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KARAPATAN, End Impunity Alliance call for immediate resolution of Morong 43 civil suit

ICHRP Secretariat
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KARAPATAN, End Impunity Alliance call for immediate resolution of Morong 43 civil suit

Media Release – Justice delayed is justice denied.

Human rights group Karapatan and End Impunity Alliance, a network supporting the victims of human rights violations in their quest for justice, joined six members of the Morong 43 and their counsels from the National Union of People’s Lawyers as they filed a second motion to resolve their petition for the writ of preliminary attachment in their P15-million civil case against former Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and key military officials.

Karapatan deputy secretary general Jigs Clamor said the undue delay of the resolution prompted plaintiffs to file a second Urgent Manifestation with Motion to resolve. The civil case has been stalling in RTC branch 226 for more than five months now and has not gone beyond its only hearing last June 10, 2011.

“GMA’s attempts to leave the country only show her deliberate intent to evade justice. As long as the cases are still pending before the courts, she has all the chances to evade accountability. We will not allow this shameless act to happen. The lives claimed under Arroyo’s counter-insurgency program must not go in vain,” Clamor asserted.

End Impunity Alliance convenor Cristina Palabay noted that “the resolution of the petition is necessary for the court to issue summons for all respondents including GMA.”

“The court should immediately resolve the case considering GMA’s attempt to abscond. While the former president is already under arrest for electoral fraud, albeit under well off conditions far from jail conditions, it is necessary to hold her and her henchmen in the military and police accountable for the human rights violations she has wrought under her administration,” Palabay commented.

The Morong 43 filed the first civil charges against GMA on human rights violations on April 4 this year.

Resolve other cases ASAP

In June, the United Church of Christ of the Philippines followed suit. Together with torture victim Pastor Berlin Guerrero and five others whose relatives were killed under GMA. Meanwhile, relatives of the victims of the Ampatuan Massacre filed last week.

According to Palabay, the Morong 43 and UCCP damage suits are only some of the lawsuits filed by relatives and victims of human rights violations against top government and military officials under GMA.

“Criminal charges filed against Arroyo’s lapdogs like retired army major Jovito Palparan have yet to be resolved,” she said.

It can be remembered that mothers of desaparecidos Erlinda Cadapan, Connie Empeno and Edita Burgos filed criminal charges against Palparan and ranking officers of the AFP and PNP for the abduction, torture and other grave human rights violations committed against their children Sherlyn, Karen and Jonas, respectively.

Also, torture victims Raymond Manalo and Oscar Leuterio filed their urgent motions to resolve the administrative and criminal cases they filed against Palparan and AFP officers which have long been pending under the Office of the Ombudsman. Both Manalo and Leuterio were witnesses to the abduction and disappearance of the missing UP students. ###

References:   Jigs Clamor, Deputy Secretary General, 0920-9466210
Cristina Palabay, End Impunity Alliance Convenor, 09175003879
Angge Santos, Public Information Officer, 0918-9790580

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PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
[email protected]
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Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties.  It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.

JUSTICE FOR ALL WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, FREE ALL WOMEN POLITICAL PRISONERS!

ICHRP Secretariat
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JUSTICE FOR ALL WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, FREE ALL WOMEN POLITICAL PRISONERS!

Press Statement – ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS – As women human rights defenders worldwide come together today, we remember our sisters in the Philippines who, like the Mirabal sisters in the Dominican Republic known as “Las Mariposas,” have exemplified the strength and courage of women who valiantly fought against the purveyors of injustices and rights violations against women and the poor people in our country. They – Sherlyn Cadapan, Karen Empeno, Benjaline Hernandez, Eden Marcellana, Connie Brizuela, Juvy Magsino, among many others – deserve our highest salute.

In remembering, our pursuit for justice for the violations against their persons becomes stronger as we hold accountable the former woman Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who has recently tried to evade justice by attempting to depart from the country. While she is already in jail for charges on electoral fraud, we demand that she be prosecuted and jailed for the human rights violations she has brought upon WHRDs during her term.

