Region: National

“Pres. Noynoy Aquino’s suspiciously prudent stance on the presence of minesweeper USS Guardian inside Philippine territory pales in comparison to his hysterics on China’s claim to the disputed islands in the South China Sea. Hence, it further reveals the Aquino government’s inconsistencies in dealing with the issue of sovereignty – that its loyalties and interests …

Aquino’s inconsistencies on sovereignty issues show GPH loyalty to US interests Read More »

“Believe it or not, it was my first time to ride an airplane!” This was how poet Ericson Acosta greeted his supporters, friends, and family who welcomed his arrival at the Terminal III of the NAIA. Acosta, 40, whose siblings now all live with their own families abroad, is a cultural worker and activist arrested …

Detained poet gets temporary release, reunites with family and friends after first ever plane ride Read More »

Illegal arrests, trumped-up charges  Yet another case of political repression against human rights defenders is reported under the Aquino regime. Leaders of people’s organizations such as Karapatan-Negros Secretary General Fred Caña, Christian Tuayon of Bayan-Negros, Ronald Ian Evidente of KMU-Negros, Clarizza Singson of Gabriela-Negros, Bernardito Patigas of the North Negros Alliance of Human Rights Advocates …

Just like Arroyo’s OBL, Aquino’s OpBay attacks leaders of people’s organizations, rights defenders Read More »

Peddled as Oplan Bayanihan’s brains, Lt. Gen. Bautista’s appointment as the new AFP Chief of Staff “signals the escalation of human rights violations” under the Aquino government , Karapatan said today.  “Oplan Bayanihan, despite its ‘people-centered’ and ‘respect for human rights’ catch-phrases already resulted in 137 incidents of extrajudicial killings and 154 cases of frustrated …

Lt. Gen. Bautista’s Oplan Bayanihan resulted to 137 EJK Read More »

Rights group Karapatan today called on the Aquino government to stop the series of illegal arrests and detention of civilians whom the government “conveniently accused as members or supporters of the New People’s Army to justify its grave violations on civil and political rights.”  Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general, raised the alarm as 28 people …

28 illegal arrests in less than a month: Aquino govt’s desperation shows Read More »

Rights groups and advocates, led by Karapatan and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) met with protest the first meeting of Noynoy Aquino’s "high-level inter-agency superbody" against extrajudicial killings and other rights abuses. "The victims and their loved ones have had enough of these extraneous superbodies that are mere publicity schemes but does not solve human rights …

Amidst continuing human rights violations Aquino’s ‘superbody’ vs extrajudicial killing and HR violations mere PR scheme Read More »

Karapatan today deplored the recent spate of illegal arrests, based on trumped-up charges, this December of 23 indigenous peoples, government employees and individuals. Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said their chapters and network organizations have reported the following incidents of arrests: Randy Vegas and Raul Camposano, both long-time union organizers and staff of the Confederation …

Karapatan scores Aquino, AFP on December arrests and detention of activists and individuals Read More »

Karapatan today, with relatives of desaparecidos, banged the gates of Pres. Aquino’s house at Times St., Quezon City to protest the much-delayed arrest of former General Jovito Palparan Jr.  A year ago, on December 17, the Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14 issued a warrant of arrest for Palparan for charges of kidnapping and illegal …

A year after, impunity icon “The Butcher” Palparan is still free Read More »

“A human rights handbook, a human rights summit, a human rights office, a human rights superbody are meaningless to the victims of human rights violations. The fact still remains: the killings continue and not one perpetrator is in jail,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan on Pres. Aquino’s list of ‘initiatives to uphold human …

Palace, AFP list of HR achievements will not undo 129 EJK cases Read More »