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Invitation to “Run for your Life 2 (This is not a fun run)” June 22, 4:00PM, UP Acad Oval, UP Diliman

ICHRP Secretariat
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Invitation to “Run for your Life 2 (This is not a fun run)” June 22, 4:00PM, UP Acad Oval, UP Diliman

Dear friends and colleagues,

This June , as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture will be commemorated on the 26th, UP Kilos Na!, Karapatan, All-UP Workers Alliance  and Tanggulan Youth Network are inviting you to join us in speaking against the unspeakable, to stand against torture and all forms of human rights violations.

Torture continues to be employed by the state, to break the spirit, dignity and will of those it had deemed “enemies of the state.” This can be attested to by many political detainees and survivors of abduction who were subjected to cruel and inhumane acts by state security forces. Many had the determination and will to get over the physical and mental pain of their experience; still many need support for their continued healing.

Thousands who were disappeared were also probably tortured, while their families continue to be tormented with the uncertainty of their fate. To date, under the Aquino administration, there are already 96 victims of torture and 76 victims of extrajudicial killings, while 363 political prisoners continue to languish in detention centers. Nine have been forcibly disappeared.

Although the Philippines is a signatory to international human rights instruments such as the Convention against Torture, state security forces continue the use of torture and at the very least tolerates it, as none have been punished for violating the Anti-Torture Law.

This June, the human rights community will also commemorate the abduction of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño six years ago. While their mothers have continued their search for justice when they filed criminal charges against Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. and his band of torturers, Palparan continues to evade the warrant of arrest issued against him amid the Aquino government’s lackluster efforts to arrest him. Palparan personifies the prevalent state of impunity in the country.

We would like to enjoin you to give tribute to the victims of torture and all rights abuses, and give voice to the call for justice and to end torture. We invite you to join us in “Run for your Life 2 (This is not a fun run),” an activity that aims to raise public awareness about torture, extrajudicial killings, the plight of political prisoners, human rights violations and the climate of impunity.

This will be the second time that we will lead this kind of activity, in coordination with other concerned organizations; the first was in 2011, dubbed “Run for your Life (This is not a fun run)”, and was participated in by Sunday joggers, runners and non-runners, bloggers, human rights activists, mainstream and alternative media and other concerned citizens. It was part of the campaign against torture and was held on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

This time, it will be a 4.4 kilometer run/walk/jog, to be held on June 22, 2012, Friday, from 4:00 to 6:30pm, around the tree-lined Academic Oval in UP Diliman.

Justice to all victims of Torture!
Stop Enforced disappearances! Surface the victims now!
Justice to all victims of human rights violations!
End impunity in the Philippines!
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“Run for your Life 2 (This is not a fun run)” is also a part of the series of activities to commemorate the abduction of Empeño and Cadapan, who was also a sprinter/triathlete. To put a “twist” to the usual, there will be a “prison cell,” and participants will be encouraged to keep their eyes open for “Jovito Palparan”, whom they must capture by virtue of citizen’s arrest. The real Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. is a fugitive who remains scot-free after he was served a warrant of arrest for kidnapping and illegal detention of Karen and Sherlyn. The run will also serve as a fundraising event to generate financial support for the ongoing legal cases against Palparan and all human rights violators, so donations for the run are very welcome. A short program will be held at the end of the 4.4K run, at the foot of the AS steps. We hope that you can join us on the 22nd. Please contact us through (00632) 4354146 (Karapatan Office). Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,

(sgd)Prof. Sarah Raymundo (UP Kilos Na!)
(sgd) Cristina Palabay (Spokesperson, Karapatan)
(sgd) Felix Pariñas (All UP Workers Alliance)
(sgd) Gidget Estrella  (Convenor, Tanggulan Youth Network)

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PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
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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

Expedite resumption of talks, release political prisoners – Karapatan

ICHRP Secretariat
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Expedite resumption of talks, release political prisoners – Karapatan

Karapatan Public Info Desk, Media Release, June 19, 2012 – “We welcome the June 16 joint statement of the NDF and the GPH peace panels saying that both agreed to ‘continue meaningful discussions prior to formal talks’. It is a ray of optimism for the NDFP consultants, staff and all the political prisoners that they will soon be free, “ enthuses Marie Hilao Enriquez, chairperson of Karapatan.

