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The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is shocked to learn that a labour leader who survived an earlier attempt on his life in April 2006 was shot dead this morning, March 10.

Gerardo Cristobal (a.k.a. Gerry) was driving his vehicle when armed men riding in another vehicle open fired at him soon after chasing him. He suffered several fatal gunshot wounds which killed him instantly. Gerardo, an organizer of labour unions in Cavite, South of Manila, had been facing continuing threats since surviving the 2006 incident.

CASE DETAILS: (according to information received from Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR))

As described in our previous appeal (UA-142-2006; UP-098-2006), labour activist Gerardo Cristobal (a.k.a. Gerry) survived an earlier attempt on his life on 28 April 2006 by gunmen later identified as a member of the police force and another man who was said to be a member of the civil security unit.

At around 8 am this morning, Gerardo was driving his car from his house in Barangay (village) Malagasang II, Imus, Cavite when armed men riding in another vehicle chased him and subsequently open fired at him as they chased him towards a crowded place in the said municipality.

It is reported that the Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco), who are supposed to conduct an onsite investigation, allegedly asked a local funeral home in Dasmarinas to collect Gerardo's body instead of conducting an investigation at the crime scene. Gerardo's body was later transferred to another funeral home. As of yet, the complete details regarding Gerardo's have not been made available.

In April 2006, Gerardo survived an attempt on his life after having exchanged fire with his attackers who were later identified as Senior Police Office 1 (SP01) Romeo Lara, a member of police' intelligence unit in Imus, Cavite and his companion, Larry Reyes, a member of the Civil Security Unit (CSU) of the same municipality. Gerardo at the time had to carry his own licensed firearm for protection due to continuing threats against him.

At the time, Gerardo suffered multiple gunshots wound but later recovered after receiving medical treatment. After the ambush, the local police claimed instead that it was Gerardo who had ambushed the police and security forces, and subsequently filed charges of frustrated murder against him. This, however, was contrary to Gerardo's version of story.

Eight months later, December 2006, Gerardo's colleague, Jesus Servida (a.k.a. Buth) was also shot dead in front of the factory where they help organizing unions. Two other workers, Joel Sale and Kenny Mari Severo, were also wounded during the shooting. For further information please read: UA-399-2006. None of the perpetrators in this case have so far been identified, arrested and prosecuted for the murder.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
The murder of Gerardo Cristobal demonstrates the severity of the security problem and the lack of safety of activists. In Gerardo's case, apart from having no choice but to carry his own firearms for protection, there has not been any known action or arrangement afforded to him that he be afforded with security for his safety by the authorities.

In the Philippines, policemen are seen as adversaries by the activists for having been involved in carrying attempts on their lives and for their inaction into affording them any form of protection.

Gerardo's death is a case in point. Often, when an activist faces and receives threats to his or herself, going to police station and concerned authorities is not an option. They rather take upon themselves any arrangement for protection. There are also cases where a person facing threats refuses to divulge his plight to his anyone.

This, however, has been proven fatal in most cases involving killings of activists. In May 2006, activist Elena Mendiola (a.k.a. Baby) was also shot dead after having been survived an earlier attempt on her life. For details please read: UP-106-2006.

The AHRC has in recent times has expressed serious concerns over the continuing violence and the lack of protection to activists facing threats in the Philippines.

AHRC-STM-016-2008: PHILIPPINES: KILLINGS - Two more killings: a priest and a judge - a symptom of lawlessness

AHRC-STM-014-2008: PHILIPPINES: KILLINGS – Why can't security forces act without being asked?

AHRC-STM-009-2008: PHILIPPINES: KILLINGS – Claims of police efficiency at odds with reality

AHRC-STM-007-2008: PHILIPPINES: Killings leave deeply entrenched fear and distrust

SUGGESTED ACTION:Please write letters to the concerned authorities demanding their immediate attention into the killing of Gerardo Cristobal. An inquiry must be conducted as to who is responsible for his death and why the authorities have failed to afford him adequate protection. Those involved in the previous attempt on his life, in particular the police, must also be investigated to establish whether or not they have any involvement in his murder.

The AHRC writes letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions and Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders calling for interventions in this matter.

