Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
in the Duterte
Revolution?
EDITOR'S NOTE
IMPACT
ISSN 0300-4155 / Asian Magazine for Human
Transformation Through Education, Social Advocacy and
Evangelization / P.O. Box 2481, 1099 Manila, Philippines
Cover Photo By
ROY LAGARDE
Editorial Office: Areopagus Communications, Holy
Face of Jesus Convent and Center, 1111 R. Hidalgo
St., Quiapo, Manila Tel (632) 404-2182 Telefax
(632) 404-1612 Visit our website at www.impactmagazine.net For inquiries, comments, and contributions,
email us at: impactmagazine2012@gmail.com
IT'S almost three years now since the worst nightmare has befallen
on the Philippines. Super Typhoon Yolanda, internationally codenamed Haiyan, was the strongest typhoon in memory that brought
incomparable devastation to the whole of the Visayas, especially
Eastern Visayas. The government has recorded over 6,000 casualties,
which, according to ground sources, could even go to nearly 15,000
had the government not stopped the count for reasons, that,
according to some, was characteristic of the white-washing stance of
the Aquino administration.
The destruction brought about by Yolanda was unbearable
enough. But the wanton neglect, corruption and the politization
by the government in both the relief and rehabilitation work made
it doubly so. The government has received millions of dollars in
donation from foreign governments and aid institutions for the
victims of typhoon Yolanda. Until now those donations have not
all been put to good use. It was good that aid agencies both local
and international came to the rescue. These aid agencies projected
that in three years rehabilitation work in Yolanda areas would be
concluded. Until today rehabilitation is not yet complete and many
of these agencies are continuing the rehabilitation work.
Responding to the clamor of typhoon victims and nongovernment organizations, such as Kusog sang Pumuluyo of
Iloilo, the current Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo has
recently submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte a report on the
irregularities in government aid for Yolanda victims. In said report,
Taguiwalo indicated that around 200,000 people from Regions 6
and 8 have not received any assistance from the government. "The
money has gone to the people but these are cases of irregularities or
non-compliance The exclusion of emergency shelter assistance is
widespread, she said in a press briefing.
Traces of devastation in victim areas such as in Tacloban City can
hardly be seen three years after, with the rise of new infrastructures
and business opportunities. At the surface, this city even looks better
now than it was before Yolanda. But deep in the hearts of every
survivor, the pain etched by the catastrophe remains inconsolable.
It will take a long time for the scars to finally settle. These scars will
remain a mute witness of government's neglect, lies, cover-up and
politicking especially for those who, three years after, are still lodged
in temporary shelters and those thousands who have never benefitted
any government aid until today. For the nth time, typhoon survivors
always felt nauseated whenever they hear then President Benigno
Simeon Aquino talking about how best his administration has
prepared and addressed the Yolanda crisis when ground realities tell
otherwise. Nauseating, too, were the repeated dumping of truckloads
of expired relief commodities amidst typhoon victims who were
in the throes of hunger and want. There were instances also when
national TV would report of several tons of relief commodities that
were left to rot in warehouses, as if the government's welfare agency
has failed to appreciate the sense of urgency in times of disasters. Ire
still takes over when a teary-eyed looks back at a catastrophe made
worse by a catastrophic kind of governance.
Dedicated to the 29th Prison Awareness Week, Mr. Rodolfo
Diamante pens the cover story of this issue, "Death penalty is justice
that kills and not justice that heals." Read on.
IMPACT
OCTOBER 2016
CONTENTS
29 |
Editorial
16
The death penalty is justice that kills and not justice that heals
Cover story
quote in
the act
"There were lies and inconsistencies in the
whole tragic affair. Even the role of the
USA needs to be clarified."
Ramon Arguelles, archbishop of Lipa; on the issue
of the proposed reopening of the investigation of the
Mamasapano encounter after Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte hinted that he may order a new
probe of the bloody January 2015 carnage that
claimed 60 lives including 44 police commandos.
Articles
10
20
21
13
News Features
22
Statements
28
30
Entertainment
31
Asia News
FEATURE ARTICLE
OCTOBER 2016
through its
T
President of Repub
1. EX
T
2. NO
THE P
A 50 BI
XECUTIVE CLEMENCY
TO SOME PRISONERS;
OT TO PROCEED WITH
PLAN TO CONSTRUCT
ILLION MEGA PRISON.
