By RONALYN V. OLEA
Elke Bacalso was abducted on September 8. He is not even an activist, but he is the son of a former political detainee and he campaigned for Kabataan Party-list during the recent elections.

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission The widely publicised video of a police torture has drawn mixed reactions and opinions from the public, including lawmakers, lawyers and human rights groups, who have all joined in the chorus condemning such a barbaric and cruel act. Most of them share the opinion that ‘lack of [...]

Illegal Activity Violates Nuremberg Code and Could Open Door to Prosecution By PHYSICIANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS Cambridge, MA– In the most comprehensive investigation to date of health professionals’ involvement in the CIA’s “enhanced” interrogation program (EIP), Physicians For Human Rights has uncovered evidence that indicates the Bush administration conducted illegal and unethical human experimentation and [...]

By GRACE S. UDDIN Davao Today Posted By Bulatlat.com DAVAO CITY — Thirteen farmers filed human rights complaints against the 25th Infantry Battalion for illegal detention and torture. They included Alfonso Mangubat and wife Baden; Anastacia Villaniso and her sons Emilio, Boicy and Roy and 15-year old grandchildren Mary Grace Minor and Christina Aranceo-Minor; Edmund [...]

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL and RONALYN V. OLEA
Sources told Bulatlat that the three were taken out of their cells after they signed affidavits that belied the military’s claim that they and the others were members of the communist New People’s Army.

By MARYA SALAMAT
Volunteer medical doctors for the “Free the 43 Health Workers” movement decried the military’s refusal to let them examine the detained health workers. They repeatedly requested, with the lawyers and family members, the camp authorities to let them see the detainees but they were rebuffed nine times.

Activist Recounts Abduction, Torture

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

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Human-rights advocate welcome the signing into law of Republic Act 9745, which penalizes acts of torture in the Philippines. The challenge now, they say, is for the Arroyo administration to effectively implement it, given its sordid human-rights record.

By HENRY A. GIROUX Truthout International Posted by Bulatlat.com This article is drawn from Henry A. Giroux’s forthcoming book, “Hearts of Darkness: Torturing Children in the War on Terror” (Paradigm Publishers, 2010). For the last decade, we have lived through a historical period in which the United States relinquished its tenuous claim to democracy. The [...]

Remembering the Disappeared