“Ang mga gurong ito, kasama si Cong. France at si Ka Satur, ay tumutulong sa amin at taus-puso kaming nagpapasalamat sa kanila dahil umunlad ang aming komunidad. At lagi naming tinitingnan na ito ang pag-asa na makakamit namin, ang malayang kinabukasan sa mga susunod na henerasyon. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit kami humingi ng tulong upang makapagtayo ng mga paaralan dahil ito ang wala sa amin at ipinagkait ng gubyerno sa amin.”
“Hindi pwedeng ang Pilipinas ay lumuhod sa US ngayon sa ilalim ni Marcos, matapos lumuhod si Duterte sa Tsina. Dapat ang ating gobyerno ay hindi maka-Amerikano, hindi maka-Tsino, kundi maka-Pilipino.”
“The US, like China, also wants to control the oil and gas resources of the South China Sea for its energy needs. We cannot rely on the US as that would be tantamount to taking out one bully, but allowing another bully to come in.”
“As usual, bumagsak na naman ang napakaraming planta ng kuryente ngayong napaka-init at kailangang-kailangan ng kuryente ng mga tao. ‘Di mo tuloy masisi ang mga consumer na isiping sinasadya ito ng mga generation companies para sumirit pataas ang presyo ng kuryente.”
Sa sobrang taas ng heat index ngayong panahon ng climate change, hindi talaga ligtas para sa mga teacher at estudyante ang mag-klase sa mga mala-pugon nilang classroom.
“The NTF-ELCAC was established by the previous administration six years ago for a different context. It does not take into account ongoing prospects for peace negotiations. I therefore recommend that the Task Force be abolished.”
“Second, I was pleased to hear that the National Human Rights Commission has embarked on consultations to help define the problem with a view to proposing legislation to define and prevent it. I encourage the Commission to prioritize the project. Needless to say, the law should be in line with international obligations, including the right to freedom of expression and reparations for victims.” —UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan (February 2, 2024)
“First, the government must make it clear to its officials and the public that it does not encourage, approve or condone ‘red tagging.’ I strongly recommend an Executive Order denouncing the practice and setting out measures that discourage, disincentivise and discipline those who violate the policy.”
“The dangers are evident. The vilification has often been followed by threats, unlawful surveillance, attacks, or even unlawful killing. It intimidates and chills freedom of expression, and suppresses legitimate activism, journalism, debate and criticism which are part and parcel of freedom of expression.”
“While the government has reassured me that it does not encourage or endorse it, there is clear evidence that ‘red tagging’ and ‘terror tagging’ as some persons have called them, are being practiced by security forces as part of their counter-terrorism strategy. Furthermore, it is also clear that such vilification is not only aimed at those who are actually associated with proscribed or listed organizations as some officials claim, it is also used to target legitimate activists and activities, sowing distrust between the State, communities and civil society.”
