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Free the 43 health workers (Morong 43)

ICHRP Secretariat
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On February 6, 2010, 43 health workers taking part in the First Responders Training were illegally arrested by combined elements from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police in Morong, Rizal.

The health workers, who became known as the “Morong 43”, included two doctors, a nurse, two midwives, and volunteer community health workers. At the time of their arrest, they were training for medical interventions in far flung areas during times of disasters. The training was sponsored by Community Medicine Foundation (COMMED) and Council for Health and Development (CHD), two organizations known for community health work.

Using a defective search warrant, the illegal raid was conducted in gross violations of standard procedures and basic human rights. The health workers were not informed of the reasons for their arrest and for fi ve days, were denied their right to counsel even during the inquest proceedings.

The military falsely accused the health workers of being members of the New Peoples Army of the Communist Party of the Philippines, allegedly of conducting a bomb making training. During their detention in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, the military committed various atrocities, including prolonged psychological, physical, torture and sexual harassment. As such, the military was able to coerce fi ve health workers to become “state witnesses” and turn against their colleagues.

The 43 health workers did not get justice under the Arroyo government. At present, the 38 are still detained at Camp Bagong Diwa while waiting for the Supreme Court of the Philippines to act on their appeal. The legal battle and mass actions will continue until justice is fi nally served to the 43 health workers.

As an act of goodwill we appeal to president-elect Benigno Aquino III to uphold and respect human rights and free the 43 health workers and all political prisoners.

We call on all sectors of society, colleagues in the health professions, lawyers, lawmakers, political leaders across party lines, religious formations, human rights advocates, artists, and advocates and benefi ciaries of community-based health programs to join the campaign to free the 43.

We call on various national and international organizations to support the campaign, undertake advocacy work, mobilizations and call on the new administration to free the 43 health workers.

Calls and Demands

  • We demand the immediate release of the Morong 43 and the dismissal of all charges against them!
  • We demand an end to the systematic violation of human rights and suppression of civil liberties, the utter disregard to due process, and the extrajudicial killings. we demand that all perpetrators to be brought to justice!
  • We call on all freedom-loving people to make a stand for human rights and condemn in the strongest terms the human rights violations perpetrated with impunity by the Philippine government!

What you can do:

1. Join and support the campaign activities
2. Send letters, statements calling for their release to Philippine government  institutions
3. Attend, organize for a, discussion groups and other educational activities
4. Provide support services for the detainees and their families
5. Sign up for the on-line petition
6. Do lobby work
7. Raise funds for the defense of Morong 43

Financial donations can be placed in:

Account name:
COUNCIL FOR HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Philippine National Bank
Peso Savings Account # 219-8303219
Timog Branch
Timog Avenue,
Quezon City, Philippines

Bank of Philippine Islands
US$ Account # 3144 00 5391
swift code BOPIPHMM
Kamuning Branch
Tomas Morato Avenue,
Quezon City, Philippines

FREE THE 43 HEALTH WORKERS
#35 Examiner St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City
Telefax: (+632) 929-8109
Cellphone #: 0922-499-6237
EMail: freethe43@yahoo.com
Blog: http://freethehealthworkers.blogspot.com
Online Petition: http://petitiononline.com/FreeD43/petition.html

CIVICUS calls for release of Morong 43

ICHRP Secretariat
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Nine months have passed since the illegal arrest of 43 innocent health care workers on 6 February 2010 by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). These doctors, nurses and midwives now known to human rights defenders across the world as the “Morong 43” were arrested while participating in a one week First Responders Training, sponsored by the Community Medicine Foundation, Inc. and the Council for Health and Development at the farm of Dr. Melecia Velmonte located in Bgy Maybangcal, Morong, Rizal. Dr. Velmonte is a respected infectious disease specialist as well as a consultant at the Philippine General Hospital and her farm is a regular venue for medical health trainings that attract community workers, hospital staff and academicians.

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One activist killed per week in Aquino’s time — Bayan

ICHRP Secretariat
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MANILA, Philippines—Militant group Bayan (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan) on Monday slammed the Aquino administration for the continued rise of extrajudicial killings, several days after the 22nd activist was shot and killed in the current regime.

“That is one EJK a week. The trend is truly alarming. There has been no let-up in the cases of extrajudicial killings even under the Aquino administration,” said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr.

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Call for solidarity action against the killing union leader Carlo Rodriguez

ICHRP Secretariat
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In behalf of our affiliate unions, associations, federations and regional chapters and formations, COURAGE is strongly condemning the brutal killing of our union leader, Carlo Rodriguez, President of Nagkakaisang Lakas Manggagawa ng Calamba Water District, an affiliate of Water System Employees Response (WATER) and an officer of COURAGE Southern Tagalog.

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Karapatan, COURAGE condemn newest EJK in Southern Tagalog

ICHRP Secretariat
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Sectoral groups led by the human rights alliance KARAPATAN-Southern Tagalog (ST) held an indignation rally today, 8AM at Crossing Calamba City to condemn the latest case of extrajudicial killings (EJK) under the Aquino regime.

Carlo “Caloy” Rodriguez, 41 years old, was gunned down by motorcycle-riding men around 5:30PM yesterday at Brgy. Halang, Calamba. Rodriguez, a long time union leader, is the president of Lakas ng Manggagawa ng Calamba Water District and a member of the militant public sector organization COURAGE (Confederation and Unity of Government Employees)-ST. His death brings the number of EJK victims in the country under the Aquino administration to 22, and 7th in the ST region.

Some 100 protesters from various sectors joined the protest action, carrying with them placards calling for the immediate justice to Rodriguez’ killing. They were later joined in by members of COURAGE and leaders from Metro Manila.

Earlier, a fact finding mission (FFM) was conducted to document the killing. Data from the FFM showed that Rodriguez, who suffered 4 gunshot wounds, was on his way home when two motorcycles followed him along Brgy. Halang, Calamba, fronting Coca-Cola plant. Initial reports revealed that the gunmen were aboard a Honda Wave motorcycle.

Glen Malabanan, Secretary General of KARAPATAN-ST, said that this latest attack on union leaders manifests that the Aquino administration is trudging the same bloody path as that of his predecessor—former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Aquino is no different from the previous regime where scores of cases of extrajudicial killings were accounted under the counter-insurgency program OPLAN BANTAY LAYA 2 which was extended by Aquino until January 2011”, Malabanan said. “OBL has been targeting political activists, attacking everyone the government considers as “leftist,” she added.

Rodriguez is the second activist killed in the Southern Tagalog region in a span of six days.

Last November 7, Ireneo Rodriguez, a farmer and member of the Samahan ng mga Magbubukid sa Batangas (SAMBAT) was shot dead in Balayan Town in Batangas by two masked men who were also riding a motorcycle.

“Unless his government scraps OBL, we fear the killings and human rights violations will continue,” Malabanan said. ###

Reference:  GLEN MALABANAN,

Secretary General, KARAPATAN-ST

karapatan.st@gmail.com

November 13, 2010

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