In the said joint statement, the NDF raised the issue of the “respect for and compliance with the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG)” and the release of NDFP consultants and other JASIG-protected persons such as Allan Jazmines, Tirso Alcantara, Eduardo Serrano, Ramon Patriarca, and 10 others.

The statement is timely as deteriorating prison conditions, restrictive policies on visits to political prisoners are imposed by the military and prison official as in the case of Tirso “Ka Bart” Alcantara. On June 16, Atty. Popanes of the Judge Advocate General’s Office (JAGO) denied Alcantara’s visitors, including Karapatan staff, citing a need for a permit on the basis of RA 7438. RA 7438 specifically outlines the rights of a detained person awaiting trial. Only Alcantara’s legal counsels were allowed to see Alcantara.

After almost one year and a half in prison, Alcantara remains in solitary confinement in Fort Bonifacio, with deteriorating health condition, deprived of sunning, served with filthy food ration (with dirt, trash, broken pieces of glass and fecal matter); and is given very limited access to relatives, lawyers, friends and supporters. Alcantara is consultant to the National Democratic Front (NDF) peace negotiating panel.

Alcantara’s prison condition is contained in a sworn statement before his legal counsels from the Public Interest Law Center (PILC) during their visit on June 16. Alcantara recounted that he was given water that tasted like ‘menthol’ and smelled like chemical that made him vomit and suffer from loose bowel movement. There was also a woman who, according to Alcantara, pretended to be a doctor; took his blood samples while he was blindfolded and gave him medicine as supposedly a prescription after his ECG. The medicine, he said, caused him nausea, palpitations, terrible pain on his neck. It was later learned that the ECG results were not yet processed and that the woman ‘doctor’ was a nurse.

The political prisoners, said Hilao-Enriquez, experience ill-treatment inside prison. Karapatan cited the situation of Ramon Patriarca, another detained NDFP consultant who was forcibly transferred from the Danao Provincial Jail, a regular detention facility, to the AFP Central Command in Cebu. Patriarca had twice went on hunger strike but was still refused transfer to the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Hilao-Enriquez said, “Alcantara and Patriarca are both inside military camps when they should be, at the very least, in a civilian facility. All of them are subjected to unreasonable prison rules on visitation, sunning, access to medical practitioners of their choice that deny their rights as prisoners.”

Karapatan expressed its concern on the growing pattern of repression of the political prisoners’ rights as the Aquino administration continues its deceptive mantra of being a pro-human rights president while giving full leeway to the military and state security forces to continue violating the rights of the people.

Hilao-Enriquez concluded that, “as the GPH and the NDF prepares for the resumption of talks, we reiterate our call to release all political prisoners, including the 14 NDF consultants. In fact, the NDF consultants should not be inside prison because they are JASIG-protected and should therefore be taking part in the talks. But after more than a year, the GPH has not acted on its own commitment to work for their release but has in fact treated the issue of the release of political prisoners as an obstacle, rather than as a building block, to a meaningful resumption of the peace talks.” ###

Reference: Marie Hilao Enrique, Chairperson, +63917-5616800
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

Denial of bids to junk damages suits against Arroyo for rights violations paves the way for confirming truth and accountability in court

ICHRP Secretariat
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Denial of bids to junk damages suits against Arroyo for rights violations paves the way for confirming truth and accountability in court

Press Release: 18 June 2012 – The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), counsel of several human rights victims today noted  a significant initial victory in the efforts to stop impunity – a trial judge has kept former President Gloria Arroyo and her top military and police officials as defendants in a damages case filed by the Morong 43 health workers.

“This gives somehow a flicker of hope to all rights victims who have been waiting for justice for the longest time. This ruling should encourage other victims to come forth, present their valid claims and can be a precedent in future cases against state violators,” said NUPL secretary-general Atty. Edre U. Olalia.

Judge Ma. Luisa Padilla of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 226 has recently denied motions by Arroyo and former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado and Gen. Delfin Bangit, who claimed they had no direct participation in the incident, to dismiss the civil action brought by the Morong 43. Earlier, a similar motion to dismiss a damages suit filed by members of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines against Arroyo was denied by QC RTC Branch 224 under Judge Marilyn Villardon.

“All of the defendants have in one way or another, enabled the policy of picking up civilians, sowing terror, threatening dissidents, torturing, abducting  and even killing political activists in the guise of ‘anti-insurgency’. We are relieved that the Court is finally allowing that this well-known fact be established judicially, as this is the core of countercharges against state-backed human rights violations,” said Atty. Olalia.