To support this appeal, please click here:

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear ___________,
PHILIPPINES: Labour leader who survives an earlier attempt on his life is killed
Name of victim: Gerardo Cristobal (35), a resident of Barangay (village) Malagasang II, Imus, CaviteAlleged perpetrators: unidentified armed menPlace of incident: Barangay (village) Malagasang, Imus, CaviteDate of incident: At around 8am, 10 March 2008.

I am shocked to learn that Gerardo Cristobal (a.k.a. Gerry), a labour activist who survived an attempt on his life in April 2006 had been shot dead on March 10, 2008. He was riding in his service vehicle coming from his place when armed men riding in another vehicle open fired at him and the vehicle he was driving. Gerardo died instantly due to multiple gunshot wounds he suffered during the attack.

I am aware that prior to his killing, Gerardo had earlier survived an attempt on his life by perpetrators later identified as a member of a police intelligence unit and security forces. However, none of those involved in previous attack on him have been held to account.

In fact, I have learned that Gerardo was instead been charged for supposedly attempting to murder the policeman and members of security forces who actually were responsible in attacking him.

I am also aware that Gerardo's colleague, Jesus Servida (a.k.a. Buth), was shot dead in December 2006, eight months after the first attack on Gerardo. Two other workers were also wounded during the said attack. However, I am not aware of any progress regarding these two separate incidents; nor the perpetrators responsible been held to account. None of those involved in shooting Jesus to death, wounding the two workers, and the first attempt on Gerardo's life have been held to account.

Also, I am deeply concerned by the reported action taken by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) in Gerardo's case for allegedly not properly conducting investigation at the crime scene. I have been informed that instead of conducting proper onsite investigation, the police have instead reportedly instructed a funeral parlor to take the victim's body out with them.

In so doing, I am seriously concerned that even at the early stage of investigation it has already been undermined as a result of the police' negligence and inaction. I urge you to look into these allegations seriously and have the policemen involved investigated.

It is disappointing that human rights and labour activists has since been continuously becomes target of these killings and atrocities. I am aware that this is not the first time wherein an activist is killed after surviving an earlier attempt on their lives. I am extremely shocked by this deteriorating condition and the continued lack of protection for human rights and labour activists in the country.

I therefore urge you that any action taken in Gerardo's case must be effective and adequate, in particular of ensuring that those responsible are held to account.

Yours sincerely,

-------------------

PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila 1005
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 736 1010 Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80
E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph

2. Mrs. Purificacion Quisumbing
Commissioner
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, DilimanQuezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 929 0102 Tel: +63 2 928 5655 / 926 6188
E-mail: drpvq@yahoo.com

3. Deputy Director General Avelino Razon
Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2724 8763 Tel: +63 2 726 4361/4366/8763
E-mail: bluetree73@gmail.com

4. Mr. Raul Gonzalez
Secretary
Department of Justice (DoJ)
DOJ Bldg., Padre Faura1004
Manila
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 521 1614
E-mail: agnesdeva@yahoo.com

5. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon
Chief of Staff
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
AFP-GHQ Offices, Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 911 6436 Tel: +63 2 911 6001 to 50

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals ProgrammeAsian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)

MANILA, Philippines - The Animation Council of the Philippines (ACPI) is calling on all Filipino animators to submit their entries to the Animahenasyon 2007:Pinoy Animation Festival to be held on November 14-18.

Animahenasyon 2007 aims to showcase original content in Philippine animation and the recognition of the Filipino talent in the field of animation, aiming for local and international animation excellence and competitiveness.

The competition is composed of a professional and a student/amateur division and includes the following categories: one minute up to five minutes; 6 minutes up to 20 minutes; 21 minutes up to 60 minutes; Full-animated feature (more than 60 minutes); music video; title sequence, public and information, demo reel; and TV series.

Entries must be made frame by frame, including computer graphics animation and must be submitted in the DVD format for pre-selection. They must also be submitted together with three (3) photo stills from the work; one (1) photo of the Animation Director; and brief biography of the Animation Director (not more than five sentences).

All entries will undergo a preliminary screening and the finalists will compete and be shown during the festival in November. Animators of chosen entries and their work will also be featured in all promo materials for the event.

