MANILA — Field reports reaching the Kontra Daya monitoring center cited widespread cases of malfunctioning PCOS machines in various polling places around the country, especially in vote-rich precincts. Live TV newscast showed orderly lines in polling places such as at the posh Ayala-Alabang, but in more thickly populated areas, long, snaking lines, missing names, non-functioning PCOS, rejected ballots, misplaced election paraphernalia, among others, have delayed the process of voting.

During the 2010 elections, 16-percent of reports to Kontradaya involved PCOS machines; this election, it make up three of every five reports to KontraDaya.

Renato Reyes, KontraDaya convener, said the PCOS machine failures that marked the first half of the election day warn of a chain reaction of similar delays. Considering that the PCOS machine malfunctions and other failings occur in populated precincts in many parts of the country, KontraDaya said these could be considered as “widespread” and had a major effect on the conduct of the elections.

MANILA — Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle called on those who have custody of Jonas Burgos to release the missing activist.

Tagle celebrated the Mass April 25 at the Minor Basilica Church, more popularly known as Quiapo Church, marking the sixth year of the disappearance of Jonas. The family of Jonas was joined by relatives of other victims of enforced disappearances, members of human rights groups, religious and other supporters.

In his homily, Tagle said in Filipino: “I’m calling on those holding Jonas and many others who are being searched by their mothers, fathers and siblings, you will face God,” Tagle said. “And not only Jonas. There are many others. Some are here but it seems they are not here, (they are) ignored, neglected, as though they are not here,” Tagle added.

MANILA — One year after the Supreme Court ordered the distribution of Hacienda Luisita land to farm worker-beneficiaries, not a single parcel of land has been given back to the rightful owners.

This was the main message of the four-day Lakbayan para sa libreng pamamahagi ng lupa sa Asyenda Luisita (Journey for the free distribution of land in Hacienda Luisita) staged by more than 200 farm workers and their supporters.

The Lakbayan started April 24 in Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac City and ended at the foot of Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) bridge.

“Three years of the Aquino presidency and one year since the Supreme Court ordered the distribution of the land, we remain landless,” Rodel Mesa, chairman of Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Asyenda Luisita and secretary general of Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) said.

MANILA – Under the 48-degree-celsius heat in Saudi Arabia, stranded Filipinos continue their camp out outside the Philippine consulate in Jeddah, hoping that President Aquino would act swiftly on their repatriation.

“The repatriation program of the government is nowhere to be found. Where is the assistance we expect to get as modern day heroes?” John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator of Migrante – Middle East, said.

In a protest action in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs, members of Migrante International joined relatives of stranded OFWs in calling on the Aquino administration to act on their free and immediate mass repatriation.

MANILA – Dubbed as the “Day of Mourning in remembrance of Kristel Pilar Mariz Tejada, Iskolar Ng Bayan,” the University of the Philippines – Manila suspended its classes last Mar. 18. Youth and progressive groups also kicked off the start of their protest to hold the government accountable for her death.

“A single death caused by the high cost of Philippine education is one death too many. Something must be done. This week, we need to rewrite history,” Terry Ridon, president of Kabataan Partylist, said.

Kristel Tejada, 16, a resident of Tondo Manila, was found unconscious by her mother at around 3:00 am on Mar. 15. They brought her to the nearest hospital, the Metropolitan Medical Center, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

MANILA – On the occasion of World Consumers Day, an alliance of organizations of farmers, scientists and consumers called on President Benigno Aquino III to shelve plans to make the genetically-modified golden rice available to the local market.

The Philippine Rice Institute (Philrice) has finished the field testing of golden rice in Camarines Sur, Ilocos Norte, Isabela and Nueva Ecija, according to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Golden Rice will be made available to farmers and consumers in the Philippines once the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry approves it.

MANILA – The family of Joselito Zapanta, an overseas Filipino worker who was recently granted a three-month reprieve from being sentenced to die, is asking for help to raise the much-needed $1.1 million blood money.

“No matter what happens, we cannot afford to pay (for the blood money) because we do not have money,” Jesus, Joselito’s father, said in a GMAnews.tv.

Joselito was sentenced to die in 2009 after allegedly killing his Sudanese landlord on May 26, 2009. Since then, his family has been trying to find ways to save him. Even his children, in the same GMAnews.tv report, said they are saving their allowances to help their father.

MANILA – Joining Migrante International’s press conference on Thursday, Remedios Miralles, 40, shared her experience as a Filipino victim of human trafficking in Malaysia.

“It would have turned out okay if my employer only made me do household chores, as originally stated in the job description I applied for. But my employers sent me to do other jobs in their businesses such as a sales lady for their curtain store and a worker for their factory all in one day,” Miralles said.  “Whenever I fail to do everything in time, my employer would scold me.”

Migrante International, in its report, said Miralles was also a victim of physical assault from her employers whenever they were “unhappy with the work she has done.”

MANILA — After more than four decades of arduous struggle for justice, victims of martial law finally saw a ray of light.

On the 27th anniversary of the People Power 1 uprising, President Benigno Aquino III signed into law the Human Rights Victim Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013.

The law, the first of its kind in the world, provides $246 million in compensation for those who were persecuted by the dictatorship of Ferdinand E. Marcos.

MANILA — Almost a month after the grounding of the US Navy minesweeper USS Guardian at the Tubbataha Reef, the extent of the damage continues to increase tremendously as the ship remains on the world’s marine biodiversity hub.

Meanwhile, the Aquino administration has been too lax on the issue, letting the US government get away with yet another violation in Philippine sovereignty.

