The crimes and other atrocities stemming from the implementation of Oplan Bantay Laya are directly instigated by the so-called “war on terror,” which the Bush regime exported to and imposed on the Philippines. The Obama government is faced with the challenge of stopping the war begun by its predecessor – a war that has caused countless human-rights violations in the Philippines and its other “fronts.”

In a perfect world, Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan never would have met. The atrocity that befell them, a most horrendous fate, never would have happened. And they never would have stood now as a testament to the rot that is eating away at the core of this country.

The human rights organization, Karapatan, together with the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at para sa Amnestiya (SELDA), Hustisya! and the families of the Desaparecidos, today observes the International Day In Solidarity with Victims of Torture with a protest action in front of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA). NICA IS one of [...]

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In protest rally Friday in front of Nica building, human-rights groups denounce the continuing use of torture. They likewise commemorate the third year of the disappearance of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño. Edita Burgos says the promotion of three officials linked to the abduction of her son Jonas will encourage more atrocities.

Torture Victim Turns Over a New Leaf

MANILA — Today, June 20, members of the organizations of victims and relatives of victims of human rights violations, Desaparecidos and Hustisya! as well as the human rights alliance, KARAPATAN, turned out in a jubilant mood to show their support to the wedding of torture survivor Raymond Manalo, and his sweetheart, Kristel Alminiana, in a [...]

After hearing the report of the Philippine government and the testimonies of two torture victims, the United Nations Committee against Torture expressed its grave concern at the “routine and widespread use of torture” and the “climate of impunity for perpetrators of acts torture, including military, police, and other State officials”.

Filipino Torture Victims Testify Before UN

BY ANNA KRISTINA P. VIRTUSIO Bulatlat Human rights groups condemned the Arroyo administration for ignoring the latest report of the United Nations special rapporteur Philip Alston on extrajudicial killings in the country. In a press conference in Diliman, Quezon City today, Karapatan stated that by ignoring Alston’s report, the Arroyo government is denying the existence [...]

BY RONALYN V. OLEA Bulatlat The Philippine government’s second periodic report to the United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT) was ‘bombarded’ with questions, human rights network Philippine UPR Watch said. The 27-member Philippine government delegation, headed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, presented its report, April 28, to the 42nd session of the UNCAT in Geneva, [...]

Republic of the Philippines HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL Quezon City DR. REYNALDO LESACA, JR., CRISTINA PALABAY, RENATO M. REYES, JR., ERLINDA CADAPAN, ANTONIO FLORES, JOSELITO USTAREZ Petitioners, HRET CASE NO. ________ – versus – FOR: Quo Warranto MAJOR GEN. JOVITO S. PALPARAN, JR. (Ret.), Respondent. x————————————————————x “However, it is not enough for the candidate [...]