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Geneva, Switzerland – The rather oversized 27-member Philippine government delegation to the 42nd Session of the United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT), headed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, faced a continuous barrage of questions from all ten members of the said Committee after Ermita read the Philippine government report on April 28, the scheduled start of the review of the Philippine government’s compliance with its commitments under the anti-torture convention.

Geneva, Switzerland – Victims of human rights abuses under the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration traveled all the way to Geneva to tell their stories of torture during the 42nd Session of the UN Committee Against Torture.

No news could be worse than a notorious human rights violator being a member of Congress and the most unpleasant news had to come on the day when his victims were killed six years ago.

Retired Gen. Jovito Palparan, Jr. dubbed as “The Butcher” had figured in the killing of Karapatan-Southern Tagalog Secretary General Eden Marcellana and peasant leader Eddie Gumanoy who was Secretary General of Kasama-TK on April 22, 2003.

Today, April 21, the human rights organization KARAPATAN commemorates the 6th anniversary of the killing of one of its exemplary workers, KARAPATAN – Southern Tagalog Secretary General Eden Marcellana, and peasant leader KASAMA-TK Chairman Eddie Gumanoy, by holding a picket in front of the Department of Justice.

Mandaya Hotel, Davao City
April 1, 2009

Today, human rights advocates under the aegis of Karapatan, welcome the investigation of the summary execution of the young teacher, Ms. Rebelyn Pitao, by the Commission on Human Rights under the leadership of its current Chairperson Atty. Leila de Lima.