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Genasque Enriquez, a Manobo leader from Surigao del Sur, expressed sympathy with the urban poor victims of police brutality in yesterday’s demolition at the Silverio Compound in Sucat, Paranaque. Genasque Enriquez spoke in a press conference on behalf of the 130 bakwet or internal refugees and other delegates to the conference on Internally Displaced People held in Quezon City. The bakwet find strong affinity with the residents of Silverio compound as they likened the urban poor situation to the situation of the bakwet.

The End Impunity Alliance, Promotion for Church People’s Response, and Karapatan vehemently condemned the massacre and violent demolition of residents of Silverio Compound in Paranaque City this morning, as the 23,000 population of the said area defended their legitimate right to housing against the so-called “development plans” of the local government and SM mogul Henry Sy.

Some 150 human rights advocates, religious,church people and bakwit, or internal refugees or internally displaced persons (IDP) from Visayas and Mindanao, will gather at the National Conference on Internally Displaced Persons or Internal Refugees on April 23-24 at Jansenn Hall, Christ the King Seminary.

Bakwit is a colloquial Filipino term from the English word “evacuate,” pertaining to victims of forced evacuation.

Karapatan chairperson Marie Hilao-Enriquez today said that “it is not weak but a misdirected intelligence work that the AFP-PNP is doing.” Hilao-Enriquez’ statement is in response to the Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s  amazed observation on why the government has not yet found the high profile fugitives especially Gen. Jovito Palparan, Jr.  

Karapatan spokesperson and End Impunity convenor Cristina Palabay today said that “with the recent Order of the Malolos Regional Trial Court denying Gen. Jovito Palparan’s  Omnibus Motion for preliminary investigation, to quash/recall the warrant of arrest, hold departure order, and to suspend proceedings, it is more incumbent now on Pres. Noynoy Aquino and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to bring out Palparan from hiding, and immediately arrest and prosecute him and M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario.”