Japanese-Filipino kids welcome new law on citizenship

By GERMELINA A. LACORTE | Davao Today

The June 4 decision of the Japan Supreme Court will reverse the old law which only grants nationality to Japanese-Filipino children whose parents were married legally. The new law will include children whose parents are not legally married.

Lumad leader fears for his life

By GRACE S. UDDIN | Davao Today

Lumad leader Kerlan Fanagel is surprised to see his picture on a poster of the wanted list of Communist rebels displayed in public areas in Compostela town, Compostela Valley Province. Fanagel figured in the fight against the militarization of Lumad communities in Compostela. His Lumad group Pasaka points to the 28th IB of the Philippine Army as the people behind those posters, an accusation that the Philippine Army denies. (davaotoday.com photo by Jonald Mahinay)

NPAs release Manero on humanitarian grounds

By GRACE S. UDDIN | Davao Today

Davao City — The Communist New People’s Army released former army sergeant Jose Manero, a former Ilaga leader and brother of released priest killer Norberto Manero, after three months in captivity. Rigoberto F. Sanchez, the regional spokesperson of the NPA in Southern Mindanao, said the NPA granted conditional amnesty to Manero because of his admission of guilt and issuance of a public apology for the “crimes” and “serious violations of human rights committed against the people.”

MOA on ancestral domain: It’s not over yet

The strong backlash ignited by the MoA deserves a second look by the MILF leaders. A lesson that can be drawn is the fact that the war for self-determination involves not only taking arms and talking but also a political war to win the broadest support for the just and historic struggle of the Bangsamoro people. A lot of hard work needs to be done in this area.

Quiapo and Makati: Tale of two cities

By Germelina Lacorte
It’s not strange to hear hymns streaming from Quiapo Church overlapping with the calls of women hawking their medicinal herbs, and protests demanding for President Arroyo to resign. On our way back, a throng of angry student activists marched towards the church square, waving banners, calling for a rollback in the prices of gasoline and demanding for the President to resign.

RMN General Santos City broadcaster dies

Dennis Cuesta

Dennis Cuesta used to anchor the hard hitting primetime radio program “Straight to the Point” over DXMD - General Santos. Apart from tackling corruption on air, he also heard out complaints from residents. Among the latest issues he tackled were complaints of maltreatment against a car company, where he was asked to testify for the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Cuesta fought for his life at the intensive care unit of the St. Elizabeth Hospital in General Santos City for almost five days after he was shot at around 4:30 p.m. near the Gaisano mall of General Santos city on Monday.

Government told to rely less on rice imports

By GRACE S. UDDIN | Davao Today

It would have been cheaper for government to source rice in the domestic market instead of importing rice abroad if there had been enough supply of rice in the country, according to the leader of the National Food Authority Employees Association (NFAEA).

Reaction to SONA 2008

The eighth state of the nation address (SONA) of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo elicited different reactions. Progressive groups staged their own version of the SONA, which they believe reflect the “real” condition of the Filipino people. People from the government, church, business and men on the streets also share their views. Some still believe in what the President said but others were so impressed by her speech.

Improve people’s access to health services to fight leptospirosis, health group says

By CJ KUIZON | Davao Today

Dr. Lynn Redoble, executive director of the Community Based Health Services Incorporated (CBHS), said efficient sewerage and garbage collection system would greatly decrease cases of leptospirosis while better access to health care and sanitation could mean early detection of the disease.

Wishlist for the SONA

Davao Today asks people on the streets about what they expect from the President’s state of the nation address on Monday, and in return, got a wish list of what people think government should do to alleviate their plight.

Davao workers press for the legislated 125-peso across the board wage increase

By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN | Davao Today

According to the June 2008 statistics of the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), a family of six—the average household member of a regular Filipino family—in the Davao region, needs 760 pesos a day to live decently. But the current minimum wage in the region is only 265 pesos–short of 495 pesos for a family’s living wage per day. Workers have been demanding for an increase in the minimum wage to make ends meet.

Peace talks between the government and NDF dims, says Esperon

By GRACE S. UDDIN | Davao Today

Presidential Peace Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr, said the government still insists on a ceasefire before the holding of the peace talks so that the rebels can prove that they are not terrorists, after all.