Application forms and mechanics to the competition can be downloaded from the ACPI website, www. animationcouncil.org.
Deadline for submission of entries is on October 1, 2007 and must besent to:

ANIMATION COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC. (ACPI)Towers Business Center11/F CyberOne Bldg.Eastwood City CyberparkE. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Quezon City.

The Animation Council of the Philippines is a non-stock and non- profit organization whose member companies specialize mainly in, but not limited to, either 2D or 3D animation.

It is an organization recognized and supported by the Philippine government whose aim is to promote the Animation Industry globally with the intention of creating an identity for the Philippines to be considered amongst the preferred countries that service the animation industry.

For more information regarding the competition, please call telephone (02)4382983-85 local 150/151 look for Astrid or Laisa.

The Filipino American Network (FAN) is pleased to announce that the 4th annual Chicago Filipino American Film Festival (CFAFF) has been scheduled for the second weekend of November.

This unique festival showcases the best works by Filipino and Filipino-American filmmakers. For the third straight year, the film festival will be held at the Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division St., in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood. The festival will begin Friday, November 9, and run through Sunday, November 11.

For the past three years, the mission of the film festival has been to highlight and celebrate the works of emerging Filipino-American filmmakers, as well as cutting-edge cinema from the Philippines.

Previous years have included acclaimed features, such as Cavite, Imelda, Panaghoy Sa Suba (Call of the River), Slow Jam King, The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros, Crying Ladies, Magnifico and Leave It to Chance.

SEEKING SUBMISSIONS

The Chicago Filipino American Film Festival is currently seeking films for inclusion in its 2007 program. All entries must be received by October 5. Filipino and Filipino-American filmmakers are invited to submit shorts, documentaries and feature films for consideration.

To submit a film, or to learn more about the 2007 festival program, visit www.CFAFF.org. Please spread the word your network, especially aspiring filmmakers.

FAN

The Chicago Filipino American Film Festival is presented by the Filipino American Network (FAN). FAN is a not-for-profit organization that calls, challenges and supports Filipino American young adults by providing resources, connections and opportunities to enrich their lives, support their growth and deepen their self-awareness of their Filipino heritage.

In addition to hosting the Chicago Filipino American Film Festival, FAN also sponsors the Holiday Gift Basket Drive for Seniors and hosts other events for Chicago's Filipino American community.

For more information, including ticket sales, submission information,sponsorship opportunities and final schedule, please visit www.CFAFF.org or contact: ReyVillar@CFAFF.org.

MANILA - After a brief hiatus, ABC-5 News & Public Affairs launches a brand new season of its landmark program "Dokyu" this May.

"Dokyu" has been highly acclaimed for providing start-up incentives as well as an exhibition platform for independent documentary filmmakers, both professionals and amateurs/students.

On their first year on air, "Dokyu" showcased a variety of productions from students, budding artists, cause-oriented groups and independent (indie) filmmakers.

"The show is a morale booster for student and indie filmmakers to show their craft and more importantly, their points of view for the world to see," said Jim Libiran, ABC-5 Public Affairs production head.

On its second year, "Dokyu" staged a campus tour, teaching students in twelve colleges and universities in Metro Manila the rudiments of documentary filmmaking. It also aired a month-long documentary film festival.

For its brand new season, there will be a lot of changes starting with the concept. "Dokyu" will now be a competition program, with different levels or categories. For the first season, the competition will be in the student category, and will be similar to the Gawad CCP, Urian and CMMA awards.

The winning documentary will receive a tax-free cash prize of P50,000.00 and a trophy.

ABC 5 has sent an open invitation to all colleges and universities in the Philippines to send entries to "Dokyu's" search for the Best Student Documentary.

Entry forms can be downloaded from the ABC website and the "Dokyu" web page. Accomplished form together with two copies (dvd, vcd, dv) of the documentary shall be submitted to the "Dokyu" office, ABC News & Public Affairs, ABC Studios, 762 Quirino Highway, Novaliches, Quezon City.

Entries for the first season will be accepted until May 31. A minimum of 20 and a maximum of 22 entries will be chosen to compete for Best Student Documentary Season 1.

