The unabolished NTF-ELCAC plays a great role in controlling the flow and dissemination of information to the general public. They do not influence media networks that halt coverage of mass struggle but even worse than that, NTF-ELCAC is ready to name you a terrorist as in the red-tagging of Atom Araullo or to lock you in cell with some fabricated charges as in my detention that has robbed me and the rest of Tacloban 5 more than 6 years of our lives.

It is disturbing that the Philippines remain unsafe for journalists. No protection is guaranteed to the members of the press evident in the unresolved murder of a radio broadcaster in Eastern Samar almost 3 years ago. Scenes of scaring journalists with gun shots to halt their coverage continue to happen as in the case in Pastrana, Leyte a few years back. In schools, student publications continue to face threats of getting abolished or getting placed under the control of school administration.

But the media being repressed is the people in struggle. Amidst the ever-worsening repression, we are one of those for whom we write.

I salute all journalists who have taken the challenge of directing their lens to the unseen and unheard — despite having their shoes caked in mud, enduring the scorching heat of the sun, even taking long walks to reach far-flung areas and to top it all, despite knowing the state-funded threats.

I urge young journalists to never stop writing — our pens have once toppled down a dictatorship.

Locked behind bars, the political prisoners in CIW raise our fist in support of our struggle for press freedom. The women prisoners in the Philippines gained a lot of triumphs in terms of the treatment and services among detention facilities through the persistent and fearless broadcasts of the members of the press.

We are yet to win more freedom as we make history.
Defend Press Freedom!

Frenchie Mae Cumpio
August 29, 2026
Correctional Institution for Women

The post Frenchie Mae Cumpio’s message on National Press Freedom Day appeared first on AlterMidya.

RJ would have also turned 31 on August 30. We are outraged that justice remains elusive months after being killed by the military in Toboso, Negros Occidental. His birthdate coinciding on the National Press Freedom Day is a painful reminder of the dangerous conditions that Filipino journalists face everyday. Journalists get harassed, red-tagged, imprisoned, or even killed for covering critical stories like those that RJ reported in Negros.

This is also the first year we are commemorating National Press Freedom Day with Frenchie Mae Cumpio’s conviction. Frenchie Mae, our Tacloban-based colleague, was convicted of financing terrorism early this year. Together with church worker Marielle Domequil, Frenchie Mae has been detained for over six years— time that she would have spent reporting on the harsh conditions of marginalized communities in Eastern Visayas.

On this National Press Freedom Day, Altermidya Network demands for an end to attacks against journalists. We strengthen the call for justice for RJ Ledesma and all slain journalists. We reiterate the call for the release of Frenchie Mae Cumpio and all unjustly imprisoned for baseless charges.

RJ and Frenchie Mae were targeted for practicing pro-people journalism that highlights the conditions and aspirations of ordinary Filipinos. In the face of continued attacks against journalists, their commitment to truth-telling is a reminder for all of us to continue practicing journalism that serves communities and sectors whose voices are forced into silence.

Our colleagues were attacked, but we are undeterred. We resist by amplifying stories that those in power refuse to acknowledge.

Justice for RJ Ledesma!
Free Frenchie Mae Cumpio!
Defend Press Freedom!

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Among the signatories are community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and church worker Marielle Domequil, both incarcerated at CIW. During one of Altermidya’s visits to Cumpio in jail, she confirmed that the trust fund issue had become a pressing concern among the PDLs. She said the controversy had caused growing anxiety inside the facility, particularly over prisoners’ access to money sent by their families.

Human rights group Karapatan brought the prisoners’ complaint to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Aug. 25, asking the agency to conduct an independent inquiry into the cashless system implemented in facilities of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

Karapatan said the audit at CIW in Mandaluyong City found that as much as P7 million belonging to PDLs, including money remitted by their families, had gone missing.

The group said 1,240 PDLs signed the petition calling for accountability, the return of their personal funds, and the abolition of the trust fund.

“Paano maibabalik ang perang nawawala?” the prisoners asked in an earlier statement dated Aug. 18.

They said BuCor had announced the removal of two CIW officials from their posts but that no concrete answer had been given on how the missing money would be returned.

The prisoners also complained of difficulties withdrawing money brought by visitors or sent through a courier. They said withdrawals had recently been put on hold without warning and expressed concern that cash available in the trust fund was running low.

BuCor launched its cashless policy in February 2024 and pilot-tested it at the minimum-security compound of New Bilibid Prison and at CIW, according to Karapatan.

The group said CIW began implementing the system as early as March 2024 without adequate consultation and transition.

Under the system, personal funds of PDLs are placed in a trust fund. Prisoners at CIW may withdraw up to P2,000 in cash each week, while restrictions on items brought by visitors require them to buy some basic needs inside the facility, Karapatan said.

The prisoners said they had opposed the trust fund system but complied with the policy.

“Ang milyon-milyong perang ninakaw ay ilang taong pinaghirapan ng mga PDL at ng aming mga pamilya. Mas mabigat para sa amin na ang aming pagsusumikap na makaipon para kahit papaano makatulong sa aming mga pamilya at mga anak ay mawawala na lang na parang bula,” they said.

The prisoners said the money represented years of work and savings by them and their families, including funds they hoped could help support their children.

Karapatan also alleged that CIW official Daisy Castillote proposed replacing the missing money using income from prisoners’ telephone calls instead of requiring restitution from those responsible for the loss.

The group said the cost of a five-minute call would increase from P3 to P5, while the prisoners’ share of telephone income, previously used for dormitory expenses, would be withheld until the missing amount was replaced.

