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Romy Capulong, 1935-2012 – Numero Uno People’s Lawyer : Our loss, the people’s loss

ICHRP Secretariat
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Romy Capulong, 1935-2012 – Numero Uno People’s Lawyer : Our loss, the people’s loss

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), made up of generations of passionate lawyers and law students for the people deeply, mourns the passing of its much loved and admired founding chairman and chairman emeritus, Romeo T. Capulong at the age of 77.

Fondly known to us as RTC, he finally rested his case this evening, as if waiting until the conclusion of NUPL’s National Council meeting this afternoon on the ocassion of our fifth founding anniversary. He had battled a lingering illness and is survived by his wife Pia and three children.

His passion, selflessness, dedication, wisdom and vision inspired people’s attorneys and law students immensely, both here and abroad. As the first among us, he built an excellent example in both law and life for lawyers to follow.

RTC, son of a shared tenant famer, began to establish himself as an eminent legal scholar right out of the UP College of Law. He used his skills to defend the rights of the marginalized – the peasants, workers, urban poor, students, women, political prisoners, human rights defenders, peace advocates and other oppressed sectors of society – long before the idea of alternative lawyering secured a foothold in the Philippine legal system.

He represented the common man, the underdog and those who chose to fight back against an oppressive and exploitative system.

RTC’s devotion to his chosen clients was rooted in personal and professional solidarity. He handled public interest cases with the aim of effecting substantial changes, not simply quick relief. He took on suits litigation in behalf of basic sectors, driven by the desire to empower the people.

Our loss hence, is the people’s loss.

As a guiding pillar of NUPL, he ably and indefatigably guided – and still guides – us in our commitment to serve the poor, the exploited and the oppressed in our legal and metalegal struggles in different battlefields, goading us to push the parameters and serve the people.

His  ringing words will forever be etched in our hearts and minds: “After long years of experience as a people’s lawyer, I can honestly say it has been a treasured journey of self-fulfillment and rewarding achievement. I know it will be the same for all others who choose to tread this path.”

We fully concur beyond any shadow of doubt.

People’s lawyers like THE Romy Capulong never die. They just live in the work of the next generations of people’s lawyers.

Mabuhay si RTC! Ang manananggol ng bayan! Tuloy tayo na lumaban!

From martial law to Noynoy Aquino: After 40 long years, ML victims still invisible to the government —Karapatan

ICHRP Secretariat
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From martial law to Noynoy Aquino: After 40 long years, ML victims still invisible to the government —Karapatan

Press Statement, September 16, 2012 – “Many of the victims of human rights violations under the Marcos dictatorship have left us without seeing justice rendered, 40 long years after the imposition of martial law. Even the barest gesture of justice, the Marcos Victims Compensation bill, remains at the backburner. The governments that followed after the dictatorship, from Cory Aquino to her son Noynoy, showed tolerance and gave concessions to the Marcoses. They all should be held accountable for perpetuating the crimes of the Marcoses.”

Thus said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay, as 68-year old Nicolas Sanchez passed away early this week. Sanchez was a victim of torture, illegal arrest and detention during the infamous “sona” (zoning of communities) in Brgy. Tatalon, Quezon City in July 23, 1985. The “sona” was conducted by elements of the Marcos’ Philippine Constabulary, when residents resisted the demolition of their community to give way to the development plan of the Aranetas, in-laws of Marcos’ daughter, Irene. Two persons reportedly died during the incident, while many were arrested, including Sanchez.

Sanchez was brought to Camp Crame where he endured torture. He also witnessed the torture of several others, including that of Trinidad Herrera, leader of the urban poor group Zone One Tondo Organization (ZOTO) during martial law years. This year also saw the demise of martial law activists and victims such as Romy Luneta, Maita Gomez and Bong Barsoles.

Palabay asserted that “the immediate passage of a law that would acknowledge the State’s moral and legal obligation to render justice to the victims of the worst forms of rights violations, during Martial Law, will serve as a beacon and a reminder to everyone not end such violations and injustice.”

While Pres. Aquino, in his first two State of the Nation addresses called on both Houses of Congress to pass the Marcos Victims Compensation bill as an urgent measure, he seemed to have omitted this in his July 2012 SONA.

“What a callous act of ‘remembrance’ on the 40th year of the imposition of Martial Law! It is no wonder that the Marcoses continue to flaunt, with impunity, their political power as well as Imelda’s manic possessiveness of her jewels which, are testament to the plunder of the nation’s coffers during the Marcos dictatorship,” she said.