The Morong 43 civil case filed way back in April 2011 will have to proceed to mediation proceedings on 6 July 2012. Other defendants are former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, former 2nd Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Jorge Segovia, Col. Cristobal Zaragosa, Maj. Manuel Tabion, Gen. Aurelio Baladad, Lt. Col. Jaime Abawag, Supt. Marion Balolong and Supt. Allan Nubleza. Segovia, Zaragoza and Baladad have since been promoted despite a string of rights violations cases against them. The presence of parties is mandatory in mediation proceedings.

Six of the Morong 43, a group of doctors, nurses and health workers wrongly detained for ten months in 2010, are seeking P15 million in total damages from their captors, the AFP leadership, and the former president for illegally arresting them, implementing the faulty search warrant, and inflicting harm and  torture. They have also filed a criminal complaint for torture against the same defendants before the Department of Justice last May.

Mrs. Arroyo told the Court that the complaint was one “against the Philippine Government’s implementation of its national security plan” and not specifically against her. She claimed that there was no act, duty or omission that could be pinned to her, and that her role in the entire affair was “incidental”. The two generals, meanwhile, said that they held no specific control over the joint army and police unit that arrested the Morong 43.

“While the Court believes that Arroyo cannot simply escape accountability by desperately citing incongruous arguments, still we are a long way from justice,” said Atty. Olalia.

The generals accused the plaintiffs of forum-shopping since a similar case before the Commission on Human Rights is pending, but the Court said that the natures of the suits and the tribunals are dissimilar.

The NUPL is also counsel of the mothers of missing university students Sherillyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno in the criminal case against fugitive Gen. Jovito Palparan et. al.,  and torture and disappearance survivors farmer Raymond Manalo and Fil-Am activist Melissa Roxas. It has recently accepted the request to be co-counsel in the criminal case for the disappearance of farmer-activist Jonas Burgos.#

Reference: Atty. Edre U. Olalia, NUPL Secretary General, +639175113373
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National Secretariat
National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers(NUPL)
3F Erythrina Bldg., Maaralin corner Matatag Sts. Central District,Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.No.920-6660,Telefax No. 927- 2812
Email addresses:nupl2007@gmail.com and nuplphilippines@yahoo.com
“Visit the NUPL  at http://www.nupl.net/

By calling yourselves the ‘people’s lawyer,’ you have made a remarkable choice. You decided not to remain in the sidelines. Where human rights are assaulted, you have chosen to sacrifice the comfort of the fence for the dangers of the battlefield. But only those who choose to fight on the battlefield live beyond irrelevance.”  Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, in his message to the NUPL Founding Congress,Sept. 15, 2007

European Parliament supports calls from concerned NGOs and people’s organizations to end impunity in the Philippines now

ICHRP Secretariat
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European Parliament supports calls from concerned NGOs and people’s organizations to end impunity in the Philippines now
The Philippine UPR Watch, after successfully lobbying different country missions in the recently concluded Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Philippines in Geneva, proceeded to meet with representatives of the Sub-committee on Human Rights of the European Parliament (DROI) in Brussels, Belgium (06 June 2012).

 

DROI Vice Chairperson Andrzej Grzyb, after listening to the presentations of Marie Hilao-Enriquez (KARAPATAN Chairperson and co-head of the Philippine UPR Watch delegation), Jacquiline Ruiz (Children's Rehabilitation Center), Beverly Longid (Katribu President and Cordillera People Alliance representative to the UPR Watch), and Bai Ali Indayla (KAWAGIB and Moro-Christian People's Alliance representative to the UPR Watch), personally committed to put the Philippines in the agenda of the sub-committee, and looks forward to continuing dialogue and exchange of views regarding the specific issues raised

 

*The Philippine UPR Watch is an alliance of non-government organizations in the Philippines committed to the monitoring, documenting and reporting of the state of compliance of the government of the Philippines to human rights standards. Its member organizations comprising of: Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights), Hustisya!, Desaparecidos, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or BAYAN (New Patriotic Alliance), IBON Foundation, Children’s Rehabilitation Center, Moro-Christian People’s Alliance, United Church of Christ of the Philippines, Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan sa Pilipinas (National Alliance of Indigenous Peoples’Organization in the Philippines), Promotion of Church People’s Response, Ramento Project for Rights Defenders, Cordillera People’s Alliance, Initiatives for Peace in Mindanao and the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, is committed  to advance, protect and defend human rights in the country

