By MARYA SALAMAT
“For too long, the rights of workers, laborers and employees have been trampled upon because of the economic interests of a few,” said outgoing CHR Chairwoman Leila de Lima, who is transferring to a new position as Justice Secretary in the incoming Aquino administration.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Ironically, while the CHR is proceeding with its hearings on the human rights violations complaint filed by the Morong 43 – even as the AFP stubbornly refuses to cooperate – the rights of the 43 health workers are violated over and over again.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
and ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
The AFP said the commission should first get clearance from the courts before the AFP could produce the detainees. CHR chairwoman Leila de Lima retorted: “Please do not restrict our authority to determine the truth.”
By MARYA SALAMAT
In a presidential forum on human rights, Noynoy Aquino, amid hemming and hawing and qualifiers, said he favors a pre-Marcos-like Anti-Subversion Law. He said he is not averse to curtailing rights in the name of national security, although, he hoped “we will not have a situation that will necessitate that.”
By RONALYN V. OLEA
The affidavits of the 43 health workers and the medical records from the doctors that examined some of them narrate tales of interrogation, torture and other abuses.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Human-rights advocate welcome the signing into law of Republic Act 9745, which penalizes acts of torture in the Philippines. The challenge now, they say, is for the Arroyo administration to effectively implement it, given its sordid human-rights record.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Under the bill, no justification can be offered that would allow torture and other inhuman punishments. Those who torture will be penalized as principals, as well as their superiors in the military, police or law enforcement establishments who ordered it.
The CHR fact-finding mission is in response to a resolution approved by the provincial government of Surigao del Sur asking the CHR to look into the alleged abuses by the military against Lumads. Progressive groups will hold a parallel solidarity mission to the province.
The Philippine military, through its attack dogs Pastor Alcover and Jovito Palparan, are trying to discredit the Commission on Human Rights and its chairperson, Leila de Lima. Human-rights groups are understandably concerned. “Now that the CHR chairperson insists on the mandate of the commission, they consider her as an enemy,” Marie Hilao-Enriquez of Karapatan said. “That is the most dangerous mindset.”
Freedom from torture is a non-derogable right, meaning that states cannot violate this right under any circumstances, even in a state of emergency or martial law. By insisting that Melissa Roxas is a communist guerrilla, the Arroyo regime not only practically admits that it tortured her — it seeks to justify the atrocity, thus violating the very international instruments that it had earlier agreed on.