“If he died in an encounter, they would not hear anything from us. Our family would just claim his body. But when we learned that he was still alive when he was taken by the soldiers and the police and ended up dead while in their custody, we are determined to fight for justice.” ˆGene Campaner, brother of slain NPA guerrilla
“Legal proceedings are expensive and inaccessible to the poor while constitutional rights have remained ‘paper rights’ and international treaties on human rights as ‘lip service.’ – National Union of People’s Lawyers
The petitioners maintained that public prosecutor Rosulo Vivero committed “prosecutorial misconduct when he knowingly used recycled and falsified evidence as basis to file multiple murder charges.”
Freddie Ligiw was supposed to meet with human rights groups to narrate how he was forcibly used as a guide by soldiers from the 41st IBPA of the AFP when he went missing. The bodies of Freddie, his brother and father were later found in a shallow grave.
By KIMBERLIE NGABIT-QUITASOL Northern Dispatch BAGUIO CITY — Almost three decades after suffering from heavy torture in the hands of state military forces, Ramon Dammay is still in pain. Ramon, now in his early 50s, was among the beneficiaries who trooped to the Commission of Human Rights office here to claim his $1,000-check from a…
By KIMBERLIE NGABIT-QUITASOL? Northern Dispatch LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — A farmer from Roxas, Isabela was abducted by armed men who introduced themselves as agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) along the highway at the boundary of San Manuel and Roxas, Isabela around noon of February 28. Virgilio Abrogena, chairman of Danggayan Dagiti Manalon…
“The human rights situation under the Aquino administration is as worrisome as the situation during the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. Perpetrators from state security forces are not being held accountable for their crimes, and much worse, they get juicy promotions, thereby keeping and perpetuating themselves in power.” – Ecumenical Voice
The NUPL vowed to file countercharges against the police “to teach them a lesson that they are supposed to be law enforcers and should respect the rights of citizens.”
“It is image building. The US government is trying to soften its image among Filipinos and also in the international community as it prepares for an increased and permanent presence in the Philippines for its vaunted Asian pivot.”
Randy Vegas and Raul Camposano are organizers of government employees under Courage and yet they are to be charged in court because of accusations that they participated in two ambuscades of the New People’s Army – one in Camarines Norte, in southern part of Luzon island and another in Ifugao at the far north – which allegedly occurred just days apart.
“The appointment of a PC [Philippine Constabulary] relic to head the claims board is not only a grievous insult to the struggle against martial law but is also a shameless denial of the ideals of asserting freedom and democracy that was highlighted during the first Edsa People Power uprising in 1986.” – SELDA