Dear Friends:
On July and October 2013, the regional trial courts of Lagawe, Ifugao and Labo, Camarines Norte, respectively revoked and suspended the warrants of arrest issued against trade union leaders Roy Velez and Amelita Bravante who have been charged with fabricated murder cases.
The two courts also ordered the City and Provincial Prosecutor’s Offices in Ifugao and Camarines Norte to conduct a re-investigation on the charges filed against the two union leaders with other human rights defenders who are also co-accused in the same cases such as Randy Vegas and Raul Camposano of COURAGE, Rene Abiva (ACT TEACHERS), Virgilio Corpuz (PISTON), and peasant advocates Ramon Argente and Nancy Ortega.
We believe that this is a huge victory for Roy Velez, Amelita Bravante, and other victims of political persecution, their families, friends, colleagues, and their organizations. Â And this is due to our unwavering and collective campaigns to stop the criminalization of human rights defenders.
We have formed the Tambuli ng Mamamayan (People’s Clarion Call) composed of victims, families, friends, supporters, and colleagues of victims of political persecution in Metro Manila, which started since December 2012. Since then, we have organized various activities and actions to stress our calls and demands to junk the trumped up charges, and for justice to all victims of political persecution and other human rights violations.
Nevertheless, we must continue our actions to call for the total dismissal of the fabricated cases against our trade union leaders. We must continue to declare that genuine justice shall be served to all victims of political persecution and human rights violations.
We must also continue our campaign and calls for JUSTICE to all victims of  extrajudicial killings such as Arnel Leonor (Silverio Compound), Antonio Homo (Navotas), Marilou Valle (Tondo), Erning Gulfo and Marlyn Sumera (Malabon); call to Free Renante Gamara, Randy Vegas, Raul Camposano, Rene Abiva, Virgilio Corpuz, Silverio 10, and all political prisoners.
Most of all, we must continue to expose and oppose Oplan Bayanihan which aims to silence and stop our legitimate struggles for land, jobs, homes, justice, and for meaningful social change.
Thus, we are inviting everyone on 8 November 2013 to A Day of Action Against Political Persecution & Solidarity with Roy Velez, Amelita Bravante & other Victims of Human Rights Violations.
7:00 – 11:00 AM – Picket Dialogue in front of the Department of Justice and Supreme Court with Roy Velez and Amelita Bravante.
2:00 – 4:00 PM – Solidarity Action (Justice for Arnel Leonor. Free Silverio 10)
6:30 – 8:30 – Solidarity Gathering with Roy Velez and Amelita Bravante on the continued campaign to stop the criminalization of human rights defenders. IFI Conference Room, Taft, Avenue.
For those organizations which cannot personally attend the said event, we are encouraging you to send solidarity statements or messages that can be read during the program.
Once again, thank you very much for your active participation in the campaign. Without let up, we shall continue in the fight for JUSTICE.
Sincerely yours,
Defend Job Philippines
and
Tambuli ng Mamamayan Network
