As flares of elation greet the Supreme Court order to distribute to farmer beneficiaries the 4,915.7 hectares of Hacienda Luisita owned by the relatives of President Benigno Aquino III, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino today welcomed the historic victory as he called for vigilance until the decision has been justly implemented.
“The Supreme Court order is definitely a historic victory especially for the farmer beneficiaries. However, given the political dominance of the Aquino-Cojuanco family in the country, it is crucial that we remain vigilant until the distribution of the bloodied …

In light of the prosecution of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino filed in Congress HB 5417 or the Good Governance Education Act of 2011 which aims to educate the youth “on the ideals of public service [that] will encourage them to get involved in bettering public and civic affairs”
“The passage of this bill into law is made more urgent by the political happenings in the country. How can top officials like former President Arroyo wield power to the detriment of the …

As part of government efforts for the National Reading Month, lawmakers today from the House of Representatives, led by Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino, urged the public especially the youth to revitalize reading as a social activity due to its importance in nurturing critical thinking, creativity, and even enjoyment.
Through the campaign iRead (Inspiring Reading for Action and Development), lawmakers gathered with their favorite books and promoted the vital role of reading for social development.
“In the age of information technology and mass media, the reading of books and informative materials …

A day before the 2nd year memorial of the Maguindanao massacre, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino today filed HB 5511 which seeks to mark November 23 of every year as National Day Against Impunity.
“The bloody Maguindanao massacre is symptomatic of the deeply entrenched climate of impunity in the country. Thousands have been victims of various human rights violations and justice still hasnot been served up to this day. To mark November 23 of every year as the National Day Against Impunity is both a continuing reminder and challenge for …

Former President and now Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (CGMA) nearly escaped the country last night and it is the failure of the Aquino government to prosecute her that should be blamed, Kabataan Party-list Raymond “Mong” Palatino today said.
“It is shameful that all the Aquino administration could do was counter the SC decision with a hold departure order when what it should have done from the very start was prosecute and put behind bars former President Macapagal-Arroyow and her cohorts,” Palatino said.
In what was described as a “dramatic showdown” at the Ninoy …

In light of latest government data disclosing that six (6) million Filipino youths aged 6 to 24 are out-of-school, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino today said that it will be a grave injustice to the youth if, despite pressing data, the Aquino administration will still refuse to heed calls for a substantial increase in the “grossly insufficient” education budget.
“The alarming number of out-of-school youths is a sad fact that the Aquino government does not seemingly want to address due to its continued refusal to allocate sufficient funds for education. …

Hundreds of students, faculty, administrators and alumni of the Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI) Colleges, led by the Kabataan Party-list and the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), yesterday stormed the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) main office for its unjust decision to immediately close down two courses offered by the PMI resulting to, among other things, the displacement of some twelve (12) thousand students.
“CHED’s decision to immediately close down, without due process, two courses offered by the maritime school has caused not only financial but also emotional distress …

While majority of House members voted yes to pass the 2012 General Appropriations Act on third and final reading, Kabataan Party-list Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino voted NO citing government neglect to social services and the absence of substantial change to crucial proposed amendments in the budget.
Out of the P24 billion total budget increase Palatino submitted as amendment for the funds of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), only P200 million was granted for the Capital Outlay (CO) of the Philippine General Hospital which is under the University of the Philippines system.
The …

In light of House talks to introduce economic amendments in the constitution, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino today said that “further allow(ing) foreign ownership and control of the country’s natural resources and social services like education will only kill the gasping Philippine economy.”
“Years of economic liberalization have only worsened not just the Philippine economy but also that of other developing countries. The plan to further allow foreign ownership and control of the country’s natural resources and social services like education will only kill the gasping Philippine economy,” Palatino said.
With …

As thousands of college students are set to take their final examinations this week, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino today reiterated that even while the consolidated “anti-no permit, no exam’” bill has yet to be passed into law, privately-run schools are still obliged to follow an existing policy against ‘no permit no exam’ as stated in the section 99 article 20 of the Manual of Regulations for Private Higher Education Institutions.
Palatino said that the manual, drafted by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) with private school administrators …