Karapatan, SELDA and Bayan will lead a protest action of Martial Law activists and various organizations on September 21 to strengthen the call for justice for victims of human rights violations from Martial Law up to Noynoy Aquino. #

Reference: Cristina Palabay, Secretary General, +639175003879
Angge Santos, Media Liaison, +63918-9790580

———————————————————————
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
———————————————————————
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.

On the 5th year of its founding and on the occasion of the 40th year of Martial Law: Rights Lawyers “fast for freedom” for political prisoners; Keeping political prisoners under lock after 40 years of dictatorship a “continuing shame”

ICHRP Secretariat
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On the 5th year of its founding and on the occasion of the 40th year of Martial Law: Rights Lawyers “fast for freedom” for political prisoners; Keeping political prisoners under lock after 40 years of dictatorship a “continuing shame”

PRESS STATEMENT, 14 September 2012 – Hundreds of  human rights lawyers and law students of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) today conducted a nationwide simultaneous sympathy “fast for freedom” in solidarity with Philippine political prisoners.  NUPL, the country’s largest human rights lawyers’ group, called for the release, and/or the general, omnibus and unconditional amnesty of 385 political prisoners.

Forty years after Martial Law, it is anomalous and anachronistic to have political prisoners languishing in different jails all over the country. It is as if we are living in a time warp and have only gone from one form of state repression or intolerance to another.  A number of these political prisoners are NUPL’s direct clients and many are elderly, sick and women.

On the occasion of our 5th founding anniversary with a whole day fast, we shall deny ourselves  food, but this is a small sacrifice and symbolic gesture to demonstrate against the government denial of political prisoners their freedom.  The circumstances and even our frustrations compel us to not simply defend our clients, we stand by them as advocates in seeking truth and justice.

The NUPL expects close to 300 lawyers and 200 law students and paralegals in its 18 regional and provincial bodies/chapters to observe the fasting and to conduct jail visits in their own localities.

This trooping to jails across the country throws down the challenge to the Aquino administration to ensure that accountability and justice are delivered; rather than stand by and allow those falsely accused to suffer in prison.

The NUPL particularly notes that a President – who has all the powers at his disposal — cannot be the son of a father who was the foremost political detainee who was persecuted and has endured hardships  in jail and of a mother who has unconditionally released all political prisoners, and yet keep hundreds of political dissenters and innocent victims of state repression up to this time. It does not only not make sense, it is unacceptable, insensitive and callous. It is a continuing shame.

In concurrent jail visits across the country, NUPL highlighted the plight of political prisoners. In the conduct of its advocacy, NUPL has discovered that the alleged acts of prisoners are political in nature.  Only a slim minority of political detainees have been charged with rebellion.  In most cases, suspected political offenders are improperly charged with non-bailable ordinary crimes

The NUPL has assessed that most of these are actually improper, false or fabricated charges that further persecute these detainees, degrade their stature, and mock the basic rules of evidence. This is a travesty of justice on top of the multifarious violations of their rights including torture and harassment.

Various International lawyers groups from Belgium, Canada, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Turkey,  the United Kingdom, the United States as well as from the multi-country International Association of Democratic Lawyers and the International Association of People’s Lawyers have supported the NUPL sympathy fasting and joined calls for the release of the political prisoners, castigating the present government for such abomination at this age and time.

Indeed, when the lawyers start to take their cause outside the courtroom and into the streets and in the jails and elsewhere, the government must pause and take stock of things to come, sooner or later. By starting to put up the ante, the lawyers who are at the forefront of the court battles and part of the mass struggles  are saying that the traditional formulaic legal remedies under a supposed democracy have failed their clients, and ultimately, the people. #

Reference: Atty. Edre U. Olalia, NUPL Secretary General, +639175113373

Lawyer of Palparan’s co-accused Osorio resorts to worn out tactics — Karapatan

ICHRP Secretariat
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Lawyer of Palparan’s co-accused Osorio resorts to worn out tactics — Karapatan

PRESS STATEMENT, September 11, 2012 – “The lawyer of Sgt. Edgardo Osorio, failing to discredit at yesterday’s hearing the testimony of witness Wilfredo Ramos, tried to turn the table around by saying that the witness is testifying only because he is a member of Karapatan. He sounded so much like Palparan, who resorts to blaming the victims of human rights violations to justify the atrocities he committed against them,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan.

