By RONALYN V. OLEA
Her military captors tried to break her will and her spirit, but she became stronger in the end.
Angelina Ipong Talks About Her Ordeal As Political Prisoner
Category: Human Rights
Remembering Romy Sanchez, Whose Death Still Remains Unsolved
By Kimberlie Olmaya Ngabit-Quitasol Northern Dispatch Reposted by Bulatlat.com BAGUO CITY—It was raining hard last March 9 at five in the afternoon. The usual throng digging into boxes of wagwag (second-hand) goods for sale in this alley famous for second-hand items for sale was absent, but the vendors were hoping that buyers would come when…
Urban Poor Leader Protesting Demolitions in Navotas City Killed, Another Victim of Extrajudicial Killings Under Aquino
By RONALYN OLEA Bulatlat.com MANILA – A leader of an urban poor group was shot dead by a lone gunman in San Roque village, Kadiwa, Navotas City, March 16. Based on the initial accounts from the urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap-Navotas (Kadamay-Navotas), Antonio ‘Nono’ Homo, 47, was staying at the house of neighbor…
Rights, Church Groups Bring Case of Killing of Botanist to the UN
By RONALYN OLEA
The families of the victims and their supporters have expressed fear of a possible whitewash with the report of the Department of Justice and National Bureau of Investigation clearing the military of any responsibility.
Cordillera Health Workers Being Harassed, Threatened
By LYN V. RAMO
Why, they asked, are they being made to suffer human rights violations, when they have only been working for the indigenous farmers, laborers, small-scale miners and urban poor and, in the process, traveling long hours to reach far-flung villages, some of which could only be reached on foot?
Widow Accuses Palawan Officials of Corruption and Killing Gerry Ortega
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Gerry Ortega, journalist, anti-mining advocate, and a veterinarian, was shot dead on 24 January 2011 while buying from a store in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. His widow, Patria ‘Patty’ Ortega filed murder charges against Palawan officials in a supplemental complaint-affidavit submitted to the Department of Justice last February 14.
Rights Groups Appear Before UN to Assail Continuing Violations, Lack of Justice
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“There has been no let-up in the spate of human rights violations from the administration of former president Arroyo to the current government. Not one case under the Arroyo government has been rendered justice, not one perpetrator has been brought to jail.” – Karapatan
Balikatan in Nueva Ecija: Farmers Fear More Rights Abuses, Displacement
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Farmers groups said the presence of more military forces in the Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation, which the farmers are claiming, will result in more human-rights violations against civilians. They also said that farmers will be facing renewed threats of eviction.
Labor Leader Shot Dead in Cavite, 41st Killed Under Noynoy
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Celito Baccay, 31, a key leader and organizer of the union in Maeno Giken, a Japanese-owned manufacturer of steel, iron and stainless steel products, was shot by gunmen at point-blank range. A week before the incident, Baccay turned down a promotion offered by the management that would have disqualified him from the union. This, according to his wife, angered the management.
Kin of 5 Slain Journalists File Raps Vs. Philippine Gov’t Before UN Body
By RONALYN V. OLEA
The families of journalists Dennis Cuesta, Maricel Vigo, Juan Pala, Fernando Lintuan, and William Yap Yu said that the Philippine government violated the right to life of their loved ones under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The Philippines is a signatory to the ICCPR. They filed the complaint on March 4.
NPA Blames Military for Botanist’s Death, Refutes Encounter Claim by Army
By RONALYN V. OLEA
The NPA said its guerrillas were not in the area where Leonard Co and two others were killed. It said it did not venture into the area because it was disadvantageous. “It is too heavily guarded by the 19th IB, the police, paramilitary and private security guards. Why would the NPA put itself at unnecessary risk when there are far better options for launching a tactical offensive?”