Karapatan described the cashless system as an added burden on prisoners and said restrictions on their access to money sent by relatives and friends leave the handling of those funds vulnerable to corruption.

The group asked the CHR to investigate both the policy and its implementation and to help address the demand of CIW prisoners for accountability and the return of the reported missing P7 million.

The prisoners are also demanding that money brought by visitors or sent through a courier be handed directly to them instead of being coursed through the trust fund.

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The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention says the prolonged detention of three Filipino activists violates international human rights standards. In an opinion released on July 24, 2026, the Working Group finds their cases fall directly within its definition of “arbitrary” detention.

In the Opinion No. 22/2026, adopted during the Working Group’s 105th session on March 23 to April 1, 2026, the UN body ruled that the detention of journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, church worker Marielle Domequil, and human rights defender Alexander Abinguna violates the protections guaranteed under international law.

The UN opinion lays out five categories under which detention is considered “arbitrary,” including cases with no clear legal basis, detentions linked to the exercise of protected rights such as freedom of expression and association, serious violations of fair-trial guarantees, extended detention without meaningful review, and discriminatory detention.

“The Working Group also notes a striking lack of any factual or legal substantiation for the criminal charges against the three, especially in the light of the acquittal of Ms. Cumpio and Ms. Domequil for charges related to the illegal possession of firearms and explosives and the dismissal of the murder and attempted murder case against Ms. Cumpio, which renders their arrest, detention and prosecution a thinly veiled pretext for politically motivated persecution that is devoid of any legal basis,” the opinion stated.

The petition was filed in September 2025 by Freedom Now and the law firm Dechert LLP. The opinion cites the Working Group’s transmission of a communication to the Philippine government on October 27, 2025 but the government did not respond. The opinion also reiterated that the Philippines is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The three of the ‘Tacloban 5’ have been detained since February 2020 following raids in Tacloban City, first tied to allegations of illegal possession of firearms and explosives before prosecutors later filed terrorism-financing accusations to Cumpio and Domequil. In January 2026, a Tacloban regional court dismissed the Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives case but convicted Cumpio and Domequil of terrorism financing and sentenced them to prison terms ranging from 12 to 18 years — moves rights groups and UN experts have denounced as unjust—while Abinguna’s case remains pending, with him still detained.

“Frenchie Mae Cumpio, Marielle Domequil, and Alexander Abinguna have spent more than six years imprisoned on baseless, false charges directed at their activism,” said Freedom Now Legal Officer Adam Lhedmat. “We welcome the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s decision and renew our call to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to uphold his promises to protect press freedom and rectify these politically motivated detentions. President Marcos should immediately pardon Frenchie and Marielle and ensure no further judicial harassment against Alexander, who is being tried in a separate case.”

Freedom Now said the decision concluded that the government offered no legal justification compatible with international law and called for the immediate release of all three.

In a statement, human rights group Karapatan also welcomes the opinion adopted by the UN body. “The inordinate delay of the court proceedings that has prolonged their detention is an additional layer of injustice against the three. Their release should immediately be given due course,” Karapatan’s secretary general Cristina Palabay said.

The case has drawn alarm and concern from UN experts and rights organizations. In March 2026, five UN experts urged Philippine courts to grant bail and release Cumpio and Domequil, pointing to the “unconscionable” length of detention, while human rights groups have called for the charges to be dropped and for the three activists to be freed unconditionally.

The post Detention of journalist, activists violates international law – UN body  appeared first on AlterMidya.

Human rights defenders and activists need all the mental help they can get.

This is the reason why health advocates and supporters have launched a learning package to strengthen the psychological well-being of human rights defenders and activists.  

Named Mental Health Orientation and Psychosocial Support Module, the program was launched by the Health Action for Human Rights (HAHR) and Council for People’s Development and Governance (CPDG) on August 13. 

“Many people, from the youth to the elderly, have their mental health affected based on what is happening in our society, such as corruption, human rights violations, and everything else,” Dr. Reginaldo Pamugas, HAHR president, said in Filipino during the launch.

In the module, HAHR and CPDG aim to emphasize psychoeducation awareness to understand oneself in terms of “cognition, emotion, behavior, and current state.”

It contains practical guidance and tools for the protection of the mental health of individuals, families, and communities affected by human rights abuses. It is designed to help the healing and recovery process who often experience lasting effects of emotional and psychological damage such as “trauma, anxiety, depression, fear, and emotional distress.”

Mental Health in PH

“It is important for a person to understand what is happening to them, to say, ‘it is just normal that you cannot sleep.’ Because who would not find it hard when they remember what happened at night? So that is kind of like psychoeducation,” Dr. Pamugas said.

The current situation of mental health in the Philippines was discussed in the launching of the module, including the limited available resources and services. 

Aside from the stigma that society has toward mental health, there remains a lack of government support in mental health services, resulting in insufficient insurance coverage, inaccessibility of facilities, and an inadequate workforce, said Dr. Michael Sionzon, psychiatrist training officer.

Mental Health Orientation and Psychosocial Support Module seeks to address the scarcity of mental health professionals as well as the “urgency and the gravity of its need,” added Estrella Flores-Catarata, licensed social worker and registered psychologist.

Attacks vs development workers 

The Mental Health Orientation and Psychosocial Support Module was originally initiated due to the worsening attacks made against development workers in the previous years, because of “the work that they do and services they deliver.” 

These attacks may include harassment, red-tagging, heightened surveillance, criminal complaints, and even arrests. 

