A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission

PHILIPPINES: Keeping of records regarding ‘vigilante’ killings has stopped but the killings go on
Slaughter of Innocents
http://noprotection.blog.humanrights.asia/
While this Statement is being written, more and more persons, including minors, have been targeted for murder on the pretext of ‘vigilante’ killings in cities of General Santos, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Cebu. This is an insidious phenomenon [...]

DAVAO CITY: The miracle of manna from heaven in styrofoam packs

By ROGER M. BALANZA

It could have been manna from heaven in the form of seemingly inexhaustible free lunch packs in Styrofoam that fell on poor Dabawenyos grappling with stiff cost of rice and other basic commodities.
Or it could have been a result of poor arithmetic. But lay workers who helped [...]

Davao City not anti-business in banning housing projects atop aquifer

By ROGER M. BALANZA
A Davao City Hall official yesterday said the city government is not being anti-business if it bans housing developments in Dumoy, which is home to the aquifer that provides the city with drinking water.
Mario Luis Jacinto, city planning and development coordinator, said housing developers could take a pick at [...]

King David’s penis to be in safe hands

Dads volunteer to save organ
By ROGER M. BALANZA

When government wrecking crews descend on Queensland Motel to pulverize the illegal structures built by motel owner Teodorico Adarna on a government property in Matina Aplaya, King David would have no reason to fear about losing his penis.
This early two city councilors have made [...]

Queensland Motel reclamation under fire anew

ACOSTA wants King David demolished
By ROGER M. BALANZA

If she had her way, councilor Mabel Acosta wants to demolish pronto a bay walk and a giant concrete replica of a young and naked King David illegally constructed by motel owner Teodorico Adarna on a government-owned foreshore area in Matina Aplaya.
Acosta, the [...]

Retired trooper killed by NPAs?

Military checking if Manero liquidated

The military here are checking reports a retired trooper seized by communist rebels last month had been terminated. We are still verifying this report, said Major Arman Rico, spokesman of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command. Rico admits the military is clueless about the whereabouts of MSgt. Jose Manero, but the [...]

Davao City govt to sue motel owner for illegal foreshore reclamation

City Hall readies rap vs. Adarna
By ROGER M. BALANZA

City Hall is readying charges for illegal construction against a motel owner who reclaimed sans government permit part of a 24-hectare city government reservation in coastal barangay Matina Aplaya.
The City Engineers Office is now preparing evidences and documents, said City Legal Officer J. Melchor [...]

Duterte appeals to NPA: Release seized trooper

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has appealed to the New People’s Army (NPA) to release a former soldier seized last month by the communist rebels in a banana farm in Calinan in Davao City.
The whereabouts of retired MSgt. Jose Manero remains unknown since his abduction by a rebel band led by Leonardo Pitao [...]

Sara backs demolition of Ilang prostitution haven

By ROGER M. BALANZA

Vice Mayor Sara Duterte, acting Mayor, would not stand in the way of the demolition of nine houses declared as squatters sandwiched between two port facilities and impeding a natural waterway in Ilang, Bunawan.
This developed even as the nine families waged a last-minute attempt to stay the demolition [...]

Misuari followers in Davao City for peace summit, caravan

Thousands of members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are in Davao City for a two-day summit today and Peace Caravan that would take off tomorrow.
The MNLF forces from all over Mindanao started to arrive here Thursday night. Dabawenyos, used to seeing heavily-armed elements of Task Force Davao on street patrol, were mildy amused at the sight of unarmed elements [...]