Ronalyn V. Olea

Stories from Ronalyn V. Olea

At Last, Philippines Now Has Law Against Torture
Submitted by voxbikol on Sat, 21/11/2009 - 09:28
Ronalyn V. Olea
Saturday, November 21st, 2009

MANILA - Twenty-three years after the Philippine government ratified the Convention Against Torture (CAT), a domestic law penalizing acts of torture in the country was finally passed last week when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 9745 or the Anti-Torture Law.

The United Nations' Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) mandates state party to the convention to "take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture in any territory under its jurisdiction."

10 Years On, VFA Only Served US Interests
Submitted by voxbikol on Sat, 30/05/2009 - 18:28
Ronalyn V. Olea
Thea Ayla P. Banag
Alexander Martin Remollino
Saturday, May 30th, 2009

Has the VFA served its avowed purpose? Or has it only reinforced the unequal alliance between the Philippines and the United States, a relationship so tilted in the Americans' favor that to call the VFA a treaty - with all the word's connotation of equal rights, benefits and privileges - would be a travesty?

MANILA - On May 27, 1999, the Philippine Senate passed the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States. Then president Joseph Estrada soon after signed the agreement.