Nancy Estolloso, Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET) vice chairperson and Tuburan for Rural Women Empowerment and Development Inc. executive director, was among the human rights advocates who shared testimonials at the launch. 

She was one of the 27 respondents from CERNET who were charged in a terrorism financing case based on what she described as “falsified evidence.”

“In my case, someone is openly doing surveillance right in front of my house. They go to the area carrying a picture of me, asking, ‘do you know this person?’ As if you are a wanted criminal. So, I am no longer included in the meetings, and since when I go to the office, someone would take pictures of me,” she added. 

“Some of us really experience not being able to sleep… not just for one night, but for 1 to 2 years of sleeplessness. The judge [one of the respondents] lost a lot of pounds. Others had heightened vigilance, anxiety, and depression. But we didn’t think it that way, [we think] it was just nothing, just part of the job.” Estolloso further said. 

CERNET is a non-governmental organization (NGO) serving marginalized communities in Cebu. 

In May 2026, a regional court in Cebu City dismissed the Anti-Terrorrism Financing case against CERNET due to the illegality of the case.

Fighting on

For Estolloso, the Mental Health Orientation and Psychosocial Support Module is a good start to recognize that mental health is also a crucial part of one’s “struggle for justice and freedom.” 

As of this writing, HAHR and CPDG were still working on digitizing the Mental Health Orientation and Psychosocial Support Module to make it accessible online. 

“But now since it is printed, those who want a copy can visit the office of HAHR in Quezon City,” Dr. Pamugas said.

“We hope that this module helps ourselves, our organization, or our community, to help our mental health. So that while we perform our duties as human rights defenders or activists, it will help us in our tasks in the continuous fight for justice,” Dr. Pamugas ended.#

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The National Fact-Finding and Solidarity Mission released its findings during a press briefing Aug. 19 in Quezon City, as the country observed International Humanitarian Law Month. 

The report was based on a May 13-14 investigation into the April 19 military operation in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso town.

The mission said 10 of those killed were members of the New People’s Army, while nine were civilians who did not take part in the fighting. It said soldiers failed to distinguish between civilians and combatants and fired at people retreating through an exposed fishpond.

Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karaptan, said the Toboso killings were the gravest mass-casualty case involving alleged IHL violations that the group had documented in recent years.

“This is the single, the biggest single mass casualty incident involving international humanitarian law violations that we have documented and looked into sa mga nakaraang taon,” Palabay said. (“This is the single, the biggest single mass casualty incident involving international humanitarian law violations that we have documented and looked into in recent years.”)

“Ito po ang pinakamalala,” she added. (“This is the worst.”)

Palabay said the case required continued scrutiny and a sustained push for justice. She also pointed to the prohibition against a “no quarters given” policy, saying such a policy is illegal under Republic Act 9851 and the Geneva Conventions.

“Yung na-incapacitate na kahit combatant o civilian ay dapat binubuhay. In fact, dapat binibigyan ng pansamantalang lunas kung injured. Hindi pinapaulan na ng bala, definitely,” Palabay said. (“Those who have been incapacitated, whether combatant or civilian, should be kept alive. In fact, they should be given medical aid if injured. They should definitely not be showered with bullets.”)

The Philippine Army had reported a “series of clashes” involving troops of the 79th Infantry Battalion and said all 19 fatalities were armed NPA members. Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, had described those killed as “armed combatants.”

The fact-finding mission said witness testimony, physical evidence, and preliminary autopsy findings cast doubt on the military’s account.

According to the report, an initial clash occurred between about 3 and 4 a.m. in Sitio Sinugmawan. Alleged NPA members and civilians then retreated toward a fishpond in nearby Sitio Plarinding.

Soldiers entered Plarinding at about 6 to 7 a.m. One group moved to a hill overlooking the fishpond while another approached at ground level. A second shooting incident occurred at about 9 a.m.

Residents said those fleeing had to cross waist-deep muddy water in an exposed area with little or no cover. Investigators found that soldiers occupied elevated and ground-level positions surrounding the fishpond.

The report said the circumstances left the armed NPA members unable to effectively fight back and rendered them hors de combat, or incapable of continuing to participate in hostilities.

The mission accused soldiers of failing to distinguish between civilians and combatants and of attacking fighters who were no longer in a position to fight.

It described the killings as a “massacre” and said community accounts and physical evidence indicated that the incident “was not a legitimate military operation.”

The mission also said the circumstances raised concerns that some victims may have been subjected to summary execution or excessive lethal force after they were wounded or otherwise unable to defend themselves.

Drone footage, autopsies raise questions

The report cited the death of NPA commander Roger Fabillar as one of the cases raising questions over the Army’s encounter narrative.

The mission said drone footage taken before his death showed Fabillar alive, unarmed and submerged in the fishpond. It said he appeared to have been hors de combat before the military later reported that he had been “killed in an encounter.”

The mission said the circumstances indicated that Fabillar may have been extrajudicially executed rather than killed in combat.

Preliminary autopsy findings also raised questions over how several of the victims died.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun examined the remains of Alyssa Alano, Maureen Santuyo, Lyle Prijoles, Kai Sorem and a male cadaver initially identified as Errol Wendel.

Three of the five bodies had multiple fatal gunshot wounds, according to the report. Fortun also noted multiple gunshot wounds from behind, which the mission said raised questions about the Army’s account of an hours-long armed encounter.

The report said Alano suffered a gunshot wound to the leg that caused fatal bleeding. It said she did not sustain an immediately fatal wound but died without receiving medical treatment.

