Media Releases
AFP witness vs. detained Rolly Panesa should be charged with perjury
Submitted on Thu, 04/18/2013 - 12:14
AFP today presented before the Court of Appeals its witness, Luis Rayos, to supposedly prove that security guard Rolly Panesa is the high ranking CPP-NPA official “Benjamin Mendoza.” Rayos is 40 years old and claims to be a rebel returnee who is constantly monitored by the military.
Aquino govt, AFP hit for killing children and illegal arrests of civilians
Submitted on Wed, 04/10/2013 - 12:46
KARAPATAN strongly condemned the recent spate of human rights violations in Compostela Valley that happened in a span of days, with the killing of an eight-year old boy in the municipality of Mabini and the injuries on two other kids brought about by indiscriminate firing of soldiers, and the illegal arrest of two civilians in the municipality of Laak.
Aquino should remove ISAFP chief from post
Submitted on Tue, 04/02/2013 - 11:41After CA decision and new evidence on military involvement in Burgos disappearance
"We challenge Pres. Aquino to remove ISAFP Chief Brig. Gen. Eduardo Año from his post and hold him accountable for the enforced disappearance of Jonas and other human rights violations," Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan said.
The Burgos family yesterday submitted new evidence to the Supreme Court including the picture of Jonas allegedly under military detention. Two weeks ago, the Court of Appeals ruled on the writ of Amparo on the case of Jonas. "All of these point to one incontrovertible truth: that the enforced disappearance of Jonas and other desaparecidos are perpetrated by the AFP," Palabay said.
Aquino govt should ensure Baliaga, Año, etal punished
Submitted on Sat, 03/30/2013 - 12:39"The Court of Appeals (CA) ruling on the enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos confirms our position since Day One -- that the military is behind the act as shown by evidences and testimonies. Sadly it took six long years for the government to acknowledge this," Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan said on the CA decision on the petition for the Writ of Amparo that points to the responsibility of Maj. Harry Baliaga and the accountability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Campos arrest is blatant political harassment! – Karapatan Caraga
Submitted on Mon, 03/25/2013 - 10:59“Jalandoni Campos’ arrest is blatant political harassment against progressive people’s organizations and partylists,”, states Dr. Naty Castro, secretary general of Karapatan Caraga.
Open Letter to the Tejada Family
Submitted on Sat, 03/23/2013 - 12:00
March 21, 2013
To the Tejada Family,
We would like to express our sincerest condolences on the loss of your family.
We see Kristel's death as an epitome of a hundred broken promises of this government to its people.
Call for transparency in the selection of HRV Claims Board members
Submitted on Thu, 03/21/2013 - 12:24Karapatan called on the Aquino government for a transparent and credible process in the selection of the members of the Human Rights Victims Claims Board. The Claims Board is mandated by RA 10368 (Human Rights Violation Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013) to formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the said law; and to process the claims of victims of human rights violations during martial law.
AFP uses delaying tactics to keep the wrong man in jail
Submitted on Tue, 03/19/2013 - 13:32“Not one day more!” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan, on the continued detention of Rolly Panesa, a security guard mistaken by the AFP to be a high-ranking official of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). Panesa has been in detention for 164 days since his arrest in October 2012.
Karapatan backs Church call for resumption of GPH-NDFP peace nego, release of peace consultants
Submitted on Fri, 03/15/2013 - 11:50
Karapatan joins the Pilgrims for Peace as it calls for the continuation of the peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the release of all detained NDFP consultants to the peace process, and in standing by the four substantive peace agenda as stipulated in theHague Joint Declaration especially the agenda on social and economic reforms.
Karapatan supports Selda, Tanggol Bayi nominees for Martial Law Victims Claims Board
Submitted on Thu, 03/14/2013 - 14:48Karapatan supports the nominees of the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda) and Tanggol Bayi for the Human Rights Victims Claims Board, a body mandated by RA 10368 (Human Rights Violation Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013) to work on the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and to process the victims’ applications for compensation.
The two organizations submitted the following names of nominees to the Office of the President on March 12:
