Int’l HR Day countdown: Tuwid na daan, wakasan
"Tuwid na daan, wakasan!" relatives and victims of human rights violations under the BS Aquino government said today.
"BS Aquino should be held liable and put in jail for all his crimes against us," the group Hustisya (Victims United for Justice) said. As part of the commemoration of the International Human Rights Day, victims of state perpetrated violence gathered today at the CICM Provincial House to call for the jailing of Aquino.
Int’l HR Day countdown: Tuwid na daan, wakasan
"Tuwid na daan, wakasan!" relatives and victims of human rights violations under the BS Aquino government said today.
"BS Aquino should be held liable and put in jail for all his crimes against us," the group Hustisya (Victims United for Justice) said. As part of the commemoration of the International Human Rights Day, victims of state perpetrated violence gathered today at the CICM Provincial House to call for the jailing of Aquino.
"Sa dami ng kasalanan sa amin ng gobyernong ito, wala na siyang ibang lulugaran kundi ang kulungan," (With the many atrocities the government committed against us, he has nowhere else to go but in prison) said Michelle Campos, daughter of Dionel Campos who was among those killed during the September 1 Lianga Massacre. The Lumad victims who were part of the Manilakbayan 2015 joined the relatives of victims of extrajudicial killings, disappearances and political prisoners.
“Three months have passed yet, the killers of my father Dionel, Datu Juvello Sinzo, and Sir Emerito Samarca are still free because of the government’s inaction. The Justice Department said the police could not serve the warrant because of fear. What kind of government is this?” the younger Campos said. “My family and hundreds more are still in the evacuation center in Tandag Sports Complex. We could not go back home because the soldiers have occupied our communities,” Michelle added.
Also at the gathering was former political prisoner Andrea Rosal,who was jailed because of trumped-up charges and for being the daughter of former Communist Party of the Philippines spokesperson Roger Rosal. "The BS Aquino government does not only kill but also jails innocent and people with noble intentions by inventing stories and evidences against them to rot them in jail,” Andrea Rosal said. She cited the case of Eduard Serrano, a consultant for the National Democratic Front who is in jail for more than 11 years now because of charges meant for a certain Rogelio Villanueva. “There are 561 political prisoners, 304 of them were arrested under the BS Aquino regime. Yet, the regime kept on denying their existence,” Rosal said.
“BS Aquino should be behind bars, instead of the political prisoners,” Rosal said. Rosal was detained for almost a year and arrested when she was seven months pregnant. Her baby died after two days from birth.
Other relatives and victims who called for justice were security guard Rolly Panesa who was illegally arrested, tortured and detained because of ‘mistaken identity’; Glenda Co, wife of slain botanist Leonard Co; Aurora Santiago, wife of slain Dutch volunteer Willem Geertman; Nikki Gamara, daughter of political prisoner and trade union leader Renante Gamara; and Juliet Caloza, wife of Leopoldo Caloza, a consultant of the NDFP for the peace process. Caloza and Emeterio Antalan were recently convicted, also because of trumped-up criminal charges and in violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG). Leopoldo and Juliet Caloza lost a son during the Gloria Arroyo regime. Their son was killed by men of Maj. Jovito Palparan who, despite a clear case against him still enjoys life in a military camp.
The victims and their relatives committed to join the nationwide protest on December 10, International Human Rights Day. ###