FEATURE ARTICLE
VOLUME 50 NUMBER 10
ARTICLES
OCTOBER 2016
ARTICLES
care,
dignified
employment,
unmarried couples, street children,
migration,
human
trafficking,
domestic violence, and orphans
of living parent (AL 44-51).
While
taking
these
tragic
situations into account, the Holy
Father also outlines crucial features
for the integrity and spirituality
of family life (AL, 314-324): (1)
a spirituality of supernatural
communion imbued with the
presence of God as well as family
love made up of thousands of
small but real gestures; (2) a family
gathered in prayer in the light of
Easter during moments of pain
and difficulty as well as moments
of joy and celebration sharing in
the full life of the resurrection;
(3) a spirituality of exclusive and
free love, reflecting Gods own
faithfulness; (4) a spirituality of
responsible parenthood that is prolife, for natural family planning,
and
includes
formation
of
conscience; and (5) a spirituality of
care and consolation that embraces
all family life as a shepherding in
mercy.
Human rights and socialjustice
If you want peace, work for
justice. And working for justice
can be equated with the promotion
of human rights that are regarded
as
universal,
inviolable,
and
inalienable. The United Nations
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (1948) as well as Saint John
XXIIIs encyclical, Pacem in Terris
(1963), have articulated these
rights, such as the right to life, to
education, to freedom of religion,
freedom of speech and assembly,
the right to vote, etc.
But going beyond these civil and
political rights, the framers of the
1987 Philippine Constitution have
also focused on social and economic
rights to address the glaring
inequalities in Philippine Society,
brought about by centuries of
colonial rule and feudal structures.
Thus, Article XIII, Section 1 of the
VOLUME 50 NUMBER 10
ARTICLES
Priests and nuns join a "climate walk" in Manila to demand strong and fair international action to address climate change, Oct. 4, 2015. NASSA PHOTO
Conference
commissioned
Konsult Mindanaw, an island-wide
series of consultations among
Catholics, Muslims, Lumads, and
Protestants about their views and
recommendations for a just and
lasting peace among the peoples of
Mindanao. Entitled Visions, Voices
and Values: Peoples Platform for
Peace in Mindanao, the study
summarized the participants call
for peace in Mindanao under six
Ss:
Sincerity among warring groups
with transparency and good will to
enter into a peace agreement;
Security in terms of control of
firearms and an interim ceasefire;
Sensitivity for respect and
appreciation of different cultures,
religions, and history of the
peoples of Mindanao;
Solidarity in the sharing of one
homeland in Mindanao;
Spirituality in living according
to our religious values and the
realization that both Islam and
IMPACT
OCTOBER 2016
ARTICLES
There can be
no peace in the
world There
without
can be
no peace
in the
peace
among
world without
peace among
world world
religions.
religions.
VOLUME 50 NUMBER 10
ARTICLES
ISAGANI SERRANO | PART OF THE IMAGE COLLECTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
By Bernardo M. Villegas
AGRICULTURE
Secretary
Emmanuel Piol is facing a
great challenge in the next six
years as the Philippines faces
more intense competition in the
field of agriculture within the
ASEAN Economic Community.
Because of decades of neglect and
unenlightened policies (e.g. the
obsession with rice sufficiency),
the Philippines lags way behind
some of its ASEAN neighbors
in agricultural productivity and
exports. No other economist has
analyzed the roots of the failure
of Philippine agriculture better
than Dr. Rolando Dy, Executive
Director of the Center for Food
and Agribusiness of the University
of Asia and the Pacific (one of his
most read books is From the Roots
to the Fruits:
the Business of
Agribusiness, University of Asia and
the Pacific with FIDEI Foundation).
10
OCTOBER 2016
ARTICLES
11
ARTICLES
12
OCTOBER 2016
NEWS FEATURES
Duterte urged
to free old, sick
prisoners
MANILA Catholic bishops are calling
on President Rodrigo Duterte to grant
clemency to old and sick prisoners.