During the Arroyo presidency, there were a total of 1,206 victims of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary execution (EJKs for short) in the Philippines. Of the total number, 153 are women and 476 are human rights defenders (HRDs). There were 206 victims of enforced or involuntary disappearance 31 of whom are women and 68 are HRDs. Victims of illegal arrest and detention number 2,059 victims. Arroyo’s counter-insurgency policy Oplan Bantay Laya (Operation Freedom Watch), a US-inspired and promoted program, served as the blueprint for these rights violations, as human rights defenders were branded as “enemies of the state.”

The situation of Filipina human rights defenders though is no different under the current administration of Phil. Pres. Noynoy Aquino.

With its sugarcoated counter-insurgency policy Oplan Bayanihan, Aquino’s state security forces have claimed the lives of 56 victims of extrajudicial killings, four of them are women. Among them is Marlina Sumera, a journalist and an urban poor leader, who was gunned down this year because of leading her community’s struggle for land and decent housing. Sunshine Jabinez, a seven-year child, was shot dead in a militarized rural community in Mindanao (Southern Philippines).

Indigenous WHRDs in Mindanao Mayse Belayong and Bae Adelfa, whose husbands were killed by the military, are being threatened by paramilitary and now had to seek shelter from the areas where they live in. Women health workers in the Cordilleras have been repeatedly threatened and harassed by military agents and officers because of their supposed medical missions in far-flung areas.

As of October 31, 2011, there are 356 political prisoners, 77 of them were arrested under the Aquino regime. Of this number, there are 35 women political prisoners. Political prisoners are among the most critical and determined opposition of repressive regimes. They call for change and the creation of a new and better world. For this, they are considered “enemies of the state.” They are subjected to illegal arrest and detention, extreme torture and unjust conviction on trumped up charges.  Women and children, in particular, are doubly violated through sexual molestation or rape. Political prisoners, more often are charged with criminal offenses to deny the political nature of their case and to reduce them as “common criminals.”  They are charged with heinous crimes of murder, arson, robbery, kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms and explosives which are all non-bailable offenses meant to silence them and keep them incarcerated.

Among these women political prisoners are Vanessa delos Reyes, a 26 years old hors de combat, who has been in the Southern Philippines Medical Center under military custody because she has been paralyzed waist down; Moreta Alegre (Correctional Institution for Women), a 65 year old farmer, who was imprisoned together with her husband Jesus and son Selman, because of trumped up charges of murder, as they were vocal critics and campaigners against landgrabbing in their area; 21-year old Maricon Montajes (Batangas Provincial Jail), the youngest among political detainees, who was a student filmmaker from the University of the Philippines Film Institute, a member of film organization UP Sining at Lipunan and of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, arrested in June 2010 during an immersion program with peasants in Batangas; 57-year old Gloria Floresca(Ilocos Sur Provincial Jail), a former organizer of Gabriela in La Union, who was illegally arrested recently on rebellion charges; 42-year old businesswoman Marilyn Badayos-Condes(Dumaguete City Jail), arrested June 2011 for charges of rebellion and was denied immediate medical attention when her injured arm bled during her arrest; Lumad Manobo activist JovelynTawa-ay and former student activist Lucy Canda (Correctional Institution for Women), arrested in 2006 during a military operation, held incommunicado for three days, and charged with rebellion; and 29-year old Charity Diño (Batangas Provincial Jail), a former school teacher, who was illegally arrested, tortured and detained in 2009 while she and her colleagues were inviting community residents for the activities for urban poor week.

