Editorial 3/7/16 (Philippines, death penalty, Indonesia, women, society, government assistance, terrorism, Mindanao, Muslim, money laundering)

Philippine Star "Still on Death Row"

It took only a few months for the court in Yogyakarta to convict and sentence Veloso following her arrest. The Indonesians aren’t going to wait forever for the Philippine courts to do their job. Last year Indonesians themselves staged rallies in Jakarta to pressure their government to grant Veloso a reprieve. Those last-minute appeals to save Mary Jane must not be wasted. [full text]

Sun.Star Cebu "Sacrificed for family"

FOR the family” is the common pretext made by women who stay in an abusive relationship, preferring to risk their sanity and safety, as well as that of their children, than separating from a partner whom they depend on for survival. Inequality is at the root of poverty, which spiked the number of crimes committed against women and children last year. The public servants that deserve the votes must answer the long-denied demand of women: “for regular jobs and decent wages,” “for access to social services,” and for opportunities to participate as productive members of society. In the agenda for national development, a niche must be cleared to uphold the welfare, aspirations and dignity of women and children. [full text]

Mindanao Times "Undue advantage"

THE RECENT survey showed that about 80% of the Filipino voters would favor those who will continue the conditional cash transfer program of government. As of middle of last year, for example, 4.4 million families benefited from the program. In the number of voters, with at least one parent, that is easily 4.4 million voters and that the administration, which is supposed to be on the “daang matuwid,” could use it to lure voters to support its bet because it is the one in power. However, the public must know that unless the program is modified, it will continue to make the poor dependent on government. This is because the program does not provide a mechanism by which a beneficiary slowly becomes independent. [full text]

Manila Bulletin "Alert in Mindanao"

In Mindanao today, there are a number of groups operating outside the two main organizations – the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the MNLF. The Philippine government reached an agreement with the MNLF when it set up the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and, more recently, with the MILF with which it seeks to set up the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. But there are other combat forces, such as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Abu Sayyaf, which have their own agenda. With the IS encouraging and supporting other groups around the world that share its goal of a worldwide caliphate and its extremist tactics, it would find fertile ground in some areas and among some groups in Mindanao. The shooting at WMSU is the kind of extremist activity the world has seen in the Middle East. It should alert our defense and security officials who have long been on the lookout for signs that the IS has begun to move in our part of the world. [full text]

Inquirer "$100M laundered?"

A CONFIDENTIAL inquiry into a possible money-laundering activity involving the Philippine banking system and three casinos—first reported by the Inquirer last week—has exposed the country’s failure to address a remaining loophole in its drive against the crime. Financial regulators are probing what may be the biggest single money-laundering activity ever uncovered in the Philippines: $100 million was remitted to the banking system, then sold to a black market foreign exchange broker, transferred to three big local casinos, sold back to the money broker, and then moved out to overseas accounts, all within a few days. The suspected illicit funds are believed to be part of the money reportedly stolen by Chinese computer hackers from the accounts of a bank in Bangladesh. [full page]