Families demand answers

Families of those identified by the mission as civilians said their children’s work with communities should not have made them targets.

Sol Santuyo, mother of Maureen, said helping other people “is not a crime” but “an act of compassion.”

“Tumutulong sila; bakit sila pinatay? Kailangan po namin ang sagot sa mga katanungang ito. Buhay ng mga anak namin ang kinuha nila,” Santuyo said. (“They were helping people. Why were they killed? We need answers to these questions. They took the lives of our children.”)

Four months after the killings, Santuyo said the families were still waiting for satisfactory answers and questioned whether red-tagging could justify the deaths.

“Apat na buwan na,” she said. (“It has been four months.”) “Sapat ba na dahilan ito para karumal-dumal silang patayin?” (“Is this sufficient reason for them to be brutally killed?”)

Lisa, mother of Errol Wendel, said the failure to return her son’s remains compounded the pain of his death.

“Brutal ang ginawa nila” (“What they did was brutal”), Lisa said, adding, “Mas brutal ang ginawa na hindi na ibigay sa amin ang katawan niya, sobrang sakit” (“What was even more brutal was that they did not give us his body. It was extremely painful”).

Lisa said she struggled to sleep as she thought about her son’s body being left in the water.

The mission documented irregularities in the handling and identification of the remains. Fortun found that a cadaver released as Errol did not match his physical description. Investigators later learned that Errol’s remains had apparently been released to Merliza Caramihan, mother of another fatality, Joeross Caramihan.

Investigators also found bullet casings and other physical evidence still at the two reported encounter sites.

The report said Buklod Kapayapaan, a group affiliated with the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, had been allowed into the sites before police investigators processed them. The mission said the presence of uncollected evidence raised concerns over the preservation and integrity of the crime scenes.

Killings amid land struggle

The report also placed the April killings against a continuing struggle over land in Sitio Sinugmawan.

Farmers there formed the Hacienda Bedonia Farmers and Farmworkers Association in November 2025 after learning they could qualify as agrarian reform beneficiaries of an 18-hectare property their families had cultivated since the 1970s.

They petitioned the Department of Agrarian Reform for coverage of the property in January and began cultivating a four-hectare portion through a bungkalan, or collective farming action, in February.

Members of the association later said they suspected that allegations of an NPA takeover of the property, reportedly raised shortly before the April 19 operation, may have contributed to the events leading to the killings. The report did not establish a direct causal link.

Shiela Alano, Alyssa’s mother, questioned the use of allegations of NPA membership against activists and people documenting conditions in marginalized communities.

“How can we trust the AFP when they can so blatantly get away with killing anyone just by labeling them as NPA?” she said.

Alano said activists, journalists, and researchers were being silenced for seeking to understand the lives of marginalized sectors, including Negros farmers who work long hours for low pay while remaining without land of their own.

“Bakit sa bansa natin pinapatahimik niyo ang mga aktibista, journalists, researchers, especially when it’s about knowing the lives of marginalized sectors kagaya ng mga farmers sa Negros na sobra-sobra silang magtrabaho and yet underpaid, walang sariling sakahan kahit sila ang nagbubungkal ng lupa,” she said. (“Why, in our country, do you silence activists, journalists and researchers, especially when their work is about understanding the lives of marginalized sectors, such as farmers in Negros who work extremely hard and yet are underpaid and have no land of their own even though they are the ones tilling it?”)

“Wala sila Alyssa sa Negros kung maayos ang kabuhayan nila doon. Wala sila sa Negros kung binibigay ng gobyerno ang nararapat para sa mga maralita na pinagkaitan ng bulok na sistema,” she added. (“Alyssa and the others would not have been in Negros if people there had decent livelihoods. They would not have been in Negros if the government gave the poor what they are entitled to after being deprived by a rotten system.”)

Residents interviewed by the mission identified Alano, Wendel, Santuyo, community journalist RJ Ledesma, Sorem, Prijoles and Roel Sabillo as civilians who had previously visited the community. They said they had never seen them carrying firearms.

The families of two minors, identified in the report as 15-year-old “Melissa” and 17-year-old “Ron,” also denied allegations that they were NPA members.

The Communist Party of the Philippines acknowledged that 10 of the fatalities were NPA members and said the remaining nine were civilians, according to the report.

Military operation displaced hundreds

The mission also documented the impact of the operation on residents of Barangay Salamanca.

Residents said soldiers searched at least 24 houses and questioned civilians about alleged NPA members. Some reported being held at gunpoint.

A male resident detained with a 14-year-old boy and the boy’s mother said he saw soldiers firing toward the fishpond. He also said a soldier struck him on the shoulder with a rifle butt and that a commanding officer warned him against filing a case.

About 800 residents fled their homes between April 19 and 22. Residents said the military operation prevented them from reaching the river and fishponds, disrupting their sources of food and livelihood.

Children who participated in a psychosocial activity after the operation described fear and anxiety from the gunfire. Some hid under their beds and stayed inside their homes.

The May 13-14 fact-finding mission was organized by Manindigan Negros, Defend Negros and Karapatan and involved 117 participants from local, national and international organizations. Investigators interviewed about 30 residents, inspected the reported encounter sites, and gathered physical evidence.

The mission called for criminal and administrative charges, where warranted, against military personnel involved in the operation and their immediate superiors.

It also demanded that the families and their lawyers be given access to the Army’s mission order, drone footage, after-operation reports, and other records related to the killings.

The mission called for further independent forensic examinations and autopsies, humanitarian and psychosocial assistance for affected communities, and the withdrawal of the 79th Infantry Battalion and other military forces from Toboso while investigations continue.

