Dear colleagues,
We are sharing with you below the Statement of Unity by the recently launched Duterte Panagutin Campaign Network.
The initiators of the network are the following: Mo. Mary John Mananzan, OSB, Movement Against Tyranny; former Sen. Leila de Lima; former Comm. Karen Gomez-Dumpit; former Rep. Teddy Casino, Bayan Chairperson; Edita Burgos, Karapatan Vice Chairperson; Llore Pasco, Rise Up for Life and for Rights; Joel Saracho, HPEC Board Member; Atty. Antonio La Vina; Atty. Anacleto Rei Lacanilao III; Atty. Vicente Jaime Topacio, Liezl Asuncion and Lean Porquia, Hustisya National Board members; Atty. Rommell Lumagui, Artikulo Tres Human Rights Alliance; Atty. Anna Maria Abad, Adamson University College of Law Dean; Fr. Flavie Villanueva, SVD, Paghilom; Fr. Daniel Frankline Pilario, CM, Adamson University President; Most. Rev. Gerardo A. Alminaza, D.D., Church People-Workers Solidarity and One Voice; Dss Rubylin Litao, UMC, Rise Up for Life and for Rights; Benjamin Mirasol, RESBAK; Cristina Palabay, Karapatan Secretary General; Zena Bernardo, HRPEC Board Member; Atty. Dino de Leon, HRPEC; Amirah Lidasan, Sandugo; Sr. Eleanor Llanes, ICM, and Fr. Noel Gatchalian, SVD, Rise Up Core advocates; Dss Norma Dollaga, UMC, Kasimbayan; Sr. Ma. Lisa Ruedas, DC, One Faith. One Nation. One Voice; Fr. Rico Ponce, O.Carm, Prior Provincial of the Carmelite Philippine Province of St. Titus Brandsma; Rev. Juliet Solis-Aguilar, UCCP-United Metropolis Conference Minister; The Rev. Fr. Noel Bordador, Episcopal Priest (USA); Sr. Rebecca Pacete and Sr. Fe Mandreza, Medical Mission Sisters; Sr. Maureen Catalan, RGS; Fr. Bong Sarabia, CM; Fr. Wilfredo Dulay, MDJ, Missionaries of Jesus; former UP CSWCD Dean Lito Manalili; Joel Ariate, researcher; Atty. Jin Arabejo; Angel Romero, Voices of Women for Justice and Peace; and more.
The launching was held today, November 25, 2024, at the PRRM Building in Quezon City. You may view the live-streamed event through this link: Duterte Panagutin Network Launch
Best regards,
Karapatan Public Information Desk
Duterte Panagutin Campaign Network
Statement of Unity
Fight for Justice, Hold Duterte and Cohorts Accountable
We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, stand united in our unwavering commitment to seek truth, justice, and accountability together with the victims of human rights violations which were carried out under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. The sham drug war and Duterte’s war against dissent, which claimed the lives of thousands of Filipinos and left many more orphaned and grieving, continues to haunt our nation. It has disregarded the basic tenets of human rights and justice and deepened the culture of impunity.
We are one with the families and communities that have suffered from the extrajudicial killings and other crimes of Duterte. The pain of losing a loved one to state-sponsored violence is immeasurable. The climate of impunity, made worse by the curtailment of civil liberties and the repeated failure of domestic mechanisms to deliver justice, extends to this day. We thus stand with them in their demand for justice. Their grief is our grief; their struggle, our struggle.
At this critical juncture, we are committed to galvanizing efforts to ensure the prosecution of those responsible for these heinous crimes — no less than former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte himself, and ensuring that justice is rendered to the victims and their families. This fight for justice is a fight for the very future of human rights and democracy in our beloved country.
We call on the government of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to take the necessary steps to ensure accountability. We call on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other international bodies to pursue and expedite their investigations into the extrajudicial killings under the Duterte regime. We demand that the perpetrators face prosecution for their crimes against humanity and violations of international law.
We call upon all Filipinos, especially those who believe in the principles of justice and human dignity, to join us in this fight. The truth cannot be silenced, and justice should not be delayed. Together, we will hold those responsible to account and work toward healing the wounds of our nation.
As one, we demand: Duterte, Panagutin.