Brothers Raymund and Reynaldo Manalo who were given protection by the Supreme Court are not only victims of enforced disappearances who were lucky enough to survive, they are also vital witnesses against retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan. BY DABET CASTAÑEDA Bulatlat HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Vol. VII, No.29, August 26-September 1, 2007 As it turned out,…
Category: Human Rights
Basilan Warrants Include Dead Men, Opposition Mayoral Bet
Is it possible for dead men to engage soldiers in an encounter that would be soon followed by the beheading of 14 Marines? It is, if we ask the authorities who filed the charges on the basis of which the warrants of arrest were issued. The plot thickens further when the identities of a few…
Bill Criminalizing Enforced Disappearances to be Filed, Gov’t Asked to Ratify International Convention
There is no existing law in the Philippines criminalizing enforced disappearances. While Republic Act No. 7438 guarantees the rights of persons arrested, detained or under custodial investigation, it does not punish perpetrators of enforced disappearances. Victims of enforced disappearances are denied the protection of the law. BY EMILY VITAL HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Bulatlat Vol. VII,…
Ang Human Security Act, Kalayaang Akademiko, at ang Tumitinding Terorismo ng Estado
Ang kontrobersyal na Human Security Act (Republic Act No. 9372) o aking tatawaging “Terror Act” ay madadagdag sa mahabang listahan ng mga batas o dekreto ng estado ng Pilipinas na pagsalakay at pag-atake sa karapatan ng taumbayan na magpahayag, maglathala, mag-organisa at lumahok na mapayapa sa pangkabuhayan at pampulitikang pamamalakad sa bansa. NI ROLAND G.…
Resistance to Killings as Arroyo Falters
Clearly the Arroyo bloc has been unwilling to try to end the abuses. There are two main reasons for this. First, she fears a coup. A leader of a recent attempt was placed in detention, but still got 11.5 million votes in the May Senate election. Second, her disastrous neo-liberal policies are deeply unpopular. BY…
Human Security Act: ‘Draconian, Fascist’
An interview with Atty. Edre Olalia The anti-terrorism law is draconian, anti-people, and is very dangerous. Another fundamental point is, it does not cover the acts of terrorism of the State itself which is the worst kind of terrorism. BY DR. RAINER WERNING THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Contributed to Bulatlat Vol. VII,…
Woman Activist Held, Two Others in Watchlist
BY DABET CASTAÑEDA HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 27, August 12-18, 2007 Balikbayan Dr. Annalisa Vicente Enrile was on her way back to the U.S. on Aug. 5 after a month’s stay in the Philippines. However, as she proceeded to the Immigration booth to have her passport exit-stamped, she was told that she…
HSA an Unnecessary Law
Is the HSA really necessary in curbing what it defines as “terrorism”? A lawyer who represented petitioners against the said law before the High Tribunal views the HSA as not only unnecessary but also dangerous. BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 27, August 12-18, 2007 Is the Human Security Act…
U.S. House Members Express Concern that U.S. Aid being Used in Political Killings and Abductions
“We are concerned that the extrajudicial killings could be a conscious and systematic part of the Philippine government’s counterinsurgency program and that financial assistance from our government is being used to support, directly or indirectly, those within the PNP and AFP who are responsible for the killings” – U.S. legislators. BY BENJIE OLIVEROS HUMAN RIGHTS…
Random Arrests, Repeat of 2000 ‘All-Out War’ Feared in Basilan
The specter of random arrests in connection with the July 10 beheading of 14 Marines in Al-Barka, Basilan following an encounter between the AFP and the MILF looms over the people of the said town. This is because the warrants of arrest issued for 130 suspected members of the MILF and the ASG alleged to…
Political Assassination Survivor Seeks Asylum In Canada
A Philippine medical doctor and political activist is seeking political asylum in Canada after surviving a brutal attack on his family a year ago in the northern province of Kalinga in the Philippines. BY TED ALCUITAS HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Contributed to Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 26, August 5-11, 2007 VANCOUVER, B.C. CANADA – A Philippine…