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Church leaders expressed alarm and concern at the deteriorating prospects for peace as shown by the Rodrigo Duterte government’s demonization of human rights.
“How many more people need to suffer the fate of the dozens of individuals killed – red-tagged as terrorists and then end up dead? Health frontliners like them who rendered invaluable service and sacrifice especially during the pandemic were not only exposed to a deadly virus but to a dangerous political environment."
Dr. Sancelan, Guihulngan's city health officer and head of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), was included in the hitlist circulated by anti-communist vigilante group Kagubak last year.
“This heartbreaking predicament of having babies separated from their detained mothers, and of being denied of their basic human right to their mother's breastmilk, that is justified by rules issued by jail authorities, is what Reina Mae brings before the Supreme Court for its review and resolution.”
“Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s government must cease and desist treating journalists as criminals.”
“There is no doubt that the policies and operations under the Duterte administration are responsible for the onslaught of extra-judicial killings and other human rights violations under the ‘war on drugs.’ State officials and police forces were both brazen and confident that they would enjoy impunity in their crimes.” -- Rise Up
Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said the domestic remedies are no longer enough, noting the trend of police “planting evidence” with impunity.
“Contrary to the stereotype of a youth activist, she was never late to meetings. And what she brought to these meetings! She had the tiniest voice, yet her words had weight.”
“The Icy that we grew up and spent our high school days with — a diligent student, a committed and effective leader, an articulate writer, a skillful athlete, and a loyal and loving friend — could not be further from the gun-wielding terrorist the police is trying to portray.”
The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 has been widely criticised for curtailing press freedom and the freedom of expression. It has granted authorities the power to detain activists and journalists, and to allege them at the very least of committing terrorism as the law so vaguely defined.
“Rights are not won through silence, through fence sitting and inaction. Rights are won and claimed through difficult, arduous, beautiful, creative and vibrant struggle.”
“Ka Joaquin was unarmed and was convalescing. He was detached a few months ago from the main office of the NDF-Mindanao to undergo medical checkups and to recuperate from partial paralysis.”
"Her abduction, on Human Rights Day no less, is another proof of the dangers of the administration’s vile practice of red-tagging."
Teddy Casiño of Bayan said the Duterte administration is the "number one human rights violator."
"The complainants bring the instant action in order to finally address a continuing wrong, to vindicate their basic rights, and to remind public officials that illegal, improper, unjust and oppressive acts and utterances, especially those vicious and virulent, are not without consequence. We also just want to do our work as lawyers,” the complaint read.
This does not change the fact that being added to Duterte’s narco list has become like a death sentence: seven of the 24 murdered mayors and vice-mayors had been implicated in the list before they were killed by unknown assailants.
“They know that Rep. Zarate and the Makabayan bloc's sterling record in and outside Congress is a stark contrast to the criminally negligent and incompetent handling of the Duterte administration of the different problems of the country from the Covid 19 pandemic, to typhoons, unemployment, landlessness and others.”
“This is calculated to force Justice Leonen to resign or simply act favorably on the Marcos electoral protest. There is just no other way to view it.”
Researchers recognized the need for media owners to provide an enabling environment for women journalists subjected to sexual harassment, including revisiting or developing safety policies, safety training, and the setting up of mechanisms for reporting and investigation.
“We are attacked because our schools stand as symbols of unity, hope and persistence of communities. We serve as an active defense against miseducation, maldevelopment and repression.” -- Meggie Nolasco
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