A panel of critics composed of respected broadcast journalists and professors from the academe will preview all "Dokyu" finalists and judge them based on the following criteria: 50% of the score for best student "Dokyu" and 50% will come from text votes.

All shortlisted entries will air on TV, two back to back per episode, starting on May 18. The first season winner will be announced by the third week of August. Each year, there will be at least three best student "Dokyu" winners which will also have a chance to be sponsored and entered in international competitions.

The student "Dokyu" season will be hosted by outstanding youth achiever Patricia Evangelista. A documentary filmmaker herself, Patricia is a Philippine Daily Inquirer op-ed columnist and host of the TV program "Y-Speak."

Patricia's annotations each episode will include a critic's review of the featured documentaries to guide viewers in evaluating the work.

Nominations are now open for the 2007 Ateneo Art Awards, presented by the Ateneo Art Gallery, the country's premier museum of modern Philippine art, along with Metro Society, Y Style, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Land and Smart Communications in keeping with the spirit of bringing art into the national consciousness.

Established in 2004 to honor the memory of the Gallery’s founding benefactor Fernando Zobel de Ayala (1924-1984), Gina Fairley of Art Monthly Australia calls the Ateneo Art Awards “the most prestigious prize…for an emerging artist of the Philippines.”

The Awards are bestowed upon three Filipino visual artists, 35 years of age or under, who have made an outstanding and significant contribution to the definition and development of modern and contemporary art based upon a solo or group exhibition in any public venue held between 2 May 2006 and 1 May 2007.

In keeping with the Ateneo’s intent to maintain institutional and professional collegiality, works by artists appearing in exhibitions conceptualized or curated by museum staff within their own premises will not be considered.

Nominations will be taken from past and present members of the Ateneo Art Awards jury, public gallery directors (commercial and non-commercial), professional visual artists and art educators residing in the Philippines. The nominated visual artist must be a Philippine citizen, aged 35 years old or below on or before 31 May 2007.

Visual artists working or residing overseas are qualified provided that they possess Philippine citizenship. The visual artist must have had a solo or group exhibition in the twelve months preceding 1 May 2007 where the artworks submitted for consideration appeared.

All nomination forms must be accompanied by visual documentation in either of the following formats: .jpeg, .tiff, .wmv, .mov or 5R photographs.

The deadline for submission of nomination forms is on 31 May 2007 at 5.00 pm. The jury will deliberate on the entries on 6 June 2007 after which a shortlist of 12 artists will be announced in the national press. A second deliberation will be held on Wednesday, 20 June 2007, to determine the recipients of the Awards.

The 2007 Ateneo Art Awards Jury is composed of Ramon E.S. Lerma, Director and Chief Curator, Ateneo Art Gallery; Fr. Rene Javellana, S.J., Director, Ateneo Fine Arts Program; Vince Alessi, Managing Curator, La Trobe University Art Museum, Victoria, Australia; Norman Crisologo, Art collector; Eloisa Hernandez, Assistant Professor, Department of Art Studies, University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Fatima Lasay, Independent curator and visual artist; Eileen Legaspi-Ramirez, Curatorial Consultant, Lopez Memorial Museum; Marian Pastor Roces, Member, Ateneo Art Gallery Acquisition Board, independent curator and art critic; Cesare Syjuco, Visual artist, art critic and poet; and Dr. Eugene Tan, Director, Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore and Co-curator, 2006 Singapore Biennale.

The Ateneo Art Awards will be conferred at a formal ceremony on 8 August 2007, following an exhibition of the short-listed artworks from 2-7 August 2007 at the Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City, titled 2007 Ateneo Art Awards: Global/Vernacular.

Global/Vernacular is recognition and credence, acknowledging Philippine art has its own nuances yet believing it moves beyond local context to reverberate cross-culturally.

It also calls attention to the expansion of the Ateneo Art Gallery Studio Residency Grant, the only program of its kind organized by a Philippine cultural institution. 2007 marks the third year of the Ateneo Art Gallery Studio Residency Grant in Australia, to be held for the first time in La Trobe University in Bendigo, as well as the introduction of the Ateneo Art Gallery Studio Residency Grant in Singapore with Artesan Gallery.

