Solon’s survey: Majority in House for Charter Change

By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:55:00 08/12/2008

MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers are “slowly but steadily” moving towards amending the Constitution, a member of the House of Representatives said on Tuesday.

Representative Victor Ortega of La Union’s 1st district and chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments said an informal survey he conducted among members of the chamber indicated it was “safe to assume that the general consensus in Congress [is] to change the Constitution.”

House bills seek abolition of youth councils

By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:22:00 08/12/2008

MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers on Tuesday filed separate bills in the House of Representatives to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK, village youth council).

North Cotabato Rep Piñol: ‘Gov’t mismanaged Mindanao’

By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 19:24:00 08/11/2008

MANILA, Philippines — The memorandum of agreement (MoA) on ancestral domain between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has done “nothing but created borders and because of that, it will ignite more clashes,” North Cotabato Representative Bernardo Piñol said on Monday.

Solon seeks self-defense classes in high school

It’s a good thing I’m out of high school already

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Program meant especially for females

By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 10:42:00 08/11/2008

MANILA, Philippines — Citing the rising incidents of crime, a lawmaker has filed a bill that would integrate self-defense in all physical education classes in high school to “help females protect themselves in the event of imminent danger.”

South Cotabato solon: ‘MILF recruiting citizen army’

As John Lennon said, “All we are saying is give peace a chaaance!”

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Truce urged for humanitarian reasons

By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:45:00 08/11/2008

MANILA, Philippines — Moro rebels are allegedly recruiting fighters in barangay (villages) and municipalities in key areas of Mindanao, offering as much as P10,000 a month, South Cotabato Representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio said on Monday.

Although Custodio refused to identify the villages where the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has allegedly been recruiting fighters, she cited Saranggani as one of the provinces where the rebels have been sighted.

House OKs creation of new Muslim commission

By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:13:00 08/11/2008

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Monday approved a bill creating the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, which is intended to strengthen the democratic rights of Muslims in the country.