Latest News
DND-DILG hit list legitimizes rights violation vs 60-year old peasant organizer
Submitted on Sat, 05/11/2013 - 12:00
Karapatan deplored the enforced disappearance, illegal arrest and detention of Estelita T. Tacalan, a 60-year old peasant organizer and rural health worker in Misamis Oriental, as a “recent case of rights violation legitimized by the Joint Order No. 14-2012 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of National Defense.”
The DND-DILG Joint Order No. 14-2012 reportedly contains an updated list of alleged wanted Communist leaders and allocates PhP 466,088,000.00 as reward money for their capture.
AFP holds on to recycled witnesses and lies as hearing on Panesa case wraps up
Submitted on Fri, 05/10/2013 - 12:00
The hearing for the petition of the writ of habeas corpus in relation to the arrest and detention of security guard Rolly Panesa wrapped up on May 9 at the Court of Appeals as two more witnesses of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were presented by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) in behalf of the Judge Advocate General’s Office (JAGO).
“While an innocent person continues to languish in jail, the AFP insisted to the end that the person they arrested, tortured and detained is “Benjamin Mendoza.” The AFP brought military assets who are “professional witnesses,” whose convoluted lies crafted by the military are so obvious,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan.
Palabay said Irwin Rosales, one of the witnesses presented by the AFP, is a rebel returnee who was also used by the military in building up false charges against Tirso “Bart” Alcantara, a consultant of the National Democratic Front.
GPH is after military solution, not peace negotiation
Submitted on Thu, 05/02/2013 - 11:22
“With eight months left to Oplan Bayanihan’s self-imposed deadline to supposedly render the CPP-NPA-NDF insignificant, the Aquino government is again turning the table against the NDFP negotiating panel, in a bid for a graceful exit from the peace talks and to justify intensified attacks, not only against the CPP-NPA-NDF, but more so against the ordinary tao whom the government considers as supporters of the revolutionary movement.”
Rights group slams appointment of Palparan cohort, Hacienda Luisita massacre co-conspirator
Submitted on Sat, 04/27/2013 - 13:34Human rights group Karapatan today deplored the recent assignment of Brig. Gen. Ricardo Visaya as “acting commander” of the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Cagayan de Oro City.
Statement of the End Impunity Alliance – April 25, 2013
Submitted on Thu, 04/25/2013 - 15:21
Delivered by FR. REX RB. REYES, End Impunity Alliance convenor; General Secretary, National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Los desaparecidos, those who disappeared. Abducted at night, the worst fate to be feared. To have spoken one word too many, or one word too loud, The very next day, to vanish in the crowd. Thousands, taken, one by one Fathers, and brothers, and wives, and daughters. Through mother’s pain and families’ grief Hope clings to one belief, One day, they wish, he will be found, he will be found.
- Esperanza Pacheco Cortez
In the news: “Another one was killed. Another one had disappeared.” Human rights violations (HRVs) keep on happening without let up. In the nine (9) years of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s reign, more than a thousand are victims of extrajudicial killing and 206 forcibly disappeared, 1,099 tortured, 2,059 were illegally arrested. On the other hand, in a span of two (2) years of President Noynoy Aquino’s presidency, Karapatan documented 137 victims of extrajudicial killing, 14 of enforced disappearance, 72 of torture, 269 of illegal arrest.
