In The Press

MANILA, Philippines -- Lawmakers on Wednesday said the administration’s preoccupation with the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona was distracting it from other urgent matters, such as addressing poverty and ensuring the passage of priority legislation.

Gabriela party-list Representative Emmi de Jesus said the common reaction of ordinary people when asked for their views on the impeachment trial is: “Nakakain ba ‘yan (Can you eat that)?” "  read more »

ADMINISTRATION critics on Friday said President Benigno Aquino III had no one to blame but himself for not acting to stop illegal logging and other activities that harm the environment.

Gabriela Women’s party-list Rep. Emmi de Jesus called on the Palace to cancel all logging permits, saying the havoc wrought by tropical storm Sendong should be seen in the context of “large-scale environmental plunder.”  read more »

After a nine-hour wait, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was finally transferred to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) on North Avenue in Quezon City past 4 p.m. Friday.

The former chief executive and current Pampanga representative and her party left for VMMC from St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City past 3 p.m. She boarded a white passenger coaster that was followed by two ambulances and authorities on motorcycles from the Philippine National Police (PNP)'s Highway Patrol Group.  read more »

MANILA, Philippines — Despite all the security and confusion, all the traffic, and all the rain, there was no stopping hundreds of political activists and supporters of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from hitting the streets and lambasting each other in front of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) compound in Quezon City Friday.  read more »

A lawmaker on Wednesday questioned the government’s decision to foot the bill for the hospitalization of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City while she is on trial for election sabotage when the poor have been deprived of access to basic health services.  read more »

Lawmakers are pushing for a more realistic yardstick for counting the number of poor Filipinos after the government lowered the minimum daily subsistence level from P52 to P46 per person, a move that significantly lowered the country’s poverty incidence.

Kabataan Representative Raymond V. Palatino on Monday scored the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) for adopting a new poverty threshold level which he said “deceptively” led to a reduction in the poverty rate from 26.3 percent to 20.9 percent.  read more »

Under the canopy of towering trees, youngsters on Saturday morning sat in rapt attention as Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmi de Jesus read to them a heart-tugging children’s story about war in Mindanao, its horrors and its unhappy consequences.

It was quiet until 11-year-old Roland stood up to say he could identify with the narrative, his family having been displaced by military operations in Talainod, Davao, and himself having witnessed a friend being struck with an Armalite by a soldier.  read more »

MANILA, Philippines - A party-list representative today scored the "miniscule increase" in the health budget in the 2012 national budget, which was approved by Congress last night.

Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus said the approved health budget was "far off from the clamor of various health groups" as they are asking for an increase of at least P40 billion.

“The miniscule increase in the health budget approved by the Senate and Congressional bicameral committee is insulting to marginalized Filipinos," De Jesus said in a statement.  read more »

MANILA, Philippines—The so-called progressive bloc in the House of Representatives is calling for an inquiry into the alleged complicity of lawyers and doctors in former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s attempt to hide her true medical condition. “We are now set to file a House resolution on Monday calling for an investigation of GMA’s lawyers and doctors.  read more »

LAWMAKERS hailed the Supreme Court for giving the farmers of Hacienda Luisita what is due them and called on the estate owners to respect the high tribunal’s decision.

Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada said that this decision will strengthen the backbone of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

“The decision gives a renewed sense of hope to farmers and farm workers all over the country,” Tañada said.

Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano urged Malacañang especially President Benigno Aquino III to respect the decision of the High Tribunal.  read more »