Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond ‘Mong’ Palatino today said that the OMB’s (Optical Media Board) proposal to oblige Internet café owners to register the hard disks of their computers may be used to violate the people’s right to privacy and right against illegal searches and seizures.

“The very idea that the OMB will have an access to privately owned hard drives is clearly a constitutional violation. It is like subjecting your closet to government scrutiny,” said Palatino.

The possibility that the OMB may check the entire storage device, according to Palatino, …

Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino today said that he unites with families of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre, journalists and support groups in calling for the resignation of justice secretary Alberto Agra.
Palatino said that Agra’s dropping of murder charges against Zaldy and Akmad Ampatuan “reeks of an Arroyo intervention.”
“The manner by which it was done, quietly on a weekend, and the process, with the DOJ preempting the court’s decision, are indications that the administration is doing all means and schemes to prevent its allies from being held accountable …

Kabataan Partylist today staged the second leg of its “Youth Watch Fridays,” a call on the public to launch weekly noise barrages in key centers around Metro Manila to “encourage vigilance among the youth and to prepare the people for possible post-election scenarios.”
According to Ken Leonard Ramos, Anakbayan national chairperson and Kabataan Partylist fifth nominee, “This is a call to our young Filipinos to be prepared to guard the ballots and be vigilant against possible massive electoral fraud and maneuvers to taint the polls.”
“Our task in the elections does not …

“The youth should inherit not only a brighter future, but also a better environment.”
Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond Palatino addressed this to around 200 participants of the Kabataan Environmental Youth Camp held at Brgy. Ambulong, Tanauan, Batangas. The fourth day of Kabataan Roadtrip for clean and honest elections stationed in Batangas to highlight environmental issues in the region, more particularly, the ongoing struggle of Batangas locals to ban large-scale mining and mining explorations covering around 29,000 hectares of the province.
Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment graced the event to engage the …

Kabataan Roadtrip 2010 pushes through with its second leg in the province of Laguna to tackle the state of education in the Southern Tagalog region.
As home to a vast number of colleges and universities, which are mostly extension and satellite campuses, the region suffers from the effects of the government’s measly budget allotment for state universities and colleges (SUCs).
PUP campuses fear increase
Last March, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines faced a proposed 1,700% tuition and other fees increase to hike up tuition fee from P12 per unit to P200 per …

Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond ‘Mong’ Palatino today urged the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to immediately investigate the anomalous P76-M indelible ink contract that was exposed recently by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) to the media.
According to the PPCRV report, the sole contract bidder, Texas Resources Corp., failed to accomplish requirements set by the COMELEC during the test conducted by the COMELEC’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) headed by Commissioner Lea Alarkon.
“This is the third controversial contract involving the COMELEC and the AES. First were the …

KABATAAN Partylist led by its Southern Tagalog chapter begins today a caravan for genuine change and honest elections at Lupang Arenda – a relocation site in Taytay, Rizal.

The 6-day caravan dubbed as “Kabataan Roadtrip 2010” will pass through the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (CALABARZON) as a staunch response of the youth to local issues relevant but commonly disregarded by aspiring politicians. Through the Roadtrip, the youth also appeal to their leaders-to-be to put an end to “personal politicking and mudslinging” and rather …

Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond ‘Mong’ Palatino today condemned the physical assault of Police Supt. Ariel Palcuto, son of Cebu City  Vice Mayoralty candidate Rico Palcuto resulting in the injury of the partylist’s fourth nominee and Cebu chairperson Renil Oliva and his companion.

The incident occurred last April 10, 2010 in front of the Cebu Country Club in Banilad, Cebu City while Oliva and Kabataan partylist volunteer Bryan Laguna were checking campaign materials posted by their companions in the area.

Oliva said that Palcuto approached then and accused them …

Every Friday noise barrages launched to guard May polls, thwart Arroyo maneuvers
A month to go before Election Day, Kabataan Partylist today launched “Youth Watch Fridays,” a call on the public to launch weekly noise barrages in key centers around Metro Manila to “encourage vigilance among the youth and to prepare the people for possible post-election scenarios.”
According to Vencer Crisostomo, Kabataan Partylist secretary-general, “This is a call to our young Filipinos to be prepared to guard the ballots and be vigilant against possible massive electoral fraud and maneuvers to taint the …