Region: National

In a letter sent to the Judicial and Bar Council today, 18 September 2024, human rights alliance KARAPATAN expressed its “vehement opposition” to the reapplications of two regional trial court judges for higher positions in the judiciary. The two judges – Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 84 and Jason Zapanta of …

Rights group opposes application for higher posts of warrant factory judges Read More »

KARAPATAN vehemently condemns a proposal by the Duterte Youth Partylist to reinstall the death penalty in the Philippines for plunder and heinous crimes such as murder. This proposal, if passed, will be another prime example of legislation that is brazenly anti-poor. Under a corrupt and bankrupt justice system that favors the moneyed and powerful, the …

Rights group scores Duterte Youth partylist bill reinstituting death penalty in PH Read More »

As the Filipino people commemorate the historic Senate vote rejecting the renewal of the US military bases agreement thirty-three years ago, we emphasize that the US government’s intervention in our affairs continues not only through the US-RP Mutual Defense Treaty and military agreements secured with succeeding regimes, but more stealthily through the Armed Forces of …

US-driven counter-insurgency campaign maintains US role in rights violations in PH Read More »

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was a bundle of contradictions when he spoke of his dictator-father Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in Ilocos Norte during the latter’s 107th birth anniversary. While claiming throughout his speech that the word “Filipino” best described his father, he unabashedly recounted that Ferdinand Marcos Sr. actually worked for the OSS (Office of Strategic Services, …

On Marcos Jr.’s speech on dictator Marcos Sr.’s 107th birth anniversary Read More »

Just as the Marcos Jr. regime unleashed its latest attempt at historical revisionism, reality has snuck up to bite it in the ass. The Mariano Marcos State University embarked on a myth-making lecture series on September 10, 2024, the eve of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s 107th birth anniversary. Promotional posters for the “President FEM …

KARAPATAN decries continuing historical distortion of the Marcoses Read More »

Dear colleagues, We are sharing with you a statement issued by the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) on the recent cases of enforced disappearance in the Philippines and the dangerous pattern of increasing desaparecidos under Marcos Jr. KARAPATAN is a member of FORUM-ASIA. You may find the full link to the statement:https://forum-asia.org/statement-philippines-government-must-act-to-stop-enforced-disappearances-of-human-rights-defenders-investigate-alleged-involvement-of-security-forces/ …

Philippines: Government must act to stop enforced disappearances of human rights defenders, investigate alleged involvement of security forces Read More »

Transparency and accountability are two principles that are completely lost on Vice President Sara Duterte. Duterte already has a lot of explaining to do today when she is scheduled to face Congress anew for deliberations on her proposed budget for 2025. The deliberations hit a snag during Duterte’s first face-off with the House of Representatives …

KARAPATAN: Hold Sara Duterte accountable for questionable spending of OVP, DepEd funds Read More »

KARAPATAN assailed the gargantuan Confidential and Intelligence Funds (CIF) allocated to the Office of the President (OP), saying it is tantamount to the biggest pork barrel allocation in the proposed 2025 budget. Standing at Php4.5 billion, it is 44% of the total amount allotted to CIF in the proposed 2025 budget. “The CIF,” said KARAPATAN …

Rights group scores Marcos Jr.’s confidential, intel funds as biggest pork in proposed 2025 budget Read More »

Karapatan welcomes the lifting by the Movies and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) of the X-rating on “Alipato at Muog,” an award-winning documentary film on the abduction and enforced disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos. An X-rating from the MTRCB classifies a film as “not for public viewing.” Upon second review, however, “Alipato at Muog,” …

Rights group welcomes lifting of MTRCB’s X-rating on desaparecidos docu Read More »

Karapatan welcomes the dismissal of the cases filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against four activists for alleged violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020. In a joint order dated September 3, 2024, Malolos RTC Branch 12 Presiding Judge Julie P. Mercurio dismissed the cases against Makabayan secretary general Nathaniel Santiago, Anakpawis campaign …

KARAPATAN welcomes Malolos court’s dismissal of terror law charges vs Santiago, three other activists Read More »