In a letter sent to Duterte Oct. 17, the
bishops prison ministry said many prisoners
are longing to be free and have sought the
Churchs help.
Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak, who chairs
the Episcopal Commission on Prison
Pastoral Care, said elderly inmates and their
families have been enduring the effect of
incarceration for several years, especially the
sick ones.
Therefore, we would like to appeal to His
Excellency to grant their plea for executive
clemency, said the prelate.
The appeal for compassionate release
of deserving prisoners was made ahead
of the Churchs Prison Awareness Week,
which coincides with National Correctional
Consciousness Week on Oct. 24 to 30.
The Church will also celebrate the Jubilee
of Prisoners from Nov. 5 to 6.
The Board of Pardons and Parole has
already recommended the release of
hundreds of inmates, many of them
with ages ranging from 75 to 90 in seven
national prisons under the Bureau of
Corrections.
Tumulak, who also heads the Military
Ordinariate of the Philippines, also
urged Duterte to stop the governments
construction of a Php50-billion mega
prison project.
The plan aims to transfer the National
Bilibid Prison from Muntinlupa City to Laur,
Nueva Ecija to decongest and modernize
the national penitentiary.
The prelate said there are more practical
solutions to decongest NBP like for
example, transferring the excess prison
population to penal establishments in the
countryside.
We appeal that your office revisit this plan
and study it, said Tumulak, further asking
Duterte not to waste 50 billion pesos of
the taxpayers money for a facility. (Roy
Lagarde/CBCPNews)
We cannot
achieve a just and
peaceful society
through illegal,
immoral, and
fundamentally
evil means
crime, adding they will support
government agencies for the
care and rehabilitation of drug
dependents.
However, they said Dutertes
claim of protecting the people,
especially the poor becomes
merely lip service if summary
killings continue.
We call upon President
Duterte to put a stop to
extrajudicial violence, they
said. Every suspect should
be given a chance to defend
themselves in court and
ultimately, change their ways.
Respect of the dignity of life
should always be a priority in
any administration, they said.
(Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews)
13
NEWS FEATURES
14
Possible vendetta
In those operations,
2,906 sachets of shabu or
methamphetamine hydrochloride,
230 kilos of shabu, 1,094 grams
of shabu, 26 packs of shabu, 57
sachets of marijuana, 42 marijuana
leaves, 33 marijuana rolls, 10
marijuana plants, and 1 Ecstasy
tablet were seized, amounting to
Php 146,345 as estimated by the
Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB),
revealed the PCIJ report.
Bactol expressed doubts that
all of the killings were done by
the government at the same
time expressing strong dissent
against summary executions.
For all we know, there are
other factors like vendetta, he
said, mentioning the possibility of
reprisals by rival drug syndicates.
Oplan Tokhang in Biliran
In Biliran, the turnout of
governments campaign to
crackdown on drug addiction or
Oplan Tokhang is not alarming.
We do not have as many
as anywhere but there must
be some (accomplishments),
disclosed Bactol, hoping that a
drug rehabilitation center like
the one in the Masbate Diocese
be established in Biliran.
The prelate, a steadfast Marian
devotee, said that if given a choice,
he would want no fatalities during
Oplan Tokhang but considering
the reality of the killings, all the
faithful can do is to pray.
If possible there will be no
killing, but since killing could not
be avoided, all we could do is
pray, but then we are not in the
shoes of those people who are
under stress, under pressure, he
said. (Eileen Ballesteros / CBCP
News)
IMPACT
OCTOBER 2016
NEWS FEATURES
PH mission campaign Catholics pray for peace as Indiaongoing in Germany Pakistan tension continues
MANILA The social action arm of the
Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) will share its experience
on evangelizing poor communities that were
previously affected by Typhoon Yolanda
during the ongoing World Mission Sunday
Campaign from Sept. 28 to Oct. 23 in
Germany.
National Secretariat for Social Action
(NASSA)/Caritas Philippines executive
secretary Fr. Edwin Gariguez is currently
in Germany with 15 more Filipino priests
and nuns to share in the different dioceses
in Germany about how it pursued
evangelization in poor communities,
particularly during the course of its on-going
three-year Typhoon Yolanda rehabilitation
program.