Please find in the links below, resolutions filed and adopted by members of the European Parliament, calling for an end to impunity in the Philippines:

Final text adopted 14 June: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&reference=P7-TA-2012-0264&language=EN

Motion initiated by of the Verts/ALE groep and DROI Chairperson Barbara Lochbihler:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+MOTION+B7-2012-0331+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN
Joint motion with other political parties/MEPs: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=P7-RC-2012-0308&language=EN

 

 

New Chief Justice must have the people’s trust

ICHRP Secretariat
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New Chief Justice must have the people’s trust

Press Statement: June 16, 2012 – Amidst the beeline for the post and the impending closure of nominations, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL, a nationwide group of human rights lawyers, reiterated that  the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines must have the trust of the people.

“Whether young or senior, man or woman, insider or outsider, old hand or upstart, what really matters ultimately is that the new Chief Justice should be able to inspire the trust, confidence and respect of the bar, the bench and most importantly, the general public that has been cynical and frustrated with our justice system for the longest time,” said NUPL secretary-general Atty. Edre U. Olalia. NUPL emphasized that the new Chief Justice must be pro-people and the undisputed champion of human rights.

NUPL noted that the Chief Justice is the only head of a branch of government that is appointed by one person. The head of the Executive, the President, is elected at large, while the heads of the Legislative, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House, are selected by their peers.

“One clear lesson from previous administrations is the danger a political and politicized court poses to our democracy. A Chief Justice, and worse, a Supreme Court that caters to personal or partisan rather than public interests chips away at the foundations of social equality and weakens social justice,” Atty. Olalia added.

“The new Chief Justice must not be a sycophant at any time. He or she should not be or turn out to be an adjunct of the Palace serving a new master this time. To be truly independent, the blurring lines of separation of powers must be rectified even as he or she must not be oblivious to social realities and the public interest.”

NUPL also said that those groveling and salivating for the position should ipso facto be disqualified outright. “We reiterate that we are looking for a dignified statesman, not a politician. Candidates for the position must have unassailable character, and pass the stern standards already set by law,” said Atty. Olalia. Section 7 (1) of Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution cites the character qualifications of a Justice of the Supreme Court: competent, independent, and with integrity and probity. In the process of confronting deep-seated problems with the legal system, the new Chief Justice is further expected to display intellectual prowess and conscientious scholarship.

He or she must have the necessary grit and determination to effect immediate reforms, including, among others: upholding and applying consistently the doctrine of political offenses by enjoining the charging of proper crimes or striking down the filing of false charges; stopping the abusive practice of mechanical substitution of real names for generic John/Jane Does in informations and warrants of arrest, and dismissing cases resulting from this; abandoning or reversing the Marcosian doctrine Ilagan v. Enrile that will make the writ of habeas corpus effective and useful; reforming and revising the remedy of the writ of amparo to foreclose obstacles and loopholes to its affectivity ; expediting the resolution of cases against human rights violators; studying the creation of special human rights courts to exclusively try and dispose of civil and criminal cases of human rights violations and implementing a special procedure for such purpose to make legal remedies simple, expeditious and accessible; and addressing the slow grind and unduly prolonged and cumbersome legal process.

In closing, the NUPL said “The Supreme Court cannot be the instrument of those who flout, bend, or violate the law. It cannot be the fortress of the powerful and the mighty. Instead the Supreme Court, under a Chief Justice that has moral authority, must give justice in equitable measures, and with particular consideration for the poor and underprivileged, dispelling the jaded yet grounded view that those who have less in live actually have lesser in law.#

Reference: Atty. Edre U. Olalia, NUPL Secretary General, 09175113373

National Secretariat
National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers(NUPL)
3F Erythrina Bldg., Maaralin corner Matatag Sts. Central District,Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.No.920-6660,Telefax No. 927- 2812
Email addresses:nupl2007@gmail.com and nuplphilippines@yahoo.com
“Visit the NUPL  at http://www.nupl.net/

By calling yourselves the ‘people’s lawyer,’ you have made a remarkable choice. You decided not to remain in the sidelines. Where human rights are assaulted, you have chosen to sacrifice the comfort of the fence for the dangers of the battlefield. But only those who choose to fight on the battlefield live beyond irrelevance.”  Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, in his message to the NUPL Founding Congress,Sept. 15, 2007

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