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In the last six years since former President Rodrigo Duterte terminated the peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, their peace consultants, including those who publicly participated in the peace process, were subjected to a series of bloody and vicious attacks.
A provincial prosecutor in Batangas dismissed the two charges against peasant organizer Ernesto Baez Jr., driver Jose Escobio, and companion Jonald Jabonero, citing a lack of probable cause.
"We knew from the start that this law would only be weaponized in silencing dissent. They try to make us falter; we, indigenous peoples and human rights defenders. But we will never deter."
"The fight for justice is not over, the dismissal of Hailey's case is proof that no matter what lies the state forces may fabricate, the truth will always prevail."
As a mentee, the Seams said Echanis will be working on the translation of Filipino poetry into English.
Rights groups said UN Special Rapporteur Ian Fry’s visit to the country "puts on center stage the sinister role played by the NTF-ELCAC and the dangerous impact of the terror law on the lives and safety of environmental human rights defenders in the country."
"I call on the Philippine government to respect this right and establish a truth reconciliation process to investigate the unlawful killings by the military, hold those accountable for these killings and provide reparations for those who suffered."
“Former President Rodrigo Duterte along with those who conspired to bring such patently false charges against de Lima should be held accountable."
“The struggle for a just and lasting peace in the Philippines is not a struggle isolated from the people of the world; we will continue to fervently campaign until the demands of the Filipino people are met and activists no longer live in fear of reprisal."
Effects of reclamation projects to the communities are what Jonila and Jhed were looking into in Bataan. But because of their abduction, not only was their research cut short, the results of their investigations disappeared after their equipment and gadgets were confiscated by the military.
"The visit of Special Rapporteur Ian Fry marks a critical moment in bringing our fight for climate justice and human rights to the international level."
"Jonila and Jhed deserve their complete liberty from any form of harassment and intimidation, for them to continue their advocacy work in the coastal communities.”
“To the president, I can only hope that you heed the calls of the masses and end this pattern of disappearances and human rights violations. I hope to see a nation whose leaders direct their efforts not to oppression but to what its countrymen need."
Sisters of two farmers who were abducted in a farming community in Nueva Ecija are still looking for their loved one. Their alleged abduction brings to 11 the total number of disappearances in a span of 16 months under the Marcos Jr. administration.
Families of the disappeared gathered on Nov. 2 at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani to remember their loved ones who are believed to have been abducted by state forces.
Amid all these, Karapatan said their group and the rest of the human rights community will not stop in its efforts to expose and oppose the brutal extrajudicial killings and the threats and red-tagging that increasingly target not only activists and other human rights defenders but ordinary civilians.
"This is clearly a harassment suit because I wasn’t even present at the SONA rally. I was on a trip abroad. I was already mid-air when the rally happened."
Torture survivors Raymond and Reynaldo Manalo have filed their appeal before a Malolos court that earlier acquitted retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan and several members of the military auxiliary force earlier this month.
"Though factually baseless and clearly malicious, I cannot merely dismiss Respondent Duterte’s red-tagging and accompanying grave threats as either figurative, joking, or otherwise benign considering that many victims of extrajudicial killings, illegal arrest and detentions, excommunicado confinements, forced disappearances and other analogous attacks were called or labeled 'communists,' members or supporters of the NPA, “terrorists,” and like labels before they were attacked."
“Whoever is holding my brother, please surface him now."
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