Each residency provides one of the three Ateneo Art Awardees with roundtrip airfare, accommodation and a work studio for three weeks, an allowance, as well as an invitation to exhibit at their respective host venues.

Nomination forms have been sent to museums, art galleries and universities with studio-based fine arts programs. Professional visual artists and those who have not yet received their nomination forms may download it from the Ateneo Art Gallery website http://gallery.ateneo.edu.
For further inquiries on the Ateneo Art Awards, please contact Clarissa Chikiamco, 2007 Ateneo Art Awards Project Coordinator, at 426-6488 or at cchikiamco@ateneo.edu.

QUEZON CITY - The Families of Desaparecidos for Justice (DESAPARECIDOS) condemned the disappearance of Jonas Joseph Burgos and Melisa Reyes, on April 28, in Quezon City.

Burgos, or Jay-Jay, 38, son of press freedom icon Jose "Joe" Burgos Jr., failed to come home to his family in Tandang Sora, Quezon City on April 28.

His anxious family tried to contact him through his cellphone the whole night, but it was only at 10:46 AM the next day that they received messages from him which did not make any sense.

His family was still able to talk to him on the phone but his voice sounded drowsy and his words did not make sense as if he were drugged.

It was learned that Melisa Reyes, and a still to be identified male companion of Jayjay also failed to come home on the evening of April 28.

Burgos had been giving agri technology trainings to members of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulacan (AMB), a provincial chapter of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.

"This is a brazen act which only state security forces will have the motive and gall to carry out. It's ironic that it happened to a member of the Burgosfamily that had opposed and survived Martial Law and still continues to defend civil rights and press freedom," said Ghay Portajada, spokesperson ofDesaparecidos.

Portajada also noted that Jay-jay's disappearance happened, not in a remote village in the countrysides, but here in Quezon City where there is much presence of both police and military elements.

"We call on the responsible elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to surface Jay-jay and his companions. We dare the Arroyo administration tosolve this disappearance, and use all possible resources and technologies to locate Jay-jay, whose phone is still active and could actually be tracked,"said Portajada.

"We pray that Jay-jay and his companions will be surfaced alive, just like urban poor leader Lourdes "Nay Ude" Rubrico, who was abducted, detained and released by intelligence agents for one week at the Fernando Basa Air Base in Lipa City in Batangas province.

DAVAO CITY - It’s a fun and activity packed Sunday on May 13 as Eden Nature Park and Resort celebrates “Mother’s Day”.

Treat your moms – and bring your dad and siblings, too! – for an overnight stay at the resort’s cozy mountain lodges and villas as you all together wander and savor nature’s splendor at the resort’s breathtaking expanse.

For every night of stay at the resort, pamper her with a free delectable breakfast especially prepared for this special occasion plus a free entrance to the Fishing Village and use of the Swimming Pool.

On Mother’s Day, spoil your mom with a lavish make-over indulgence at Eden Nature Park and Resort’s Mother’s Day Fair.

Make her day extra special with fun crafts and wellness activities at the Mary Kay, Bioessence, Bulak Shop, Aromacology Sensi, VR Halo-Halo and other exciting participating booths showcasing various beauty and wellness products for her to sample.

Truly a very special day for you to give back all the love and care to your mom only at Eden Nature Park and Resort…Naturally. Make your reservations now – call (082) 296-0791, 299-1020 and 299-0313 or visit the Sales Office at Matina Town Square, MacArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City.

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE - Chirino Limpuson was among the Subanon indigenous people (IP) who saw how his kinsfolk toiled for the transient small-scale mining operators at Mount Canatuan in Siocon town in Zamboanga del Norte province.

The IPs were semi-employed, semi-nomadic and unsure of how to secure a better future for their children.

Today, the 58-year old Chirino is one of the Subanon leaders who work with TVI Resource Development (Phils.), Inc. (TVIRD) to ensure that the company delivers its commitments to his fellow IPs and holders of the Canatuan Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT).

The Tanuman Village is his dream comes true - a new residential community that is designed, funded and constructed jointly by TVIRD and the Siocon Subanon Association, Inc. (SSAI), legal representative of the CADT-holders.

Even as the company is steadily fulfilling its commitments for employment and royalty benefits, it is also pressing on with the development of Tanuman – a permanent settlement; a first, in their long history in the mountains.

