With human rights violations in the Philippines being laid bare before the bar of international public opinion, the Philippine government could end up losing foreign aid. “When aid-giving countries look into reports showing bad human rights records on the part of their recipients, they would be apprehensive about continuing to give assistance,” Karapatan secretary-general Marie…

For testifying against a fund that never reached them, witnesses to the P728-million fertilizer scam reportedly engineered by former Agriculture Undersecretary and now U.S. immigration detainee Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, are now being chased by suspicious burly men believed to be military and police agents. One of them, a 61-year old woman, has been silenced to…

BY BULATLAT Posted 7:40 p.m., Oct. 2, 2006 Families of victims of political killings and abductions called the investigation by the Melo Commission a “whitewash” meant to clear the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Arroyo administration of culpability in the human rights abuses. Evangeline Hernandez, spokesperson of Hustisya (Justice), said, “The Commission’s…

By Abner Bolos Gitnang Luzon News Service Bulatlat.com Posted 6:20 p.m., Oct. 5, 2006 TARLAC CITY- Bayan Muna party representative Satur Ocampo said on Wednesday that the killing of Bishop Alberto Ramento is part of the long string of extra-judicial executions sanctioned by Malacanang and not a simple robbery case as claimed by the police.…

BY THE COUNSELS FOR THE DEFENSE OF LIBERTIES (CODAL) Posted by Bulatlat Pro-Arroyo supporters handling human rights issues CODAL is seriously concerned that people without any track record for human rights advocacy, such as Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Justice Melo and Rep. Bienvinido Abante, are heading human rights bodies tasked with investigating human rights violations of…

What is Operation Phoenix? How can an almost-40-year-old counterrevolutionary program mounted on foreign shores provide relevant insights in explaining the current murderous spree in the Philippines? By Joel Garduce IBON Features Posted by Bulatlat Splashed all over media, the commission appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to look into the current spate of extrajudicial killings began…

It should not be difficult to see that any attack on any lawyer should have an impact on other lawyers in other countries. After all, we all believe in the rule of law; in effective and independent legal representation; in due process; in freedom, democracy and justice. Noble words that can be achieved if those…

Please read, sign and pass to other journalists (email you name and media network to nujphil@gmail.com) There are presently 43 journalists in the Philippines facing libel charges filed by First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo. The sheer number betrays a wanton disregard for freedom of the press and the propensity to use power and influence…

Bayan Muna’s Jariz Vida survived two assassination attempts.  But in a twist of fate, he had to post bail and face charges of frustrated murder filed against him by soldiers from the 9th Infantry Division. BY DABET CASTAÑEDA Bulatlat.com Looking thin and pale, 30-year old Jariz Vida spoke softly of his travails as secretary general…

The justice department is being asked to act expeditiously on several human rights complaints submitted by the CHR for prosecution “so that justice will be served on the victims and their surviving kin and those found guilty meted out corresponding punishment.” BY BULATLAT The Department of Justice (DoJ) has been urged to prosecute suspects in…