We noted that the resiliency of the
Filipinos is really rooted on their faith. And
we need to support the spiritual needs of
the people to be able to really recover from
the aftermath of such destruction, said the
priest.
Missio Aachen, which supported NASSA/
Caritas Philippines in the rehabilitation
and repair of the damaged chapels and
churches in the provinces of Leyte, Eastern
Samar, Western Samar and Palawan
following the onslaught of Super Typhoon
Yolanda in 2013, organized World Mission
Sunday Campaign 2016.
Focusing this year on the church family
ministry in the Philippines, World Mission
Sunday in Germany was highlighted by
the opening of the holy Mass led by two
cardinals from the Philippines, Cardinal
Luis Antonio Tagle and Cardinal Orlando
Quevedo.
NASSA/Caritas Philippines is currently
on its third year of implementing
#REACHPhilippines, the Catholic Churchs
largest rehabilitation program for Typhoon
Yolanda survivors in nine provinces worst-hit
by the typhoon.
The office also represents the country to
Caritas Internationalis, a 165-member global
Catholic charity worldwide based in the
Vatican, which is currently being headed by
its first Asian president Manila Archbishop
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. (CBCPNews)
VOLUME 50 NUMBER 10
said.
Bishop Barnabas said
that India has always been
considered as a land of peace
by other nations so it is our duty
and responsibility to carry that
forward. He wanted Catholics
to become messengers of
peace.
Bishop Mascarenhas said
Catholics pray for the nation
and its leaders every day during
Mass, especially on Sundays. It
is a symbolic gesture to unite
ourselves to pray for the country
faced as it is with problems and
challenges, he said.
Father Soosai Sebastian, vicar
general of Delhi archdiocese
said many nations are buying
expensive weapons even
when people are dying of
hunger. He urged people to
organize peace meetings and
discussions to speak about the
need for peace rather than war
and vengeance.
In a program on Oct. 16,
Catholics took a pledge to work
for peace and recited a prayer.
They pledged to reject violence
and work to build a peaceful
solution in society, reject
discrimination and stand in
support of oppressed people.
Both India and Pakistan lay
claim to Kashmir since the
partition of the subcontinent in
1947. Pakistan and India have
fought at least three major wars
over the region.
The Indian government
considers Jammu and Kashmir
an integral part of India and
accuses its neighbor Pakistan
of supporting Muslim groups
causing unrest in the region.
Pakistan has denied this but
says they will assist Kashmiri
Muslims in their struggle for
self-determination. (UCAN)
15
COVER
STORY
the death pe
16
IMPACT
OCTOBER 2016
enalty
e that heals
VOLUME 50 NUMBER 10
17
COVER
STORY
18
Protesters hold
placards during a
rally against the
death penalty in
Manila on March
18, 1998. Ten years
after the capital
punishment
was abolished,
President Rodrigo
Duterte is seeking
its return as a
means to boost his
administration's
campaign against
crimes. FILE PHOTO
IMPACT
OCTOBER 2016
19
ARTICLES
20
OCTOBER 2016
ARTICLES
21
STATEMENTS
22
IMPACT
CBCP president Archbishop Socrates Villegas speaks during the launching of the "A Million Roses for the World" campaign at the Colegio de San
Juan de Letran chapel in Intramuros, Manila, Sept. 20, 2016. ROY LAGARDE
STATEMENTS
VOLUME 50 NUMBER 09
23
STATEMENTS
Respect the
dignity of life
WE, the lay, religious and clergy
members of the Social Action
Network (SAN) of the Catholic
Bishops Conference of the
Philippines, comprising the 86 Arch/
Diocesan Social Action Centers
throughout the country, are alarmed
by the spate of killings of thousands
of suspected criminals in the war
waged against illegal drugs and
criminality. We strongly call for
respect of the dignity of life. Thou
shall not kill.
As Christians and members of
SAN, we have the moral and social
responsibility to defend life against
uncivilized killings of suspected drug
users, pushers and traffickers in the
war against illegal drugs. More so, if
the killings include innocent civilians,
they are deprived of their right to
life, liberty, personal security, public
hearing and due process.
