Press statement

Karapatan mourns with the family, friends and colleagues of Ka Joseph Canlas, 59, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Vice Chairperson and Chairperson of the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson, who passed away this morning of May 11, at the Intensive Care Unit of the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga.

This policy of mass arrests of alleged violators of health and quarantine protocols like improper wearing of face masks is brazenly unscientific and ineffective, aside from a form of disproportionate use of force during a public health crisis that impacts mainly the poor population.

Karapatan condemns the most recent police raids in Bicol region at early morning yesterday, May 2, 2021 resulting in the arbitrary arrests of United Church of Christ of the Philippines Pastor Dan Balucio, 62, spokesperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan - Bicol, and Maria Jesusa “Sasah” Sta. Rosa, 20, spokesperson of Jovenes Anakbayan (Anakbayan’s regional chapter in Bicol region).

Tanggol Bayi stands with human rights defenders against rampant rights violations, particularly the attempted murder charges against human rights defenders Elisa Tita Lubi and Jay Apiag, and the arrest and detention of Renalyn Tejero and Nimfa Lanzanas, to name a few of the many human rights workers harassed and threatened by state elements of the Duterte administration.

While it is a definitely a glimmer of hope in these bleak times to see the bayanihan of communities looking out for each other’s needs through solidarity efforts and mutual aid initiatives such as community pantries, they are nonetheless a damning indictment of the Duterte government’s criminal negligence of people’s rights and welfare — of its glaring failure to uphold the State’s duty such as providing aid to households and communities hard-hit by the crisis.

Karapatan denounces the extrajudicial killing of Dandy Miguel, Vice Chairperson of PAMANTIK - Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and president of Lakas ng Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Fuji Electric - Olalia - KMU, at 8:45 p.m. on March 28, 2021. We grieve with his family, friends, colleagues and fellow workers.

The killing of Miguel followed the March 7, 2021 Bloody Sunday incidents when nine activists were killed in the course of police and military operations in Southern Tagalog.

Karapatan welcomes and supports the filing of Senate Bill No. 2121 which aims to define and penalize red-tagging. There continues to be a glaring impunity for State forces who commit, perpetuate, and peddle such dangerous lies and deadly rhetoric — such as Secretary Delfin Lorenzana's recent reappointment of two military generals who were fired for publishing a fake list red-tagging alumni of the University of the Philippines.

This is a joint oral statement delivered by Cecile Gaa on behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Amnesty International, the International Commission of Jurists, Civicus World Alliance for Citizen the Participation, World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), Human Rights Watch, the Philippines Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, and the International Federation for Human Rights before the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on March 22 for Item 10 on the General Debate on technical cooperation and capacit

Maybe we should ask Justice Secretary Guevarra the questions that should be asked. Who has the powers and resources to investigate and trace the witnesses in these killings and give them protection? Kami ba? Maybe Secretary Guevarra needs a reminder that we don’t have these resources at hand — but the government does.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra in his speech before the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council missed a very important point regarding “working domestic accountability mechanisms” in the Philippines — that the killings continue.