By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Farmers groups said the presence of more military forces in the Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation, which the farmers are claiming, will result in more human-rights violations against civilians. They also said that farmers will be facing renewed threats of eviction.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Celito Baccay, 31, a key leader and organizer of the union in Maeno Giken, a Japanese-owned manufacturer of steel, iron and stainless steel products, was shot by gunmen at point-blank range. A week before the incident, Baccay turned down a promotion offered by the management that would have disqualified him from the union. This, according to his wife, angered the management.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
The families of journalists Dennis Cuesta, Maricel Vigo, Juan Pala, Fernando Lintuan, and William Yap Yu said that the Philippine government violated the right to life of their loved ones under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The Philippines is a signatory to the ICCPR. They filed the complaint on March 4.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
The NPA said its guerrillas were not in the area where Leonard Co and two others were killed. It said it did not venture into the area because it was disadvantageous. “It is too heavily guarded by the 19th IB, the police, paramilitary and private security guards. Why would the NPA put itself at unnecessary risk when there are far better options for launching a tactical offensive?”
Environmental activists, indigenous peoples’ leaders and human-rights advocates today lighted green lanterns to pay tribute to the 39 environmental defenders and martyrs who were victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. The activity, held in Bulwagang Nicanor Delos Santos in Quezon City, coincided with the commemoration of the 2nd year since the brutal killing of anti-mining and environmental activist Eliezer “Boy” Billanes in Koronadal City on March 9, 2009. (Photos courtesy of Kalikasan-PNE / bulatlat.com)
By RONALYN V. OLEA Bulatlat.com MANILA – A development worker was arrested by combined elements of military and police on March 1 in Silay City, Negros Occidental. Rowena Quilop, 41, administrative officer of the Center for People’s Resources and Services (CPRS) and manager of Maao Parish Multi-purpose Cooperative, was arrested by about 25 elements of…
By RAYMUND VILLANUEVA
“We started this as a political issue, wanting to prove that there were thousands of victims during Martial Law. Now, they are turning the compensation issue into an economic one, and the lawyers have full control.” – Judy Taguiwalo, UP professor and martial law victim.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
The youth group Anakbayan is not holding its breath that the new administration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will do wonders to the country’s human rights situation. In the meantime, the group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and Karapatan want the new military leadership to deal with the extrajudicial killings of activists.
NEWS RELEASE 7 March 2011 A labor NGO urged today the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to take necessary measures in addressing the “multiple subcontracting chains” which continue to exist in Eton Residences, forty days after the tragedy in the construction site of the condominium wherein 10 workers were killed. Ecumenical Institute for Labor…
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Karapatan has documented 40 victims of extrajudicial killings since Aquino took office at a rate of one victim of extrajudicial killing per week. The group, together with other human rights advocates, will call the attention of the United Nations Human Rights Council on this issue.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
The children of political activists and human rights workers who fallen victim to extrajudicial killings are orphaned, their young lives marred and damaged by the experience of losing their parents to state violence. As for the child victims of extrajudicial killings themselves, their brutal killing at the hands of the military prove the extent of the AFP’s impunity—not even the most innocent are spared.