It also urged the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC through the repeal of Executive Order No. 70 and the rescission of Memorandum Order No. 32, saying the measures had facilitated prolonged military operations in civilian communities and contributed to human rights violations.

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Mas mahirap maging maliit na negosyante sa Pilipinas kaysa sa ibang bansa sa rehiyon.

Ito ang hinaing ng mga negosyante, lokal na prodyuser, konsiyumer, at policymakers sa isang konsultasyon tungkol sa taas ng singil ng kuryente at epekto nito sa mga Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)  noong Agosto 8 sa Quezon City.

Kinumpara ni Joy Cerrafon, presidente ng Negosyo Advocates, ang pagnenegosyo sa Pilipinas at sa isa sa mga kalapit nitong bansa tulad ng Thailand. 

Aniya, mas malaki ang gastos sa kuryente sa Pilipinas na nasa PhP12 per kilowatt hour (kWh) kumpara sa Thailand na nasa PhP5 per kWh lang. Bunsod nito, nasa 58 porsiyento ang pagtaas sa kita ng maliliit na negosyo sa Thailand (PhP475,000) kumpara, halimbawa, sa Pilipinas (PhP300,000). 

Samantala, iniuugat ang mataas na singil sa kuryente sa Pilipinas sa deregulasyon at pagsasapribado ng industriya ng kuryente sa ilalim ng Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001. 

Sa bisa ng batas na ito, isinailalim sa restructuring at privatization ang industriya ng kuryente para ipakilala ang kompetisyon at pribadong pamumuhunan dito. Dahil naging monopolyo sa industriya ang pribadong kompanya ng kuryente, mabilis na tumaas ang singil dito sa bansa, na nakaaapekto sa mga negosyo at mamimili.

Ibinahagi naman ni Chef Gerry Abadilla, may-ari at chief operating officer ng Laiya Gourmet, ang dagdag umanong hirap sa paglalakad ng papeles para sa mga negosyante tulad ng pagbabayad sa Social Security System (SSS)  at buwis sa Bureau of Intenal Revenue (BIR).

 “Dahil maliit akong negosyante, may interes akong binayaran. Napakahigpit po ng SSS, grabe po. Madelay lang yung contribution mo, meron kang interes na babayaran. Andyan pa po ang BIR. May mga iba iba pang requirements depende pa po sa LGU,” kuwento niya,

Para naman kay Carol Thor, general manager at may-ari ng Enlightened Enterprise, maliliit na mga negosyo ang pinahihirapan ng sistema, hindi ang malalaking korporasyon.

“Hindi naman (ito) nae-experience ng large corporations because they can hedge with long-term power supply agreements. We cannot. Shortening operating hours, using generators just to survive brownouts, with no local subsidy to fall back on. ‘Pag brownout, stop ang gawa namin,” paliwanag pa niya.

Habang maliliit na negosyo ang napipilitang magbawas ng operating hours at gumastos para lang makaraos sa mataas na singil sa kuryente at mga brownout, patuloy namang lumalaki ang yaman ng iilang pinakamayayaman sa bansa. 

Ayon sa IBON Foundation, si Enrique Razon Jr. ang kauna-unahang Filipino trillionaire noong 2026, na may tinatayang yaman na PhP1.1-Trilyon. At ang Top isang porsiyento ng populasyon ng bansa ang kumokontrol sa PhP17.9-T na halos triple umano ng yaman ng higit 50 porsiyento ng mahihirap sa bansa.

Para sa grupo, malinaw na umiiral ang matinding konsentrasyon ng yaman kasabay ng malawak na pangangailangang panlipunan at pangkabuhayan ng mga Pilipino.

Samantala, sinabi ni Amihan Mabalay, tagapagsalita ng SUKI Network, na mahalaga ang universal access sa kuryente bilang bahagi ng layunin ng Sustainable Development Goal 7. 

Aniya, napipilitang gumamit ng jumper ang ilang residente sa maralitang komunidad dahil hindi sila pinahihintulutang magkaroon ng sariling metro bunsod ng panganib ng sunog sa mga lugar na dikit-dikit ang mga bahay.

Ibinahagi rin ni Mabalay na noong 2001, nasa PhP4.87 kada kWh ang singil sa kuryente at PhP974 ang buwanang household bill. Makalipas ang 25 taon mula nang maipatupad ang EPIRA, sinabi niyang umabot na ito sa PhP14.33 kada kWh, habang nasa PhP2,867 na ang buwanang household bill. 

Sa gitna ng patuloy na taas-singil sa kuryente, nananawagan ang mga grupo ng pagbabago sa kasalukuyang sistema ng industriya ng enerhiya. 

Para sa mga grupong gaya ng Propel at IBON Foundation, hindi naging epektibo ang pribatisasyon sa ilalim ng EPIRA para gawing abot-kaya ang kuryente at sa halip, kundi nakinabang dito ang malalaking energy conglomerates. 

Isinusulong ng mga grupo ang pagbabasura ng EPIRA at pagbabalik ng mas malaking papel ng pamahalaan sa sektor ng enerhiya.

Sa huli, sinabi ng enhinyerong si Francis Quintana, vice-chairperson for internal affairs ng Propel, na ang mga panawagan o hakbang ng grupo sa hinaharap ay ibasura ang EPIRA, isaayos at i-update ang kasalukuyang power facilities, isulong at suportahan ang appropriate technology, isulong ang pambansang industriyalisasyon, isabansa ulit ang energy industry, at palakasin ang lahat ng industriya, light man, medium, o heavy.

