Arroyo, Former Top Defense, Military Officials Sued For Damages By Morong 43

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Impunity Reigns

“We will never condone human rights violations, we will not let impunity reign, we will not let the anguished victims go unconsoled, we will not let the culprits go unpunished,” Liberal said.

Liberal deplored how the military continues to implicate four Morong 43 detainees in two separate clashes with the New People’s Army (NPA).

Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto called for the release of the remaining two Morong 43 detainees and the other 334 political prisoners.

“Like the Morong 43, they were heaped upon with numerous criminal charges which are meant to silence their dissent and opposition to the anti-people policies of the government. They have suffered through torture and various rights violations and injustices,” Fr. Dionito Cabillas, Selda secretary general, said.

Liberal said the AFP’s Oplan Bantay-Laya “is being continued with the latest Oplan Bayanihan, much as it pays lip-service to human rights, peace and development.”

Tanggol Bayi, a group of women human rights defenders, said President Benigno S. Aquino III has not acted to prosecute Arroyo and top military and police officials for the numerous rights violations and for the perpetuation of the climate of impunity during the Arroyo administration.

The group said Karapatan has already documented 40 victims of extrajudicial killings and five enforced disappearances.

Hustisya!, an organization of victims of human rights abuses and their families, expressed support for the filing of civil case.

Cristina Guevarra, Hustisya! secretary general, challenged Aquino to file charges against the operators of Oplan Bantay Laya.

“We have prepared ourselves that this struggle would not be easy, we have to confront those in power. But we know that this is not the only the struggle of the Morong 43 but of all Filipinos victimized [by an abusive regime]. No matter how long this battle would be, we are certain that we will win because the people are with us,” Quinawayan said.

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  20. · Edit

    So long as the GRP’s counter-insurgency measures are implemented, human rights abuses will persist. The notoriety and stubborness of the AFP-PNP are very obvious when they still insist that the arrest of Morong 43 were legal despite Secretary de Lima and Aquino himself admitted that there were flaws in the warrant (AFP-PNP must at all times observe that the “civilian authority” is supreme over the military.

    Arroyo and cohorts must face justice and that full force of the law must be applied on them. Possible criminal charges must be lodged against them to serve as a counter measure for abuse of authority.

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