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Philippines resolves regional autonomy dispute with Muslim rebels
The government of the Philippines reached a peace agreement Monday with rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front [group website; BBC backgrounder], granting expanded boundaries to the country's southern Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (More) |
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Philippines officers change pleas for 2003 coup attempt charges
Eleven former military officers facing a court-martial on charges related to their roles in a 2003 coup attempt changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty Tuesday. The 11 are charged with conduct unbecoming an officer, and are also set to be tr (More) |
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Philippines to sign UN Convention against Torture protocol
The Philippine government delegation to the United Nations in Geneva said Monday that Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo [official website; BBC profile] will soon begin the process of signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Conv (More) |
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Top Philippines military officials recommend pardon for 2003 coup plotters
Several top military officials in the Philippines on Sunday called for Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo [official website; BBC profile] to pardon the nine officers sentenced this week for their role in a failed 2003 coup . General Hermo (More) |
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Philippines court sentences 9 military officers for 2003 coup attempt
A court in the Philippines on Tuesday sentenced nine military officers to prison for their participation in a failed 2003 coup against Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo [official website; BBC profile]. No shots were fired during the 2003 (More) |
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HRW urges close UN scrutiny of Philippines extrajudicial killings claims
Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday urged the United Nations to scrutinize the Philippine government's response to accusations that the Philippines military has engaged in extrajudicial killings of left-wing activists since 2001. HRW's pr (More) |
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Philippines president urges Congress to pass new anti-corruption law
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo asked the Philippine Congress Tuesday to work with her administration to pass a comprehensive anti-corruption reform act to fight the corruption she said has plagued the country for decades. Arroyo note (More) |
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Philippines president praises military for better rights response
Philippines President Gloria Arroyo [official website; BBC profile] lauded the Philippine military for working to improve human rights during a speech Friday, but human rights activists say that the armed forces continue to engage in extrajudicial k (More) |
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Philippines court dismisses coup charges against former VP
A Philippine judge Thursday dismissed rebellion charges against former Vice President Teofisto Guingona , ruling that police had failed to establish his role in an aborted coup attempt against Philippine President Gloria Arroyo [official website; (More) |
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Philippines officers apologize to court for attempted November coup
About one dozen officers on trial in the Philippines in connection with a failed 2003 mutiny apologized to the court Tuesday for an aborted coup attempt against Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo [official website; BBC profile] last mon (More) |
Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance
On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools.
The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was more recently the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life offers more Pledge of Allegiance resources.