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Naghain ng apela ang mga abogado nina Frenchie Mae Cumpio at Marielle Domequil sa Court of Appeals sa Cebu City noong Agosto 3 para hilinging baligtarin ang hatol na guilty sa kanila sa kasong terrorism financing ng Tacloban City Regional Trial Court Branch 45.

Ayon sa human rights lawyer na si Julianne Agpalo, walang batayan ang conviction sa dalawang aktibista ng paglabag sa Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 (TFPSA).

“Nag-submit tayo ng appellant’s brief. Dito sinasabi natin kung bakit nagkamali ang Regional Trial Court Tacloban sa pag-convict kina Frenchie Mae at Marielle. Ang panawagan nati’y i-reverse sana ang judgment,” ani Agpalo.  

Kasama sa mga nakiisa sa araw ng pag-apela sa Cebu City ang ilang sumusuportang aktibista, gayundin ang mga kaanak nila, kabilang ang kapatid ni Mariel na si Kyle Domequil na nagmula pa sa Tacloban. 

“Gusto rin naming ipakita na hindi namin tinatanggap yung conviction. Nag-file kami ng appeal sa naging desisyon ni Judge Perez sa RTC Branch 45,” sabi ni Kyle Domequil. 

Mahigit anim na taong nakapiit

Pebrero 7, 2020 pa nakakulong ang community journalist na si Cumpio at church worker na si Domequil matapos salakayin ng pulisya ang kanilang tinutuluyan sa Tacloban City, Leyte. 

Matapos ang halos anim na taong pagkakapiit, inabsuwelto sila sa kasong illegal possession of firearms and explosives noong Enero 22, 2026 sa Tacloban City Regional Trial Court.

Pero sa parehong desisyon, hinatulang maysala raw ang dalawang aktibista sa kasong terrorism financing sa ilalim ng Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012. Sa desisyong ito,  sinentensiyahan sila ng 12-18 taong pagkakakulong. 

Gayunpaman, iginigiit ng depensa sa appellant’s brief na nabigong patunayan ng prosekusyon ang mahahalagang elemento ng krimen. Kabilang rito ang designation o batayan na nagpapatunay na parte ng isang teroristang organisasyon ang dalawang umaapela na sina Cumpio at Domequil.

Ibinabahagi rin ng appellant’s brief na hindi napatunayan ang criminal intent o naturang intensyon sa paggawa ng krimen ng mga umaapela sa ilalim ng Section 8 ng TFPSA. 

Hindi rin anila napatunayan ang alegasyong isinampa kina Cumpio at Domequil gamit ang sapat na ebidensiyang may kredibilidad at independent corroborated evidence o malayang ebidensiya na nagmumula sa ibang tao o sanggunian. 

Sa madaling sabi, inilalarawan sa appellant’s brief na hindi makatarungan diumano ang hatol na ipinataw sa kanila at marapat na mapawalang-sala sina Cumpio at Domequil. 

Mahalagang gawain

“Lawful ang kanilang trabaho. Unfortunately, nakakagalit na ginagamit ng Estado itong mga military asset para magkaroon ng fabrication ng mga narration. Pina-fabricate ang mga istorya at itong mga military assets who are obviously kaya naman nilang gumawa ng mga kuwento Ito’y ginagamit laban kay Frenchie at Marielle. Ginagamit din ito sa iba pang aktibista sa buong bansa,” paliwanag ni Agpalo. 

Sa kanilang isinampang joint appellant’s brief, itinawag nila ang atensiyon ng korte sa mapanlinlang na paggamit ng military assets laban sa human rights workers tulad nina Cumpio at Domequil, sabi pa ni Agpalo.

Bukod rito, nagpahayag rin ng labis na pangamba ang ilang grupong nagsusulong ng kalayaan sa pamamahayag, kabilang ang United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression at Clooney Foundation for Justice. 

Ayon sa mga grupong ito, may kaugnayan ang mga kasong isinampa sa kanila sa kanilang trabaho sa larangan ng “community journalism, environmental reporting and humanitarian work.” 

Kabilang sa mahalagang gawain ng dalawa ang pagsisiwalat ni Cumpio sa pang-aabuso ng militar sa Eastern Visayas, gayundin ang gawain ni Domequil bilang organisador ng mga magsasaka para tuligsain ang landgrabbing o pang-aangkin sa lupa. 

Ipinaglalaban rin ng Clooney Foundation for Justice ang kaduda-duda at malabong testimonya na siyang naging basehan ng conviction. 

Anila, mayroong hindi pagtutugma sa cross-examination na isinagawa, halimbawa na lang ng alegasyon ng isang witness na nagsasabi na may koneksiyon na si Domequil sa Rural Missionaries of the Philippines noon pa mang 2010. 

Pero batay sa ebidensiyang inilapag ng depensa, malabo itong mangyari dahil 13-anyos pa lang si Mariel noong taong iyon at naninirahan siya sa ibang probinsya noong panahong iyon.

The post Cumpio, Domequil umapelang baligtarin ang kanilang conviction sa kasong terrorism financing appeared first on AlterMidya.

Minsan akong nagawi sa Asyenda Luisita, Tarlac para makipag-aralan at makipamuhay sa mga magbubukid. Sa batayan ng lawak ng dagat sa kinalakihan kong isla, magkakahitsura sa akin doon ang “walang hanggan” sa lupa. Sa loob kasi ng asyenda, lagpas sa kayang abutin ng tanaw ang hangganan ng lupang kinamkam ng túbo at tubô. Dito rin marahil nakatitig ang mga Negrense, sinisikap na baguhin ang salansan ng lupaing kinatitirikan, tinipak sa tinipak.

