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“Duterte has already arrested 225 political prisoners under his term, bringing the number of political detainees across the country to 548 (as of December 2018). The government’s legal offensives have been expedited by the formation of the Inter-Agency Committee on Legal Action (IACLA) back in October 2017. This is further justified by the planting of evidence and the weaving of ludicrous and otherworldly tales. Suffice it to say, Duterte’s political persecution of progressive organizations and its members has intensified,” said Karapatan Deputy Secretary General Roneo Clamor. He noted that even former members of these targeted organizations are not exempt from the government’s reprisal, such as in the case of Rowena and Oliver Rosales. 

“In the first month of 2019, we have already received a long list of military atrocities in peasant communities in Mindanao, including the recent abduction of two peasant leaders. These attacks are bound to exacerbate, what with the myriad of repressive policies piled on top of each other, ranging from martial law to the implementation of counterinsurgency program Oplan Kapayapaan,” said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay.

Karapatan deplores the bombing at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Jolo, Sulu that has resulted to the killing of at least 27 persons and injury of 80. 

We express our deep sympathies to the victims, their families and to the people of Sulu in these difficult times as we are one with them and many sectors in society in calling for justice. We condemn the said bombing as a dire violation of international humanitarian law, which specifies protection for civilians and places of worship from such attacks. We likewise demand an immediate and impartial investigation on the incident, beyond the groundless accusations of political vultures eyeing this tragedy for political gain and mileage. 

Karapatan, its chapters and member organizations led by the Children’s Rehabilitation Center, vehemently oppose all moves, including that of the House of Representatives, to inflict further harm and danger to Filipino children by passing a bill to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility to nine years old.

“Finally, Rafael Baylosis is released! We also welcome the recent decision of the Regional Trial Court in Branch 100, Quezon City to dismiss the trumped-up charges against Rafael Baylosis, consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), and his companion Roque Guillermo Jr. Said decision was penned by Judge Edith Mina-Aguba and it is an affirmation of our assertion that the case is fabricated and the evidence were planted,” said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay. The trumped-up case of illegal possession of firearms and explosives filed against Baylosis and Guillermo was dismissed last January 15, 2019. After complying with the necessary requirements, Baylosis was finally released from jail this afternoon (January 18).