Atty. Jose Cruz called the witness “biased” after Ramos recounted what he saw when the two UP students, Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, along with farmer Manuel Merino, were abducted on June 26, 2006 in Bgy. San Miguel , Hagonoy, Bulacan.  Ramos and his father were hogtied and threatened in the incident. Ramos, who was only 14 years old at that time of the abduction, identified Osorio as one of those who abducted the students and Merino, when the latter accompanied Gen. Palparan during the preliminary investigation at the Department of Justice.

“The issue is not whether Ramos is a member of Karapatan or not. The fact is, Ramos was able to stand by and was consistent with his earlier testimonies, as well as, what was written in his affidavit while he was being cross-examined by Atty. Cruz. He was firm and calm, despite the harrowing experience he and his family encountered. His testimony bolsters the charges against Osorio, Palparan and the others,” Palabay said.

During the hearing, Ramos responded to Atty. Cruz’s insinuations by saying “Kahit hindi po ako miyembro ng Karapatan, gagawin ko pa rin po ito para mabigyan ng katarungan ang nangyari kay Sherlyn at Karen, at mga biktima ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao.”

Palabay added that, “it is no use for Palparan, et al to attempt to discredit the witnesses to the kidnapping and serious illegal detention case because they speak the truth, they have nothing to hide and they want justice not only for Karen and Sherlyn, but also for themselves and their families who are  continuously violated by the military. They should instead face the court and tell the truth, especially on the whereabouts of Palparan.” ###

Reference: Cristina “Tinay” Palabay, Secretary General, 0917-5003879
Angge Santos, Media Liaison, 0918-9790580

———————————————————————
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
———————————————————————
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.

From martial law to Ninoy Aquino: hamletting and forced evacuation remain,Martial Law-style military operations drive away rural folks from their homes—Karapatan

ICHRP Secretariat
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From martial law to Ninoy Aquino: hamletting and forced evacuation remain,Martial Law-style military operations drive away rural folks from their homes—Karapatan

Press Statement, September 11, 2012 – Karapatan today held a picket at the Times St. residence of Noynoy Aquino to call the attention of the government on the “Martial Law-style military operations especially in the rural areas and on the plight of the evacuees such as those from the Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon Province who left their homes because of these operations.”

Karapatan secretary general, Cristina Palabay said, “There are now eight military battalions in Bondoc Peninsula, something that has never happened before, even during the time of martial law.” Karapatan has documented several cases of threats and harassment against residents in the area, including those who are members of farmers’ organizations.

The protest action coincided with the birthday of the late Ferdinand Marcos, whose reign was marked by tyranny and terror that resulted to countless human rights violations. “With evacuations going on in many parts of the country such as in the Caraga region, in Bukidnon, and in Bondoc Peninsula, we believe that the Marcos era never left us after martial law. The essential elements of Marcos’ hamletting and forced evacuation happened during Cory Aquino’s time and the succeeding presidents after her; and it is still happening now,” Palabay added.

Quoting a study entitled IMPACT OF MILITARIZATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE PHILIPPINES [1], a document that traced the human rights violations during martial law, Palabay said that “reading through the text that described the hamletting and forced evacuation during the martial law years is like listening to the woes of the people in the rural areas who are currently displaced because of military operations in rural communities. Nothing changed.”

“By sowing fear through threats and by manifest violence, residents were made to feel that they had no other recourse but to evacuate and seek refuge in other areas… Mass evacuations…were triggered by harassment and intimidation of the residents by the military; intensified military operations like bombings and strafings; clashes between the guerrillas and government troops; and violent incidents like massacres or ‘salvagings’.

Palabay added that, “it is also significant to note that as in the martial law days, intense military operations are meant to drive people away from their lands. It preceded the entry of transnational corporations and agribusiness plantations or government projects such as dams. These days, military operations are similarly linked with the entry or expansion of mining operations by foreign big business as in the case of the Caraga region, the dams in Bukidnon, transformation of hacienda’s into agri-business in Bondoc Peninsula, and other projects related to Aquino’s Public-Private Partnership.”

Karapatan said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, through the U.S.-guided Oplan Bayanihan, attempts to sow terror in the communities that range from harassment and intimidation to strafing and bombings “that are no different from the Marcos era.”

Karapatan called for the immediate pullout of the military troops from the communities and an end to Oplan Bayanihan. ###

Reference:Cristina “Tinay” Palabay, Secretary General, 0917-5003879
Angge Santos, Media Liaison, 0918-9790580

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