Three of the former political detainees known as the Tagaytay 5 have filed damage claims against elements of the Police Regional Office in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) and the Philippine Navy before the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Bulatlat Three…
Tags: Human Rights
Drop Baseless Charges vs Filipino Women Activists – US-Based Women’s Group
A New York City-based women’s group of Filipino-Americans condemned what it calls unfounded charges against 72 activists in Southern Tagalog. Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE), a member of GABRIELA, said the “recent spate of state repression and violations of civil liberties is a continuation of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s deteriorating administration and governance.” BY BULATLAT…
Protect Domestic Workers From Violence
Few domestic workers have access to the justice system in the countries where they work, and even those who are able to make complaints of physical or sexual violence rarely receive redress, Human Rights Watch said. BY HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Posted by Bulatlat Many migrant and domestic workers still face abuse and exploitation in Middle…
Legal Offensive vs. Activists, Disturbing – CHR Chair
In a dialogue with the Free Atty. Saladero et. al. Coalition, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Leila de Lima yesterday was quoted as saying that, after intense local and international pressure caused a slight drop in the number of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances, state authorities apparently have been employing a ‘new strategy’ against…
Protest Marks Principe’s One Year in Prison
Human rights advocates staged a protest in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the continuing detention of Elizabeth Principle, a consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF) for the peace negotiations with the government. Members of the Society of Ex-Detainees for Liberation, against Detention and for Amnesty and Health Action for Human Rights…
Alliance for Defense of S. Tagalog 72 Launched
An alliance to defend activists in Southern Tagalog who presently face political persecution was launched November 22. BY RONALYN V. OLEA HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Bulatlat Dana, a petite 12-year-old girl, introduced herself to the audience as the daughter of Eden and Orly Marcellana. She said, sobbing, “Si Nanay pinatay nila noong April 22, 2003. Ngayon,…
Police Questioned on Failure to Arrest Rights Worker’s Killers
The brother of Christopher L. Batan, a human rights worker slain in Mountain Province 15 years ago, has asked the Regional Trial Court to order Mountain Province police officials to explain their failure to issue a warrant of arrest against two of his killers. BY ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW Northern Dispatch HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Posted by…
The Daily Struggles of Bukidnon Farmers
The government tries to paint a superb picture of the current realities of Filipino farmers. Tagging them as heroes for being the nation’s food producer, the government proclaims what it is allegedly doing to support the sector. But the farmers of Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon tell a different story: of fighting for their land, for higher…
Poets, Rock Bands Converge in Gig for S. Tagalog 72
The convergence of poetry and rock music characterized Down with the Crackdown, a concert held Nov. 22 at the Ten 02 Bar in Quezon City. Organized by the Artists’ Response to the Call for Social Change and Transformation (Artists’ ARREST), the concert was staged in protest against the political persecution of activist leaders from Southern…
UN Human Rights Committee Says Arroyo Gov’t Guilty of Violating Rights on Marcellana-Gumanoy case
The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee has found the Arroyo government guilty of violating the rights of human rights defenders Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy. Marcellana, then Karapatan-Southern Tagalog secretary general and Gumanoy, local peasant leader, were abducted and killed in April 2003. Witnesses point to the “Bonnet Gang,” a paramilitary group linked with…
Kin of Missing Activist Seek Solons’ Help
BY BULATLAT Exactly two months since James Balao disappeared, his family called on the members of the House of Representatives to conduct investigation and help them in their continuing search. Balao, founding member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), was abducted on Sept. 17, around 8 a.m. in Lower Tomay, La Trinidad Benguet by suspected…