Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino today condemned in strongest terms the brutal and senseless killing of at least 46 civilians, including members of the Mangundadatu family, 2 lawyers and several journalists, in Maguindanao.
“What happened was a very gruesome and horrible event. We, especially the youth, are enraged and urged to up vigilance against election-related violence. The stakes for a clean and honest elections have intensified,” Palatino said.
“We call on the present government to immediately investigate and punish those responsible for this carnage. We will also support all independent investigations …

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Mong Palatino today urged the Comelec to seriously review and reconsider its rejection of the petition for registration of party-list groups Migrante, ACT and Courage.
Palatino said that the Comelec may have displayed a lapse in judgment in its quick dismissal of the party-list groups’ legitimacy, nationwide scope and machinery.
“These groups have long existed even before the party-list system was implemented. We have worked and collaborated with them on various campaigns and issues nationwide.  We, our members and chapters in the regions, together with other existing progressive party-list …

Sa 2010 patutunayan nating mga kabataan na tayo ang pag-asa, tayo ang pagbabago.

Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino today said with the government implementing the price freeze for only 27 days, EO 839 became nothing but a publicity stunt by Malacanang. EO 839 mandates that oil prices in Luzon, particularly in areas affected by the typhoon Ondoy, remain in their October 15 rates.
“EO 839 attempted to change the government’s image of siding with big oil companies. In the end, when it scrapped the price freeze, it revealed its ugly face-that it will continue to allow the profiteering designs by oil companies at …

Kabataan Party-list Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino today expressed dismay over the Commission on Elections’ decision to bar Ang Ladlad Partylist from seeking congressional representation on grounds that it “tolerates immorality.”
“We feel saddened with the Comelec’s decision to dismiss Ang Ladlad’s petition. It is unfortunate that discrimination against the LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders) community is reflected in offices such as the Comelec, an agency that is expected to know what the meaning of democracy is,” said Palatino.
The young solon said he “shares the disappointment of a broad number of LGBT …

Kabataan Partylist National Convention, November 18, 2009, 4:00-9:00 P.M., UP Bahay ng Alumni, Quezon City

Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino today challenged the Ombudsman and the House of Representatives to immediately act on the recommendations of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to prosecute President Arroyo and other public officials involved in the NBN-ZTE controversy.
“An impeachment case against Arroyo and graft raps versus those involved remain in order. We especially want to see FG Mike and former Comelec chair Abalos in trial, while further investigation may just shed more light from the testimonies of the likes of Neri, Joey de Venecia and Jun Lozada,” Palatino …

Kabataan Party-list Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino today made an appeal to his colleagues planning to attend the Pacquaio-Cotto fight to skip the said bout.
“Kung inaalay ni Pacquiao ang laban niya para sa mga nasalanta, dapat ding isaisip ng mga kongresista ang kapakanan ng mga mamamayan,” he said.
The youth solon said the solons’ insistence to go to Las Vegas at a time when many of our kababayans are still recovering from the recent typhoons reveal their insensitivity and lack of delicadeza.
“Inaantabayan ng publiko ang laban ni Pacquiao dahil nag-aabang sila ng …

I vote “No” to HB 6767.
As a neophyte member of the House, I tried to familiarize myself with the budget process by reviewing the agency budget notes and participating in the pre-plenary and plenary budget deliberations. I listened to the presentations of our Cabinet Secretaries. I studied the budget proposals of our frontline government agencies. I understood the need to guarantee the funding requirements of many government programs, especially those that deliver specific social services to our people.
But I realized that we in Congress are almost powerless to secure the …

No need for another Arroyo in Congress in 2010
KABATAAN PARTY-LIST REP. MONG PALATINO TODAY criticized President Gloria Arroyo for visiting Pampanga “for the nth time”, saying that the purpose of her hometown visits are “too parochial.”
The itinerary of Arroyo’s visit to Pampanga today included the inspection of a covered court and other proposed government projects in various barangays.
“Why is the President spending too much time visiting one of the country’s richest provinces? If she really intends to maximize her last months in office, she should be spending most of her …