Region: National

Five years of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020 and 13 years of its evil twin, the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act (TFPSA), have proven that they are grave threats to democracy and to the exercise of civil liberties and fundamental rights guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution and international human rights treaties and norms. …

KARAPATAN: Philippine terror laws are grave threats to democracy, rights Read More »

Karapatan condemns the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Bacolod City for deliberately delaying the transmission of documents needed to process the bail of detained human rights defender and development worker Felipe Gelle, who has been in custody by the CIDG since June 25, 2025. Gelle, who is part of the staff of Paghida-et …

KARAPATAN hits CIDG delays and inaction on Bacolod HR worker’s bail docs Read More »

Karapatan calls for the immediate release of five cultural activists arrested in Cavite on June 28, 2025. The activists—Shenice Wacan, Ronaldo Valderrama, Andrew Peña, Denn Martizano and Christine Quillosa—collectively called the Imus 5, were arrested in Pasong Buaya, Imus City as they were about to create protest art against the widespread land-use conversion and demolitions …

Karapatan calls to free cultural activists arrested in Cavite Read More »

KARAPATAN welcomes the ruling of the Court of Appeals 16th Division issued yesterday, June 27, 2025, granting the habeas corpus petition filed by a relative of an ailing octogenarian and ordering his immediate release from custody. Prudencio “Tay Pruding” Calubid Jr., an 81-year old retired technician and long-time resident of Olongapo City, was arbitrarily arrested …

KARAPATAN demands justice for released elderly political prisoner Read More »

Today, June 26, 2025, as the world observes the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Samahan ng Ex-detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA), an organization of former political prisoners, stands in solidarity with all survivors of torture and their families and reiterate our demand for truth, justice and accountability for the …

Former political prisoners decry torture, demand release of all political prisoners Read More »

GENEVA – Human rights defenders participating at the 59th UN Human Rights Council session renewed calls to the Philippine government to surface missing activists James Jazmines and Felix Salaveria Jr., as they submitted letters of allegation on their abduction and enforced disappearance to the offices of UN Special Rapporteurs, on behalf of their families. Karapatan …

Rights advocates at the #HRC59 to the PH gov’t: Surface James Jazmines, Felix Salaveria Jr., and all desaparecidos Read More »

Today, families and friends of the disappeared led by Desaparecidos commemorate the 19th year of the disappearance of University of the Philippines activists Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, as well as National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Prudencio Calubid, his wife Celina Palma, companions Gloria Soco and Ariel Beloy. Their forcible disappearance …

Surface Karen Empeño, Sherlyn Cadapan, Prudencio Calubid, Celina Palma, Gloria Soco and Ariel Beloy! Read More »

KARAPATAN is in full solidarity with our member organization Bahaghari and the LGBTQ+ community as they launch Stonewall Philippines, a gathering that references the series of militant protests by the gay community in the US triggered by a violent police raid on June 28, 1969 on the Stonewall Inn, then a popular bar in New …

KARAPATAN: Pride is always a Protest Read More »

GENEVA — Rights defenders of the Philippine UPR Watch welcome the opposition of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for interim release. The Prosecutor’s position underscores what victims and human rights advocates have asserted: Duterte remains a continuing threat to justice, the integrity of the investigation, …

Filipino rights defenders welcome ICC prosecution’s firm stand against Duterte’s release Read More »

GENEVA – Members of the Philippine UPR Watch delegation coming from the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) strongly condemned the recent escalation of violence and destruction in the Middle East triggered by the attacks of the United States and Israel on Iran. Bishop Joseph Agpaoa, acting general secretary of the United Church …

Filipino rights defenders condemn US attacks on Iran Read More »