TESTIGO September-October 2010 Issue

Human rights worker shot dead in Negros Occidental | Posted by Negros ESCR Team | AUGUST 18, 2010 | Shortly before the inauguration of Pres. Benigno Aquino III, human rights worker and Human Rights Documentation System (HRDS) coordinator Benjamin E. Bayles, 44 years. Bayles was waiting for a ride along the national highway near Sitio Antolo on June 14, 2010 when two armed men aboard a black Honda motorcycle began shooting him. It was reported that when Bayles fell down, the driver approached him and fired more bullets to make sure he was dead.

ON THE 38TH MARTIAL LAW ANNIVERSARY: Bayan demands Aquino to solve Bayles case and other EJK’s. In time of the commemoration of the 38th anniversary of Martial law declaration in the country, Bayan Negros challenges Aquino administration to solve cases of extrajudicial killings in the country especially the case of Aglipayan lay leader Benjie Bayles.

The cry of Nehemiah is also the cry of Church people in the horrible killing of Benjamin ‘Benjie’ Bayles. PROMOTION OF CHURCH PEOPLE’S RESPONSE - NEGROS | The above verse taken from the Book of Prophet Nehemiah is the cry of anguish after seeing how cold-hearted the killers are.

Proposed 2011 budget shows diminishing priority for health. Contrary to the Aquino government’s target of expanding the coverage of healthcare for all, the proposed national budget for 2011 has allotted a decreased budget for public hospitals and subsidy for indigents, according to research group IBON.

Moro groups commemorate termination of US Military Bases in 1991. September 17, 2010 | Cotabato City – In commemoration of the 19th anniversary of the termination of US military bases in the country, members of the OUT NOW! Coalition in this city held a demonstration yesterday urging the present administration of President Noynoy Aquino to abrogate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Multisectoral group demands: ‘Albay should benefit from its own power resources’Bikol. The militant multisectoral group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Bikol (BAYAN-Bikol) expressed its position that Albayanos should benefit from the power sources coming from their own province particularly the geothermal power coming from Tiwi. The group issued this statement as Governor Joey Salceda lamented the fact that Pampanga is the one benefitting from the geothermal power in the Albay province.