Media Releases

DND-DILG hit list legitimizes rights violation vs 60-year old peasant organizer

admin — Sat, 11 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Karapatan deplored the enforced disappearance, illegal arrest and detention of Estelita T. Tacalan, a 60-year old peasant organizer and rural health worker in Misamis Oriental, as a “recent case of rights violation legitimized by the Joint Order No. 14-2012 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of National Defense.”

The DND-DILG Joint Order No. 14-2012 reportedly contains an updated list of alleged wanted Communist leaders and allocates PhP 466,088,000.00 as reward money for their capture.

AFP holds on to recycled witnesses and lies as hearing on Panesa case wraps up

admin — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

The hearing for the petition of the writ of habeas corpus in relation to the arrest and detention of security guard Rolly Panesa wrapped up on May 9 at the Court of Appeals as two more witnesses of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were presented by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) in behalf of the Judge Advocate General’s Office (JAGO).

“While an innocent person continues to languish in jail, the AFP insisted to the end that the person they arrested, tortured and detained is “Benjamin Mendoza.” The AFP brought military assets who are “professional witnesses,” whose convoluted lies crafted by the military are so obvious,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan.

Palabay said Irwin Rosales, one of the witnesses presented by the AFP, is a rebel returnee who was also used by the military in building up false charges against Tirso “Bart” Alcantara, a consultant of the National Democratic Front.

GPH is after military solution, not peace negotiation

admin — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:22:43 -0400

“With eight months left to Oplan Bayanihan’s self-imposed deadline to supposedly render the CPP-NPA-NDF insignificant, the Aquino government is again turning the table against the NDFP negotiating panel, in a bid for a graceful exit from the peace talks and to justify intensified attacks, not only against the CPP-NPA-NDF, but more so against the ordinary tao whom the government considers as supporters of the revolutionary movement.”

Rights group slams appointment of Palparan cohort, Hacienda Luisita massacre co-conspirator

admin — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 01:34:20 -0400

Human rights group Karapatan today deplored the recent assignment of Brig. Gen. Ricardo Visaya as “acting commander” of the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Cagayan de Oro City.

Statement of the End Impunity Alliance – April 25, 2013

admin — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 03:21:09 -0400

Delivered by FR. REX RB. REYES, End Impunity Alliance convenor; General Secretary, National Council of Churches in the Philippines

Los desaparecidos, those who disappeared.

Abducted at night, the worst fate to be feared.

To have spoken one word too many, or one word too loud,

The very next day, to vanish in the crowd.

Thousands, taken, one by one

Fathers, and brothers, and wives, and daughters.

Through mother’s pain and families’ grief

Hope clings to one belief,

One day, they wish, he will be found, he will be found.

- Esperanza Pacheco Cortez

In the news: “Another one was killed. Another one had disappeared.” Human rights violations (HRVs) keep on happening without let up. In the nine (9) years of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s reign, more than a thousand are victims of extrajudicial killing and 206 forcibly disappeared, 1,099 tortured, 2,059 were illegally arrested. On the other hand, in a span of two (2) years of President Noynoy Aquino’s presidency, Karapatan documented 137 victims of extrajudicial killing, 14 of enforced disappearance, 72 of torture, 269 of illegal arrest.

Six years and still no Jonas, three years of Aquino and still no justice

admin — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 02:22:07 -0400

Nearing the 6th year of the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos, his family, friends, and various organizations such as Karapatan and Families of Desaparecidos for Justice held a mass for Jonas at the Quiapo Church this morning. The mass was celebrated by His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, D.D., Archbishop of the Diocese of Manila. Dubbed as “Mass for Truth and Justice,” the activity was sponsored by the Free Jonas Burgos Movement, End Impunity Alliance and the Promotion for Church People’s Response.

Whatever happened to the Board to process claims of martial law victims?

admin — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:00:00 -0400

Rights group SELDA (Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto) questioned the Aquino government’s failure to form the Human Rights Victims Claims Board which will process the application for reparation and recognition of martial law victims.

“It has been two months since Pres. Aquino signed the bill into law. What is taking the government so long to take the initial step to implement the law? Are the martial law victims in for a very long wait again?” SELDA national coordinator Roneo Clamor asked.

All in a day: Groups, kin of victims demand justice for Palparan victims

admin — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 01:05:02 -0400

On April 22, families, friends and rights groups sought for the prosecution and jailing of former general, Jovito Palparan Jr., also known as “The Butcher” who had been involved in numerous cases of human rights violations in areas he was assigned in.

Palparan should be made accountable for gruesome killing of activists Marcellana and Gumanoy

admin — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 20:58:11 -0400

“It has been ten long years since the killing of human rights defender Eden Marcellana and peasant leader Eddie Gumanoy in 2003 but the families of both Marcellana and Gumanoy, and the rest of the Filipino people still await for justice to be served. The Aquino administration may not be directly accountable for the killing of Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy, but the Aquino government is responsible for the continuing impunity in the country that keeps the military killers out of jail," said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan.

Aquino govt, AFP sabotage people's relief and rehab efforts among Pablo victims

admin — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:17:38 -0400

Karapatan, through its secretary general Cristina Palabay, today called on Malacanang to take concrete steps against the elements of the 67th IB in Davao Oriental for the continuous harassment of the delegates of a national fact-finding and humanitarian mission who are now in Sitio Cabuyao, Bgy. Binondo, Baganga, Davao Oriental.