by CAROL PAGADUAN-ARAULLO Streetwise/Business World Posted by Bulatlat.com Respected human rights lawyer, Romeo T. Capulong, minced no words in stating before the Court of Appeals hearing the petition for habeas corpus of the Morong 43 that de facto martial rule was in effect vis a vis his clients. This started from the time of the…
Tags: Oplan Bantay Laya
‘Morong 43’ Cry Torture; Satur Denounces ‘Grandslam Day for Impunity’
By RONALYN V. OLEA
After three days, relatives and colleagues were finally able to visit the 43 arrested health workers through the intervention of Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Leila de Lima, who earlier denounced the military for refusing access to those detained.
Hounded by Military for Years, Ex-Bayan Leader Takes Refuge in NPA
“Yes, I have chosen to seek refuge under the revolutionary movement, particularly with the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front. This is the most logical choice on my part because these are the very organizations that can guarantee not only my protection from political killings but also, above all, freedom of the people from the oppressive grip of a reactionary fascist state. I am still breathing and fighting precisely because of this choice.”
In 2009, Human Rights Took Serious Beating from Arroyo Regime
By MARYA SALAMAT
Human-rights violations in 2009 are “numerous and varied and no sector of society is exempted,” belying the Arroyo government’s claim that steps have been taken to improve the Philippine government’s human-rights record, according to Karapatan. And with Oplan Bantay Laya 2’s deadline in 2010 fast approaching, more abuses are certain to occur, it said.
Labor in 2009: Joblessness, Rights Violations, Violence Confronted Filipino Workers
By MARYA SALAMAT
The year 2009 began, ended and paved the way to 2010 with the festering problem of joblessness for millions of Filipinos. The global financial crisis only revealed the stark reality of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s inherently flawed job-generation strategies. The Arroyo regime fell short of its employment target. Worse, thousands of jobs, especially in the export industry, were “massacred” in 2009 even as unionists faced violence, intimidation and murder.
News in Pictures: Davaoeños Commemorate International Human Rights Day
At least 7,000 protesters from the church, lawyers, media, teachers and the basic sectors led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Southern Mindanao marched to commemorate the 61st International Human Rights Day in Davao City, December 10. They condemn the sorry state of the human rights situation in the region and in the country. On…
Military Did Not Need Martial Law Declaration to Abduct, Torture Activist
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Noriel Rodriguez, a member of Anakbayan, was tortured for 10 days by people he claimed to be soldiers. The soldiers, he said, threatened to harm his family and mutilate his genitals. He was released only after he was forced to sign papers stating that he was a rebel returnee. 
Related video: Noriel Rodriguez recounts his ordeal
Pooled Editorial: Blood in Her Hands
The perpetrators obviously thought that they could get away with their atrocity. The only possible explanation for such impunity is that these people were confident somebody higher up would protect them. We hold the regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo accountable for what happened in Ampatuan. It was her regime that had benefited from the reign of terror in Maguindanao. It was her regime that had encouraged and nurtured the violence that led to the massacre.
Military’s Oplan Bantay Laya Sows Terror, Disunity Among Lumads in Mindanao
By ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO
As foreign mining investments continue to encroach into Lumad lands in Northern Mindanao, the military, through its Oplan Bantay Laya, intensifies its campaign to stifle local opposition to these companies. A fact-finding mission found that so far this year, 13 Lumads have been summarily executed while more were tortured and harassed by soldiers and fellow Lumads co-opted by the military.
‘Northern Samar Is Becoming a Killing Field’
By MARYA SALAMAT
According to Monsignor Walter Cerbito of the diocese of Catarman, Northern Samar, nobody is safe anymore in his province, not even priests, as the militarization intensifies. The murder of the Reverend Cecilio Lucero only underscored the worsening human-rights violations there.
A murder and an abduction in Northern Samar
Ruth Gecaro, barangay treasurer of Somoroy, Lope de Vega, in Northern Samar, was supposed to provide witnesses to a fact-finding team on the murder of Father Cecilio Lucero, the parish priest of Catubig, Northern Samar. Two days before the fact-finding team arrived in Samar, Gecaro was abducted by men believed to be soldiers. She remains missing.