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By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
She had to recount her ordeal in court over and over again while being questioned by defense attorneys whose aim was to destroy her credibility. She was called a “bad person”, a “whore”, an “adulteress”, and an “extortionist” by the Davao media. And after several years of an excruciating uphill battle, she lost her case in court. But she was undeterred.
By MARYA SALAMAT
Egoy, the son of Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor, one of the "Morong 43" detainees, had hoped to see his mother watch him perform during his school's annual presentation. But despite an order from the president, Dr. Clamor and the others remain in jail as of this writing.
‘Aquino Needs to Commit to Human Rights’
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“We are happy but we are still angered. In the first place, the Morong 43 are innocent. They should not have been detained,” Ofelia Beltran-Balleta, mother of Jane Balleta, one of the Morong 43, said in an interview with Bulatlat.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
According to Karapatan, there have been at least 25 victims of extrajudicial killings, two victims of enforced disappearance, 16 victims of torture, and 18 victims of illegal detention under the Aquino administration. It has barely been five months since Aquino took over on June 30.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
The announcement of Aquino is no less than a reaction to the highest form of protest by the Morong 43 and to the overwhelming support for their case," Roneo Clamor, husband of Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor, one of the 43, and acting secretary general of Karapatan, said.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“In my own little way, I will act [in support of you] without mentioning anything about the legal case. I am only coming from the sense that your dignity as humans should be respected. If human dignity is not respected, nothing else would be given value,” Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz told the male detainees during his visit at Camp Bagong Diwa.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
The physical evidence gathered in the fact finding mission revealed that the trajectories of bullets were coming from and going to only one direction, refuting the military’s claim that there was a supposed gun battle between the military and members of NPA.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL and
RONALYN V. OLEA
How can the government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines claim that it respects human rights when human rights defenders themselves are being the target of attack? How can there be claims of "change" when the lives of the majority remain the same, and even getting worse, and those who defend the rights of the poor and the oppressed are still being treated as "enemies of the state"?
Maricel Delen: A Human Rights Worker, a Widow, Now a Victim of Persecution
Fred Caña: A Human Rights Worker, Marked for Assassination by the Military
Kelly Delgado: Committed to the Defense of Human Rights Amid The Threats
By MARYA SALAMAT
The Children's Rehabilitation Center (CRC) had documented six cases of frustrated killings, four victims of torture, two illegal arrest and detention, two victims of rape and 136 children affected by forcible evacuation during Aquino's first five months in office. In all these cases witnesses tagged state military forces as the perpetrators.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“An empty stomach doesn’t need empty doublespeak from Malacanang. We need our freedom,” the Morong 43 said in a statement.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“Every day in jail is an injustice to us,” the health workers said. “Our action today and in the succeeding days is a call to President Aquino to simply order the withdrawal of the case against us forthwith so that we may be immediately and unconditionally released.”
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“It is unbelievable that Aquino cannot do anything [on the case of the Morong 43],” Jose V. Cabrera, member of the board of governors of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), said.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“This early, Aquino’s daang matuwid has become a U.S. inspired path that is increasingly being marked by the blood of the victims of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, forced displacement and other violations of human rights.” -- Karapatan
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“With the raid of the office of progressive organizations by combined elements of police and military in Daet, Camarines Sur and the subsequent arrest of four activists, the Morong 43 template is now being replicated.” -- Karapatan
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Leonardo Co wrote two very important books: on medicinal plants and the forest trees of Palanan. He could speak fluent Filipino, English, Mandarin, and Latin. He could sing, play classical Chinese music with his harmonica, and make people laugh with his antics. But most of all, he dedicated his life in the service of the people.
Sidebar: Groups Say Impunity in Human Rights Violations Resulted in the Killing of Renowned Botanist
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A Year Later, Aquino and Ampatuan Massacre