Beyond the grounding incident, the UP community clamored once again for the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that freely allows US military presence on Philippine territory. Led by the newly-formed organization “UP Alliance to Save the Tubbataha, Junk VFA,” concerned students, faculty, administrators and workers called on the current administration to hold the US Navy accountable while strengthening their call for the repeal of the VFA.

MANILA – Advocates of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill have called for transparency in governance but what if the version that awaits approval by the Congress would institutionalize secrecy?

The consolidated bill House Bill 6766 or the FOI bill lists ten points of exceptions, all of which are present in Malacañang’s version of the FOI.

These exceptions prompted the Makabayan coalition of progressive partylist groups in Congress to withdraw their sponsorship of the bill.

MANILA – Supreme Court justices took turns questioning the government’s chief lawyer on the controversial provisions in the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 or Republic Act 10175.

In his 30-minute speech during the oral arguments, January 29, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza attempted to debunk what he called as claims by at least 15 petitioners.

Jardeleza zeroed in on hacking to justify the need for a law that punishes cybercrimes but the SC justices seemed not convinced.

MANILA – How does our government allocate and spend public money? How does it arrive at “savings” and who decide where these are to be spent? Does it share information about all these to the public who foot the bill and who stand to gain or lose from the budgeted projects (and from unbudgeted ones)? All these and more, with some limitations, are assessed in the Open Budget Survey, a global assessment of government budget systems held biennially by US-based International Budget Partnership.

Said to be the only independent, comparative and regular measure of budget transparency and accountability around the world, the Open Budget Survey 2012 results came out this week. It reveals that the national budget of 77 of the 100 countries assessed fail to meet basic standards of budget transparency. This means that three of every four nations analyzed fail to meet basic transparency standards, the International Budget Partnership said. With inadequate public accountability, they said poverty reduction is undermined.

MANILA – Outrage greeted the reported trespassing of US Navy minesweeper, the USS Guardian (MCM 5), yesterday in the waters of Palawan. The US Navy said in its website that their ship “ran aground on Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, a World Heritage Site in the Sulu Sea, 640 kilometers (400 miles) southeast of Manila at 2:25 a.m. local time, January 17.”

Philippine laws say the area is off-limits to the ship, the area being a protected site, but based on the Tubbataha management office report, the US ship entered these areas without permission and failed to coordinate with environmental officials.

“The Avenger-Class ship had just completed a port call in Subic Bay, Olongapo City and was en route to her next port of call when the grounding occurred. The ship is currently stuck on the reef, approximately 80 miles east-southeast of Palawan Island,” the US 7th Public Affairs Fleet said in the US Navy website. It said ‘The crew is currently working to determine the best method of safely extracting the ship.”

MANILA – Five lawyers representing 15 groups of petitioners presented their basis for petitioning the Supreme Court to strike down Republic Act 10175 or Cybercrime Law as unconstitutional during the oral arguments, January 15.

Lawyers Harry Roque, Neri Javier Colmenares, Jose Jesus Disini Jr., Rodel Cruz and Julius Matibag highlighted five main points why the high court should decide in their favor.

The temporary restraining order issued by the SC on the implementation of the law will lapse on February 6.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Justice Marvic Leonen defended the necessity of having such a law while some justices pointed out questionable provisions.

MANILA — Days ahead of the scheduled oral arguments on the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 at the Supreme Court, netizens and various groups initiated protest actions.

The temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the high court on the implementation of the Republic Act 10175 will lapse on February 6. The SC will start hearing oral arguments January 15, Tuesday.

Various groups, including journalists, bloggers, lawyers and activists, have filed petitions before the SC questioning the constitutionality of the law. They cited violations of privacy and violations of the freedom of expression, among others.

MANILA – Employees of the Metro Manila Development Authority walked out from their office to call on the agency to pay their Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) incentive.

“I am very happy that a lot went out of our office today to protest and pressure MMDA to give our benefit,” Fe Albaña, a street sweeper of 35 years for the MMDA, said.

Albaña, a widow, said she somehow managed to raise her six children with her meager salary, which is roughly $175. If the CNA incentive would be distributed to the employees, she said, it would be of big help to her and to other workers receiving low salaries.

MANILA – If there is a subject dedicated to national hero Jose Rizal in the collegiate curricula, why not have one on the life and contributions of Gat Andres Bonifacio?

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino called on Congress to pass House Bill 4353, which seeks to provide for the inclusion of a course on the life, works and ideals of Bonifacio in the collegiate curricula.

While the whole country commemorates Bonifacio’s birth anniversary every year on Nov. 30, Palatino said, Filipinos remember and honor Bonifacio only during that day. In his privilege speech last Nov. 26, Monday, Palatino encouraged a “deeper” commemoration of Bonifacio’s birth anniversary

MANILA — The freedom of information (FOI) bill remains languishing in the House of Representative two years after Benigno Aquino III, who campaigned on a platform of government transparency, won the presidency. Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III of Quezon, the bill’s main author, remains optimistic that the measure can still be passed during the 15th Congress even if the 2013 midterm elections is just seven months away.

Tañada, who concurrently serves as the deputy speaker for Luzon, explained that the FOI bill has been forwarded to the House Committee on Public Information since November 2010. He pointed out that committee chair Rep. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar has yet to schedule a public hearing regarding the bill.

MANILA -- The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), through human rights lawyer Ted Fe, filed a motion Oct. 15 asking Justice Presbitero to inhibit himself from participating in the deliberations on the consolidated petition questioning the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA 10175). Te is a former vice president for legal affairs of the University of the Philippines.

The motion was filed on behalf of the 273 journalists, and media and freedom of expression advocacy groups who signed the first e-petion submitted before the Supreme Court on Oct. 3, to preclude the possibility of Velasco's alleged prejudice against the media affecting the decision on the petition.