National

Today, as the “San Roque 21” posted bail on the trumped-up charges filed against them at the Metropolitan Trial Court of Quezon City, human rights group Karapatan reiterated its urgent call for the government the legitimate plea of poor Filipinos for adequate food and economic aid, amid the imposition of the “enhanced community quarantine” in Metro Manila and the entire island of Luzon.

Human rights group Karapatan decries the harassment of a student journalist who posted online regarding his comments on government response on the coronavirus pandemic.

The poor were asking for food, looking for the promised food aid because they are already suffering from unbearable hunger. Instead of addressing their righteous plea, the police violently arrested them and the filing of cases against them are quickly fast-tracked.

We strongly condemn the threats directed by the Regional Philippine National Police Office in Cordillera against alleged “communist organizers” in the region. Initial reports revealed that Regional Director Police Brigadier General R’win Pagkalinawan ordered police snipers to shoot individuals who “unnecessarily organize the masses at this time” of health crisis in the country.

President Rodrigo Duterte seems to be so threatened of the brewing social unrest of his own doing because his government is failing in addressing the people's legitimate demands for socio-economic aid and relief amid the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Karapatan condemns the killing of 66-year-old Nora Apique, a peasant leader of the Kapunungan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Surigao del Sur (a member organization of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas), at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

Human rights group Karapatan strongly condemned the arrest of 20 residents of the urban poor community of Sitio San Roque in Brgy. Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City after the community’s protest along EDSA was violently dispersed by the police.

In an online campaign, human rights group Karapatan, together with friends and families of political prisoners, peace advocates, civil libertarians, and church workers reiterated its urgent appeal for the release of prisoners, including political prisoners on just and humanitarian grounds as the country grapples with the threat of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The warrantless arrest of 55-year old public school teacher Juliet Espinosa in General Santos City over charges of inciting to sedition sets a dangerous pretext for a crackdown on dissent, human rights group Karapatan warned, amid the government’s continuing militarist response to the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

There is no rationale for the appointment of retired military generals in the government’s “National Action Plan” (NAP) against the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, human rights watchdog Karapatan asserted, rebutting Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo’s statement justifying President Rodrigo Duterte’s appointment of ex-military men to lead the NAP’s implementation.