Kaya may pamilyar na kirot sa akin ang mga pagtatanghal ng dulang Tiempo Muerto ng Sinagbayan. Mula sa “Mga Diklap ng Tiempos Muertos” noong 2016, itinanghal noong Hulyo 18 at 19 sa UP Film Studio ang kasalukuyan nitong anyo bilang “Tiempo Muerto: Paghulat sang Dugwak”. Ayon sa direktor nitong si Ekis Gimenez, hinimok ng napapanahon pa ring taguri sa isla ng Negros bilang “Massacre Capital” ang ikatlong pagtatanghal ng Tiempo Muerto. 

Handog ng pinakabagong pagtatanghal na ito hindi lang ang mga bago at napakahuhusay nitong artista, kundi pati na rin mga bagong pagkukuwento at komentaryo sa lumang-luma nang kaayusan sa isla ng Negros.

Kasado sa mapanlahok nitong format, inilibot ng “Best in Tour Guide” na si Roger ang mga manonood sa buong isla. Mula sa pagiging mapandudang tagapakinig ni Ma. Rosa, marahan ang pag-unlad ng karakter ni Roger na kalauna’y hindi na lang magagandang tanawin ang ipinapakita kundi maging ang malalagim na katotohanan ng isla. Naging God’s strongest soldier pa nga siya laban sa fake news na talamak sa kasalukuyan.

Gayundin, nagsisilbing kritika sa kabalintunaan ng turismo sa Negros ang balangkas ng dula. Ipinakita nito ang matingkad na contrast ng mababaw na gradiyosong bihis ng isla kumpara sa araw-araw na reyalidad ng mga mamamayang bumubuhay sa luhong ito.

Absurdo, halimbawa, ang dinarayong Masskara Festival na nakikitaan ng  pekeng mga ngiting nagbigay ng titulong “City of Smiles” sa Bacolod, ayon sa pagtatanghal ng awit na “Maskara” sa dula. Habang nilalayon ng nasabing pista na maging pantabing sa taggutom tuwing Tiempo Muerto, ibinubunyag naman ng kanta ang pagtataktak ng mumo ng mga magbubukid para lamnan ang kanilang umaangal na mga tiyan. 

Gayundin, mula sa mga “old money” na mansiyon, tila ibang mundo nang ipasyal tayo ni Roger sa pamayanan ng mga magbubukid na namamasukan bilang mga alila sa kung saan-saan tuwing Tiempo Muerto. Dito, tila nakasalamuha na rin natin ang ilan sa mga martir ng Negros 19 na magiliw na tinatawag na mga “ate” at “kuya” ng bulinggit na si Mella.

Sa dalawang pagtatanghal na aking napanood, sina Ate Mau at Ate Alyssa ang aking nakasalamuha bilang bisita. Nagbukas din ito ng usapan: Oo nga, ano? Kung tutuusin, hindi naman estranghero sa mga dayo ang isla ng Negros. Matagal nang itinatanghal ang turismo bilang panakip sa malalalim na sugat na iniwan ng kasaysayan ng pang-aalipin at pagsasamantala sa mga magsasaka sa tubuhan.

Kung kaya bakit marami ang nagtataka kung bakit naroon sila Ate Alyssa, Ate Mau, kasama sila Kuya Errol, Kuya RJ, Kuya Lyle, Ate Kai, at marami pang nauna sa kanila?

Malamang, dahil hindi naman talaga ang presensiya nila roon ang usapin, kundi kung para kanino sila naroon. Malinaw na para sa turista lang bukas ang Sugarland, hindi sa mga tulad ng Negros 19. 

Marahil, ayaw ng mga pamilyang asyendero roon na lumabas ang mga kuwentong kagaya ng kay Catalina. Ang panayam sa kanya ang isa sa pinakamakabagbag-damdaming eksena para sa akin. Hindi singtatas ni Ma. Rosa kung magkuwento si Catalina. Ni hindi nga siya naniniwalang may maniniwala sa kanya – na karaniwang ugali ng mga magsasaka. Pero nagawa niyang ikuwento sa kanyang mga bisita ang simpleng lohika ng pagkakaisa at paglaban ng masang magsasaka.

Itinawid ito sa atin ng dula hindi lang bilang manonood, kundi bilang tagapakinig din, na higit pang ginawang makatotohanan ng napakahusay na sound and music production. Sa karanasan ko, nagawang ipadama ng produksiyon ang bigat ng sandaling kailangan mong magpasya kapag nakarinig ka ng putok ng baril at alam mong isang kakilala ang tinamaan. Sa sandaling ito, mapipilitan kang mamili: maghanap ng pinakaligtas na lugar na matatataguan o humagilap ng anumang maaaring gamiting sandata para ipagtanggol ang sarili.

‎

Hindi ko masasabing lubos kong nauunawaan ang katotohanan ng ganitong karanasan. Pero napaisip ako: ganito rin kaya ang pakiramdam ng mga masang Negrense na nahaharap sa ganitong kritikal na sandali hindi lang sa dula, kundi sa pang-araw-araw na buhay?

Sa simpleng sagot nga ni Ka Butch sa mga nagsasabing madaling buyuhin tungong karahasan ang mga kagaya nilang api: “Sabi nila, mga rebelde raw ang nag-udyok sa aming magwelga. (Pero) madaling sabihin ‘yun kapag busog ka.” Kuwento pa niya, “Gutom, Tiempo Muerto ang nag-udyok sa aming magwelga.”