Chosen by the Subanon themselves, Tanuman Village is a 50-hectare area located four kilometers north of TVIRD’s gold-copper mining operation and right at the junction of three towns: Siocon, as well RT Lim and Ipil of adjacent Zamboanga Sibugay province, according to a TVI statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

The Tanuman Village design is based on planned development and environmental protection. Built amidst a luxuriant forest reserve that comprises two-thirds of the site, a residential area will be developed with power and water supplies, sanitation infrastructure, schools, and community centers.

The project commenced in 2006 with earthwork and gradual transfer of families. In December, TVIRD engineers and Subanon residents worked hand in hand to put up power facilities and installing power lines, from the powerhouse, to the streetlights, all the way to the households.

By end-March 2007, all 44 families who were the first to move in are enjoying the safety and comfort of their brighter homes - for the first time in their lives.

Chirino beamed hopefully: “Naniniwala ako na itong liwanag sa aming bahay ngayon ay siya ring liwanag na mananaig sa aming kinabukasan (I am confident that the lights that brighten our homes will be the same brightness that will shine through our future).”

“Tanuman Village is just one project among TVIRD’s efforts towards reconciling human rights and mining by implementing community development projects using human rights concepts of people empowerment, consultation, social acceptance, sustainability, and a rights-based approach,” said Felice Yeban, a noted human rights advocate and TVIRD Director for Community Relations and Development Organization.

“We have supported and will continue to support the development of the IPs,” Yeban added, as she emphasized the Company’s resolve to work towards building for the Subanons a community that is not only developed, but sustainable.

OLONGAPO CITY - Sailors of USS Juneau (LPD 10) with embarked Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) departed here Monday after completing two projects and building strong relations with prominent community leaders and local citizens.

Led by Commander, Amphibious Force, 7th Fleet Rear Adm. Carol M. Pottenger, who made a visit to the area, the Navy and Marine Corps service members as they performed as community members focusing on the interpersonal relationships connecting with their Philippine counterparts.

This was emphasized by Pottenger’s call on Olongo City Mayor James Gordon, Jr. and subsequent reception as well as two separate community service projects in the area.

The projects included a medical civic action project (MEDCAP) in Olongopo City’s Baretto Barangay and then a number of material improvements, including installing a basketball hoop, at the Subic Freeport Welfare Reservation or also known as the Aeta Resettlement.

“This visit greatly enhanced the historic relationship between the United States and Republic of Philippines,” said Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7 Rear Adm. Carol M. Pottenger, the type commander for all amphibious assets, including Juneau in the 7th Fleet area of operation.

“By coming here, meeting each other face-to-face, we are able to make true friendships with those that have supported the U.S. Navy for so long. I know that the work done as part of the MEDCAP and in the Aeta Resttlement will be remember for many years to come.”

Juneau, commanded by Capt. John D. Alexander, is part of the Sasebo, Japan-based Essex Expeditionary Strike Group, which serves under Commander, Task Force 76. Task Force 76 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force and is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.

THE MINDANAO-BASED Suara Party List urged members of Congress Friday to approve the Cheap Medicine Bill or Senate Bill 2263, which is instrumental for the roll-back of medicines' prices in the Philippines.

Zaynab Ampatuan, National Deputy Secretary General of Suara Party, said the bill is of big help to the lives of millions of Filipinos who have been denied of basic health services due to government's insufficient budget on health.

"Health care is supposed to be our basic right but ironically it has been one of the least priorities of the government not only in terms of budget allocation but also with the legislations of laws that will mend access of Filipinos for medication." Ampatuan said in a statement.

"In fact, military budget for waging war against the people is a lot higher than the budget intended for basic services such as Health. Ampatuan said prices of medicines in Indonesia, Thailand and India are much cheaper than Philippines.

She said a known brand of inhaler for asthmatics, which is priced P406 in the Philippines, sells only P231 in Thailand. Some medicines, such as antibacterial drugs, are sold in the Philippines ten-times higher than the price in India.

"Can we not make it here in the Philippines? This way we can save lives of patients from dying simply because of expensive medicines," Ampatuan said.

