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President Aquino signed Republic Act No. 10368 on February 25 during the 27th anniversary of EDSA I uprising that toppled Marcos. But up to now, the Aquino government has not taken the first crucial step: forming the Claims Board.
Her painful journey took 35 years before she was able to accept what happened to her husband and she vowed not to let people forget about the atrocities of the Marcos dictatorship.
“They [children] are harassed, threatened, forced as guides, displaced, maimed, raped or killed and later on branded as child soldiers as an excuse of the AFP for the violations they have done.
There has been progress such as in passing laws for human rights and providing a ‘veneer of transparency,’ but none in walking the talk and producing results.
The international lawyers’ group called on the Government of the Philippines and the NDFP to resume the negotiations based on their previous agreements “to earnestly, patiently and sincerely address and comprehensively resolve the underlying social, economic and political reasons for the armed conflict and resistance.”
Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) chairman Windel Bolinget pointed out that despite the Philippine government's adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and other human rights treaties, the escalating human rights violations perpetrated against indigenous peoples in the country are alarming
A document with the title “MUNICIPALITY OF TINOC (Target Persons),” which bears the logo of the the Charlie Company of the 86th Battalion (Highlander) of the 5th Infantry Division (North Star), Philippine Army, listed the names of human rights defenders and development workers in the Cordillera and Ilocos regions who are now the subject of intense surveillance and threatening text messages.
Benguet Provincial Police Office (PPO) Provincial Director Rodolfo Azurin admitted lapses in the investigations conducted in relation to the disappearance of activist James Moy Balao.
"Our evidence is strong. The suspects were positively identified, again and again, by our two main witnesses.” – Julian Oliva Jr., counsel of the families
“We seriously hope that the Human Rights Victims Claims Board will be composed soonest. Martial law victims cannot afford to be disenfranchised, much more neglected again.” - SELDA
Accused former Air Force Col. Eduardo Kapunan admitted in court that he ordered the surveillance of labor leader Roland Olalia, who was later found brutally murdered with companion Leonor Alay-ay, in 1986.
"Disappointingly, the investigative efforts of the Special Investigation Task Force Group-Balao falls way below acceptable standards given today's available technological and sophisticated measures." -- RTC Branch 63
The Tinoc folk called for the pull-out of the Alpha Company of the 86th Infantry (Highland) Battalion of the 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in Tinoc. They also called for the prosecution and punishment of erring soldiers and particularly mentioned Capt. Danilo Lalin who allegedly raped a minor in their headquarters in Tinoc.
Today is the sixth year since farmer-activist Jonas Burgos was abducted by state security forces. For the first time, his wife speaks in this video made by Jonas's younger brother, JL.
"Why do such human rights violations persist with impunity even under the Aquino administration?" – Fr. Rex Reyes, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP)
“He missed to celebrate four of his birthdays with us. This is the fifth. Nevertheless, we never forget to celebrate it with or without him. It feels empty to celebrate a birthday without him though. But what can we do? He was taken away from us forcefully and we were left with no choice but to deal with this emptiness.” -- Nonette Balao.
“Nanay, don’t worry. We are still intact as a family. We will continue to fight for you and for all the other victims of extrajudicial killings.” -- Ara Marcellana
"Justice is dead in our country." – Orly Marcellana
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