Like butterflies who cannot survive unless they are set free, these women political prisoners and women human rights defenders nationwide are calling for their immediate and unconditional release. Thus today, we launch our postcard campaign for our sisters and friends in the international community to support this call.
References: Cristina Palabay, Tanggol Bayi (Defend Women) – Philippines Spokesperson

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Tanggol Bayi is an association of women human rights defenders in the Philippines to advance women’s rights as human rights. Tanggol Bai is formed to further develop the capability of women human rights defenders to protect and advance women’s, human and peoples’ rights while giving special attention to the rights of WHRDs; to provide a venue by which WHRDs can give mutual assistance to one another especially to those who are facing immediate threats; provide information and facilitate HR education to WHRDs to even better sensitize them to violations of political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights; through common effort, enable WHRDs to effectively forward policies and legislations, fight for their rights and generate resources for the needs of their human rights advocacy; and network with other human rights organizations in the country and abroad.

Contact us at:
2/F Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Streets
Barangay Central District, Diliman, Quezon City
Telephone: (632) 434 2837
Fax: (632) 435 4146
E-mail: [email protected]

Karapatan staff receives death threats in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental

ICHRP Secretariat
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UA No: 2011-11-01
UA Date:26 November 2011
UA Case:Threat, harassment and intimidation

Victim/s:
JOSE LUIS BLANCO, 25
Coordinator, Karapatan-Dumaguete

Place of Incident:
At the field office of Karapatan-Central Visayas in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental

Date of Incident:November 8 and 21, 2011

Alleged Perpetrator(s):
Unidentified person believed to be a military agent

Account of the Incident:
On the afternoon of November 8, 2011, while Karapatan coordinator Jose Luis Blanco was resting at the office after a field work, he received a call on his cellphone from an unregistered number (09095596583).

The male caller asked if he is  speaking to Jose Luis Blanco. After confirming that he is Blanco, the caller then burst out in a barrage of anti-communist monologue. The caller accused Blanco of being a member of the New People’s Army, and a “God-less automaton of Jose Maria Sison in the Netherlands. The caller threatened Blanco that he will be sexually abused and stabbed to death. The caller also warned that “they” know where Blanco is, and that “they” would have him killed.

Shocked at the caller’s tirade, Blanco could only mutter “ok” during the two-minute call.

When the phone was disconnected, the perpetrator called again.But Blanco turned off his phone. Blanco later reported the incident to the local police.

On November 21, the perpetrator called again, but Blanco did not answer.

Since 2008, Blanco has been receiving threats and harassment because of his human rights work. His person has been vilified on numerous occasion by the 79th Infantry Battalion. He was also falsely charged of kidnapping, direct assault, and more recently, of violation of the Negros Oriental provincial ordinance that regulates the conduct of fact-finding missions.

Recommended Action:
Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:

The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into threat, harassment and intimidation of Jose Luis Blanco.
The military to stop the labeling and targeting of human rights defenders as “members of front organizations of the communists” and “enemies of the state.”
The Philippine Government to withdraw its counterinsurgency program Oplan Bayanihan, which victimizes innnocent and unarmed civillians
The Philippine Government to be reminded that it is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to all the major Human Rights instruments, thus it is bound to observe all of these instruments’ provisions.

You may send your communications to:

H.E. Benigno C. Aquino III
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]

Sec. Teresita Quintos-Deles
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
7th Floor Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City 1605
Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Fax:+63 (2) 638 2216
[email protected]

Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
Email: [email protected]

Atty. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-8344; 5213721
Trunkline  523-84-81 loc.214
Fax: (+632) 521-1614
Email:  [email protected]

Hon.  Loretta Ann P. Rosales
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 928-5655, 926-6188
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email:   [email protected], [email protected]

Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the above-named government officials, to our address below.

URGENT ACTION Prepared by:

Don’t add insult to injury, no to house arrest for GMA —Karapatan

ICHRP Secretariat
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Press Statement – “In the name of justice, GMA should end up in a detention facility and not under house arrest,” asserted Jigs Clamor, deputy secretary general of human rights group Karapatan.“ Clamor added that, “GMA should not be accorded special treatment. Instead, she must account for all the human rights violations committed under her regime.”