Ikinuwento sa atin ng Tiempo Muerto: Paghulat sang Dugwak kung paanong ang mga kagaya nina Ka Butch at Catalina ay nasasadlak sa kaabahang hindi na kayang tiisin. “Sana nga NPA na lang kami para nakipaglaban kami sa [mga sundalo],” ang hinanakit ni Catalina.

Pero higit sa hinagpis ang hamon sa atin ng dulang ito. Higit pa sa pagtangis, nakatitig sa ating mga mata si Catalina, at ang kanyang sinasabi’y ikuwento natin ang nangyari sa kanyang pamilya, sa kanyang mga kasama. Sa kanyang nangungusap na mga mata, niyayakag niya tayong susugan ang hustisya. 

The post Higit pa sa hinagpis: Mga hagit sang Dugwak appeared first on AlterMidya.

Isinampa ng NLMRC ang kaso laban sa residenteng si Lei Jim Dugay sa pamamagitan ni Jaime Atayde, representative ng kumpanya.

Sa subpoena na natanggap ni Dugay, iginiit ng NLMRC na may mga Facebook post umano si Dugay na “defamatory.” Inilahad ni Dugay sa kanyang mga post ang pagtutol sa operasyon at kung paano umano naaapektuhan ng exploration ang kabuhayan ng mga residente.

“Nagpost ka lang ng #Notolargescalemining, cyberlibel na agad?” tanong ni Dugay.

Para sa mga maka-kalikasang grupo, ang paghahain ng kasong cyberlibel ay nakikitang bahagi ng paggamit ng mga batas para patahimikin ang mga tumututol sa pagmimina. 

Isa sa mga nagkondena sa proyekto ang Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (KPNE), na tinawag ang pagkakaso bilang “continued weaponization of the law.” 

Giit ng KPNE, habang patuloy na lumalaban ang komunidad sa mining exploration activities ng NLMRC, mas dumadami rin ang mga reklamong tinaguriang Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP).

Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na nagkaso ang NLMRC laban sa mga residente. Dati nang kinasuhan ng kumpanya ang mga abogado ng komunidad na sina Fidel Santos at Edgardo Balgos ng cyberlibel. 

Kinasuhan din ang ilang lider at residente sa hiwalay na kaso ng forcible entry—kabilang sina Bayombong Bishop Elmer Mangalinao at Fr. Christian Dumangeng—na ibinasura kinalaunan.

Kinuwestiyon din ng KPNE ang papel ni Jaime Atayde, partikular ang kanyang integridad bilang board director ng National Tobacco Administration na kumakatawan umano sa isang pribadong mining corporation. 

Ayon sa grupo, nagiging kuwestiyonable ang paglahok ni Atayde dahil sa paulit-ulit na pagsasampa ng kaso laban sa environmental defenders.

Idinugtong pa ng KPNE na dati ring board member si Atayde ng Platinum Group Metals Corporation. 

Ayon sa grupo, ang naturang kumpanya ay may 2,000-hectare nickel mining project sa Dinapigue, Isabela. 

Sinuspinde ito matapos ang mga dokumentadong environmental violations, kabilang ang paggamit ng heavy equipment at hazardous substances na maaaring nakaapekto sa mga kalapit na komunidad, gayundin ang malaganap na pagpuputol ng puno at pagpasok sa protected forest areas.

Laban ng pamilya kontra mina

Sa Kasibu ipinanganak at nagkapamilya si Dugay. 

Nagtatanim ang kanilang pamilya ng palay at mga gulay, at sa gitna ng pagtutol sa exploration, hindi lang cyberlibel complaint ang kinakaharap nila, may mga nararanasan din daw silang pananakot. 

“Naranasan ko mismo, may nagme-message sa akin sa Messenger na umalis na raw ako sa barikada, pinagbabantaan pati pamilya ko,” ani Dugay.

Matindi raw ang epekto nito sa kanyang kabuhayan at seguridad. 

“Dati alas-diyes ako ng gabi nagsasara ng tindahan, ngayong alas-siyete pa lang sarado na,” dagdag pa niya. Naging limitado na rin ang kanyang kilos kahit sa loob ng komunidad, “dati kahit gabi na pwede ako magmotor mag-isa pero ngayon halos limited na yung paglabas ko ng bahay,” saad niya.

Sa kabila nito, sinabi ni Dugay na mananatili siyang kasama ng iba pang residente sa kanilang barikada laban sa exploration ng NLMRC. 

“Bakit ako matatakot kung alam kong wala akong ginagawang masama? Hindi madali ang lahat, pero kailangan,” pahayag ni Dugay.

Bumabalik din siya sa naging aral ng kanilang komunidad: nauna nang nagbarikada ang mga katutubo at residente ng Kasibu noong 2007 laban sa Australian mining firm na RoyalCo at lokal nitong counterpart na Oxiana—pangyayaring aniya’y nagpapatatag sa kaniya para sa kasalukuyang paglaban. 

“Ilan sa mga nanguna sa laban noon ang mga magulang ko, kinasuhan din sila pero hindi sila nagpatinag,” sabi pa ni Dugay.

“At kahit ano pa ang mangyari. Hinding hindi kami susuko. Hinding hindi kami titigil, at hinding hindi kami aalis sa barikada namin—manalo o matalo, dito lang kami,” pagtatapos niya.

The post Residenteng kontra-mina, kinasuhan ng cyberlibel appeared first on AlterMidya.