Ampatuan, however, said that accessibility to cheaper medicines is just but one of the dilemmas faced by ordinary Filipinos. She pointed that it is useless to work for the "roll-back" of medicines' prices if wages of the workers or income of every family will not be boosted.

Suara Party is one of the organizations that fight for the ratification of the P125 a day wage increase bill or the Beltran's Bill authored by labor activist Rep. Crispin Beltran, who is now detained by government on rebellion charges.

ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROCLAMATION 1017, the militant labor organization, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), said Friday that the Armed Forces of the Philippines could take harsher measures against civilians and progressive groups after AFP chief General Hermogenes Esperon's open vilification campaign against legal groups.

"With the way the AFP and Malacanang countered the findings of United Nations Rapporteur Philip Alston on the human rights situation in the country, it is evident that the government is not keen on stopping the spate of attacks against unarmed civilians and organizations which they suspect as supporters of the CPP-NPA-NDF and unjustly label as 'communist fronts," KMU Secretary General and Anakpawis Party List nominee Joel Maglunsod said in a statement.

Among the possible scenarios cited by KMU includes raiding of legal offices of progressive organizations, planting of evidences including subversive documents and firearms and arrests of leaders and members of the groups maliciously referred by the AFP Chief.

"AFP is arrogantly standing by their militarization campaign that primarily targets unarmed civilians. The killings and harassments continue, much worse, the AFP refuses to arrest (retired) Gen. Jovito Palparan and all those who are involved in the killings."

"It's been a year since PP1017 was declared and supposedly lifted, but the blanket authority it provided to Malacanang and the AFP was even reinforced. Cong. Crispin Beltran's continued illegal detention is a concrete proof of the government's excessive abuse of power. The approval of the Anti-Terror Act worsens the situation."

The labor group said they will hold protests on Monday outside the Philippine Heart Center to demand the release of Rep. Beltran who is the first victim of Arroyo's PP1017.

Maglunsod said Anakpawis Party List is petitioning for Ka Bel to be allowed to campaign as the first nominee of Anakpawis.

"Workers are demanding that Ka Bel and I campaign side by side to various factories, industrial enclaves and urban poor communities nationwide. His rights as a legitimate candidate must be recognized by the PNP and the COMELEC," Maglunsod said.

President Arroyo issued Proclamation Number 1017 on February 24, 2006 after an alleged coup attempt was foiled in the morning of the same day, thus, placing the country under a "State of National Emergency". This was later revoked by Proclamation 1021.

ONE OF THE MOST ELABORATE FLOATS in this year’s Penagbenga Festival parade Sunday in Baguio City is composed of flowers as well as fuels.

The Baguio Clean Cities Coalition, Caltex Corporation, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are co-sponsoring a float constructed of sugar cane, corn, coconut, and other organic components of biofuels in combination with traditional flowers including roses, calla lily, chrysanthemum and anturium, the U.S. Embassy said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

The "Biofuels Float" will raise awareness among Penagbenga Festival participants of the landmark Biofuels Act of 2006, which mandates increased usage of biofuels in all vehicles to reduce air pollution and protect the health of Filipinos, it said.

"The Biofuels Float’s clean air message is especially relevant for Baguio City, where representatives from the public and private sector have joined together to restore the scent of pines to the Philippines’ most famous mountain city."

"The American people, through USAID and the U.S. Department of Energy, are contributing to these efforts by sponsoring clean air public service announcements in local movie theaters and providing Baguio City officials with equipment, materials, and training to monitor smoke-belching vehicles and implement a public awareness campaign," it said.

USAID is also engaged in nationwide efforts to promote a healthier environment.

Last week, a 50-vehicle “Biofuels Caravan” traversed the Philippines from Pagudpud in Luzon to Davao City in Mindanao to publicize the recent passage of the Biofuels Act and to promote use of alternative fuels for cleaner air.

All caravan vehicles ran on bioethanol or biodiesel blended fuel, which produce significantly less air pollution than traditional gasoline or diesel fuel. In addition to USAID, sponsors of the caravan included the Philippine Department of Energy, the Philippine Fuel Ethanol Alliance, Ford Philippines, independent gas retailers Seaoil and Flying V, and local governments of the major urban areas visited by the caravan.