Jay M. Pascual

Satur C. Ocampo was born on April 7, 1939 in Sta. Rita, Pampanga to a family of landless tenant farmers. He is married to Carolina “Bobbie” Malay, a writer and professor of journalism. He has four children and three grandchildren. Ocampo has been Pesident of Bayan Muna since 1999, and led the party in the elections for party-list in 2001, 2004, and 2007. Bayan Muna consistently topped the party-list race. Three Bayan Muna-sponsored bills, the Overseas Voting Act, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, and Strengthening the Public Attorney’s Office Act have been enacted into law. In 2005, the progressive bloc of Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela Women’s Party broke away from the House majority. Ocapo has since been elected as a Deputy Minority Leader, and remains the acknowledged leader of the progressive bloc. He is a principal author of the law abolishing the death penalty. He has authored bills penalizing torture and enforced disappearances, the Marcos human rights victims compensati...

A Challenge of Conscience - Yahoo! Philippines News A CHALLENGE OF CONSCIENCE The brutal, indiscriminate mass murder on Monday in Ampatuan town, in Maguindanao province, raises the ultimate challenge of conscience. It carries the culture of impunity at work in this country to such levels of horror that, if it remains unpunished for long, can send the nation into an inexorable descent into absolute dehumanization. The crime thus calls for swift justice, which can only be achieved through a credible and independent process, which in turn can only be achieved without the hand of this government – a government justly mistrusted generally and openly friendly precisely to the very members of the clan accused in the massacre. We, ourselves colleagues of the more than a score journalists who were killed, demand the following: One, the creation of a commission outside the government to investigate the crime; Two, the arrest and prosecution of all the people involved in it in any way, as murdere...

The decision of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to run for the 2nd Congressional District of Pampanga drew fiery criticisms from several sectors.  I'm amused by the decision of the president, but well, The Madame from Malacañang has always been amusing, or I should say - annoying. I compiled several flowery criticisms that were hurled against her. Here they are: Roman Catholic Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz : “addiction to power.” Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo : "I wholeheartedly suggest she give others a chance to serve and not give in to the temptation of power.” Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II : "Her ultimate goal is to become House Speaker and ram through her burning desire to change the Constitution." Sen. Francis Escudero: “it surely leaves a bad taste in the mouth.” Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr : “sets a horrible example for politicians to follow,” Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo : “The main burden there would be on the voters.” Bayan Mu...