical storm Sendong and for securing the devotees during the Black Nazarene feast. ABS-CBN News, with a report from Edwin Sevidal, radio dzMM

Malacañang condemns killing of a journalist in General Santos City

Malacañang on Friday condemned the killing of a radio block-timer and local newspaper publisher in General Santos City in southern Philippines.

At a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said they expect the Philippine National Police to immediately apprehend the killers of Christopher Godera Guarin, the first journalist to be killed this year.

“We received word from the PNP (that) the case is now under investigation. The PNP has identified leads and they are in hot pursuit, we expect the PNP to hopefully apprehend the suspects. And again, we condemn the extrajudicial killing of another journalist,” Lacierda said.

Guarin, a block-timer with Radyo Mo Nationwide (RMN) and publisher of Tatak News, was killed by unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen Thursday night.

The victim allegedly received death threats three days before the incident.

An initial police investigation showed Guarin, together with his wife and son, were on board a white Kia Pride (UTN 393) while on their way to Naval Subdivision in Barangay San Isidro when the incident happened. The attack happened at a crossing near Sunrise Subdivision.

Citing police information, Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele said killers shot Guarin’s vehicle at the passenger window.

Mantele said Guarin managed to stop and disembark from the vehicle and run towards Sunrise Subdivision, but he was shot again until he fell to the ground, around 12 meters away from the back of his vehicle.

A Reuters report, citing figures from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), said about 150 journalists had been killed in the Philippines since 1986.

Nine had been killed since President Benigno Aquino assumed office in mid-2010.

That tally includes at least 33 journalists in a massacre of 57 people in the southern Philippines in 2009, which the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says is the world’s single deadliest event for journalists. —  with a report from Reuters/Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News

ANG DAAN TUNGO SA KATARUNGAN AT PAGKAKAPANTAY-PANTAY

WINARAT ng kakulangan ng progreso sa sosyal at isyung pulitikal at bumabalikwas sa umiinog na sigalot sa lupa, lumutang ang ilang grupo para isulong ang alituntuning radikal upang maisakatuparan ang kanilang mga mithiin tungo sa katarungan at pagkakapantay-pantay.
Apat sa pinakaprominente at matagumpay na mga organisasyon ay kinabibilangan ng Black Panther Party, Students for a Democratic Society, Weather Underground Organization, at Youth International Party, o mas kilala rin bilang Yippies.
Ang Black Panther Party ay itinatag noong 1966 sa Oakland, California, nina Bobby Seale at Huey Newton.
Hiniling nilang kontrolin ang mga eskwelahan, medical centers, welfare programs, at police system sa mahirap na black areas, exemption mula sa military service at karapatang magkaroon ng mga kamay upang maprotektahan ang kanilang mga sarili.
Inorganisa nila ang maraming tsapter sa buong bansa, nagtatag ng liberasyon sa mga eskwelahan, breakfast programs para sa mga bata, at medical clinics sa mga mahihirap na lugar. Nagkaroon na rin ng maraming komprontasyon ang Black Panthers sa mga pulis na nagdulot nang pagkakabaril at pagkakaresto ng ilan sa kanila.
Ang SDS ay ipinundar sa Chicago noong 1962 at naging aktibo ng mga panahong iyon sa college campuses sa buong nasyon.
Noong mid-sixties, naging aktibo ang grupo sa pakikipaglaban sa karapatang sibil, ngunit nang maglaon ay mas pinagtuunan nila ng pansin ang pagkakasangkot ng Estados Unidos sa giyera sa Vietnam.
Ang SDS ay madalas makipag-ugnayan sa mga aktibidad sa Black Panthers at iba pang kaalyadong radikal, bagama’t noong una, ang Marxist, ay nangangahulugang protesta o pagbabalikwas.
Samantala, isang splinter group na mas kilala bilang Weathermen ay naniniwala na makakamit lamang nila ang kanilang mga mithiin sa pamamagitan ng bayolenteng rebolusyon at gawaing terorismo.
Idinawit tuloy ang grupong ito sa maraming insidente nang pambobomba sa mga eskwelahan at institusyong pederal.
Kasabay nito, ang Youth International Party (ang Yippies), ay siyang ugat nina sixties activists Abbie Hoffman at Jerry Rubin.
Inilatag nila ang guerrilla street theater na sadyang dinesenyo upang makuha ang atensyon ng media.
Halos magtagumpay sila noong 1968 Democratic Convention sa Chicago kung saan ibinandila nila ang Yippie candidate para sa president­a pig na pinangalanang si Pigasus.
Matapos sumiklab ang mga rayot na yumanig ng ilang araw sa Chicago, sina Hoffman, Rubin, Black Panther Bobby Seale at na iba pa ay dinakip makaraang makipagsabwatan upang maisagawa ang mga karahasan at pagtawid sa state lines na naglayong manggulo sa estado.
Ang grupo ay nabansagan bilang Chicago Seven. Matapos ang mahabang paglilitis, lahat ng mga kaso ay nabasura.