The drug problem must be
solved. It destroys both human
life and family. It also brings harm
to the fabric of our society. It is a
complex problem, an obstacle to
justice, peace, development, and
common good. We express our
full support for President Dutertes
goal in eradicating illegal drugs
and criminality in the country,
and applaud his political will and
determination towards the goal.
However, the Presidents
pronouncements which imply
support for extrajudicial killings
and disregard for due process are
deplorable. Killing of suspected
drug traffickers without due process,
even in the name of a just cause, is
morally unacceptable. It is a violation
of human rights and the rule of
law. The end does not justify the
means. We cannot achieve a just
and peaceful society through illegal,
24
OCTOBER 2016
STATEMENTS
13 October 2016
VOLUME 50 NUMBER 10
25
STATEMENTS
26
IMPACT
OCTOBER 2016
Covenant
for life
WE are Filipinos who share a
common vision of a truly just,
humane, and peaceful society.
In the pursuit of this vision we
have chosen to AFFIRM LIFE now
more than ever. We have chosen
to oppose the unnecessary taking
away of life of any individual. We
uphold the inherent dignity of all
persons
WE BELIEVE THAT THE DEATH
PENALTY MUST NOT BE RESTORED
AND WE APPEAL TO OUR POLICY
MAKERS TO RETHINK THE PLAN TO
BRING IT BACK !
THE DEATH PENALTY IS A
VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT TO LIFE.
The violation of the right to life of
Lord, help
us to seek
and save the
lost
THE Gospel reading today as we
celebrate Prison Awareness Sunday
is about a man named Zacchaeus,
a tax collector, who climbed
a sycamore tree, just to have a
glimpse of Jesus.
Zacchaeus curiosity turned into
hope when Jesus reached out to
him by inviting Himself to have
dinner with him in his house.
This encounter with Jesus made
all the difference in Zacchaeus life.
This incident shows how love and
compassion can change situations
of isolation, bitterness, and even
STATEMENTS
PENALTY
Pursue a continuing public
education program against the
death penalty and for alternative
options for life
Endeavor to implement the
conduct of a Criminal Justice
Summit that will discuss thoroughly
and in depth the current criminal
justice system and propose
measures that will address the
issues and concerns affecting the
delivery of justice.
Encourage a rehabilitative rather
than punitive correctional system
VOLUME 50 NUMBER 10
28
IMPACT
OCTOBER 2016
EDITORIAL
VOLUME 50 NUMBER 10
29
ENTERTAINMENT
CATHOLIC
INITIATIVE FOR
ENLIGHTENED
MOVIE
APPRECIATION
MORAL ASSESSMENT: 3
CINEMA RATING: V14
MTRCB RATING: PG
30
IMPACT
OCTOBER 2016
ASIA BRIEFING
The cross was the symbol of the Indonesian Youth Day, Oct. 4 to 6, in Manado. As
Fides learns, the cross, made of bamboo
and rattan, was built by a Muslim craftsman: the work is, itself, a sign of that
"unity in diversity" and harmony among
different religions which is the motto of
Indonesia and was the central theme of
World youth Day, titled: "the joy of the
Gospel in a plural society."The cross is
the symbol of these days", said His Exc.
Mgr. Joseph Suwatan, Bishop of Manado.
"The cross was a pilgrim, traveling to
the parishes in the diocese of Manado"
symbolizing the path of those who "want
to pick the fruit from the cross, which is
love, to build peace", he remarked. Many
Muslims welcomed and honored the cross
as a symbol of peace during this diocesan
pilgrimage. (Fides Service)
SRI LANKA. Uproar over police shooting
VOLUME 50 NUMBER 10
A prominent Catholic activist has been arrested and is being detained in Vietnam for
publishing anti-government writings after
she tried visiting a prisoner of conscience
in prison.Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, a
blogger known as "Mother Mushroom,"
was held on Oct. 10 after she and three
others tried to visit Song Lo prison camp
on the outskirts of her home city of Nha
Trang, central Vietnam, a church source
told ucanews.com. Prison officials did
not allow them to meet the prisoner and
detained them when they protested. The
police took Quynh home, searched her
residence and took her away again, the
source, who wanted to remain anonymous,
said. (UCAN)
31