In GMA’s nine years in power, Karapatan has documented the following violations and the corresponding number of victims of her Oplan Bantay Laya:

 

Extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary execution

1,206
Frustrated Killing

379
Enforced or involuntary disappearance

 206
Torture

 1,099
Illegal arrest

 2,059
Physical assault and injuries

30,119
Threat, harassment and intimidation

 81,835
Indiscriminate firing

538,017
Illegal search and seizure

53,893
Forcible evacuation and displacement

 873,787
Hamletting

 39,803
Violation of domicile

 29,101
Food and other economic blockade:

 87,152
Use of schools, medical, religious and other public places for military purposes

57,914

“The victims of GMA as commander-in-chief of the AFP are real people. They are not just numbers. Justice should be served to those who were wronged. Enough of lies, enough of tricks. The families of the victims have suffered for so long. GMA must end up in jail. That’s the least the P-Noy administration can do,” said Clamor. ###

 

Reference:    Jigs Clamor, Deputy Secretary General, 0920-9466210

 

                        Angge Santos, Media Liaison, 0918-9790580


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PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
[email protected]
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Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties.  It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.

Don’t let GMA flee! Jail GMA! – Morong 43

ICHRP Secretariat
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Don’t let GMA flee! Jail GMA! – Morong 43

We challenge the Aquino administration to do everything in its authority and influence to ensure that Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will not flee the country. She should be made accountable for all the crimes she committed against the people!”

Gary Liberal, R.N., spokesperson of the Morong 43 and  one of the plaintiffs named in the civil suit  filed on April 4, 2011 against GMA, etal.  at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, reminded the Aquino administration that it should not forget the victims of human rights violations  such as the Morong 43 case committed under GMA’s term.

Liberal, speaking in behalf of the 36 freed health workers and said that they are enraged of Mr. Aquino’s inability to act upon the cases filed against his predecessor such as to immediately free 2 of the Morong 43 who were transferred and still illegally detained in Mindoro.  “Obviously, the President took a sweet time before hastily filing an electoral fraud case against GMA.  Such obvious haste was unnecessary had Mr. Aquino acted swiftly on scores of other cases such as our illegal arrest and detention, the killing of Mr. Leonard Co, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the Ampatuan massacre among others.”

Seven months since they filed a civil suit suing for damages totaling P15 million for physical and psychological torture and other forms of indignities they suffered during their illegal arrest and detention, the case has not moved beyond the first and last hearing on June 2011.

Defendants named in the suit are former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, former Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, Gen. Delfin N. Bangit, former commander of the 2nd Infantry Division (ID) Gen. Jorge Segovia, commander of the intelligence unit of the 2nd IDPA Lt. Col. Cristobal Zaragosa, 2nd IDPA Warden Major Manuel Tabion, commander of the 202nd Infantry Batallion (IB) Col. Aurelio Baladad, 16th IBPA commander Lt. Col. Jaime Abawag, and Rizal Provincial Police Office commander P/Supt. Marion Balolong.

Liberal added that while they had to go on a hunger strike, get punished in jail for holding noise barrage, and file numerous requests in court to assert hospital confinement for two of their pregnant colleagues Judilyn Oliveros and Mercy Castro in the Philippine General Hospital, GMA was graciously allowed by the court and authorities to be on “hospital arrest” without dropping a sweat.

While GMA is asserting her constitutional rights to life and travel, Liberal questioned her camp if “their boss ever thought of ‘constitutional rights’ when she had 43 health workers arbitrarily arrested, detained, and tortured under the hands of her military and police?”

“We have not forgotten.  GMA and her cohorts should be made accountable for even the minutest crimes she committed against us and thousands of others like us.  She should not be given special treatment by this government.”

Her aces may be well laid in the Supreme Court but we have the people’s movement behind us – the very force that make the wheels of history turn, Liberal added.#

Reference: Gary Liberal, R.N., Spokesperson, Morong 43
Mobile: (0922)5751689 / Telefax: (+632 929.8109)

PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
[email protected]
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Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties.  It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.

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