“The trauma from his ordeal has rendered him unable to perform his usual day-to-day activities as he remains apprehensive about potential retaliation from his torturers,” the petition read.
“I was begging for the DSWD (to release me) but they forced me to sign a statement that says I voluntarily went there and did not want to go home. It was against my will.”
Lino Baez recounted what was done to him, which included “beatings, pressing the barrel of a gun to his chest, and applying a chemical to his blindfold which made him nauseous.” Baez was also frequently interrogated by state forces, insisting that he was a top-ranking member of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
“When torturers and human rights violators are rewarded with promotions and acquittals for the crimes they have perpetuated against individuals and communities, this means that the infrastructure of impunity has been so ingrained in the justice system in the country."
“Until now, we have not attained justice. We will continue to fight for it.”
“I am saddened that the arraignment did not push through. Still, I am resolved to fight until Palparan’s conviction. I hope Duterte will be true to his word – criminals must be sent to jail.”
By Satur C. Ocampo At Ground Level | The Philippine Star In a single day, military intelligence operatives rounded up over 50 suspected “subversives” in Manila, herded them inside a military camp’s officers’ clubhouse, and subjected each one to prolonged...
Every night, they would hear the door open. When soldiers hit the door with truncheons, they knew one of them would be taken out.
For the military, torture and other heinous human rights violations are acceptable when committed against those who refuse to bow to them.
By Carol Pagaduan-Araullo Streetwise | BusinessWorld A day before International Human Rights Day, a long-delayed US Senate Intelligence Committee report on the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” (EITs) -- or simply put,...
By Satur C. Ocampo At Ground Level | The Philippine Star Somehow it comes as a surprise, if not a let-down. Reacting to the US Senate intelligence committee report which condemns the CIA’s extensive use of torture in interrogations of Al Qaida suspects and...
The report summary is a very disturbing read. Will the full 6,000-page committee report be declassified? Will it push the Obama administration to prosecute those responsible for torture as international law requires? Unless criminal acts carry criminal penalties, there is little to prevent a future president from using torture again.
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective Reading through the 500-page Executive Summary of the report of the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program, one could not help but feel revulsion and alarm at the official,...
“The cases, filed as early as 2008, have been gathering dust in the records of the Ombudsman, which has shown nary a hint of interest or resolve in investigating criminal and ethical violations by top military brass down the line.”
Four Agusanon Lumad, including two minors, were on their way to the local Comelec to register as first-time voters for the upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) and barangay elections when they were arrested, tortured and detained by members of paramilitary group Bagani forces.
By ALDWIN QUITASOL Northern Dispatch BAGUIO CITY -- A 25-year-old charcoal maker in Lagangilang, Abra was taken and held by soldiers for nearly three days. According to the Abra Human Rights Movement (AHRM), Meymar Alcantara, a charcoal maker, went to a nearby...
By JOAN GARCIA Bulatlat.com VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur – Last July, the 81st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) arrived at the provinces of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. They replaced the 3rd IBPA that was encamped at 5 barangays in the two provinces. This...
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“The silence of the Aquino administration is deafening. We believe that influential individuals in government and in the military are coddling Palparan.” – Karapatan
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