“As your Bishop, I encourage you all who will come for Mass to wear white…to express our desire for and commitment to peace, sanctity of life, human dignity and human rights and our collective call to end the killings, the Covid pandemic and abuse of our common home,” Alminaza said.
Frontline Defenders cited Tanzania where it investigated a spate of attacks on activists’ homes after it became known locally that they were housing LGBTIQ+ people or sex workers at risk of homelessness, hunger and police violence on the streets.
The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) said that while the Advent season has arrived, “unpeace” reigns as the Rodrigo Duterte government continues to consider human rights as a barrier to peace and order.
“In the face of the vicious attacks by Duterte’s military and police forces both in the cities and countryside, the CPP Central Committee is forced to dispense with the traditional holiday ceasefire this year,” the CPP said.
“I have no regrets with the choice I have made…and I will use this life to make my mark, together with other revolutionaries, in liberating the people from a rotten society. And should I die in the course of this fight, it is one death I know that is well worth bearing.” — Alvin Luque / Ka Joaquin Jacinto
“Ka Manny was known as a silent worker, industrious and disciplined with time, especially at work and during meetings,” the KMU said in a statement paying tribute to one of its co-founders.
While the police personnel were forming a line to block the protesters, an officer was heard shouting, “O, ang mga baril!” He did not order the firearms collected and brought back to the camp however. His troops just un-holstered the guns and tucked them in their pants where they remained throughout the rally.
Human rights and media groups are organizing an online rally at 7PM tonight to demand for Salem, Velasco’s and the unnamed activist’s release.
Prominent Davao activist Alvin Luque, who after many threats to his life by suspected State agents joined the New People’s Army (NPA), was killed by a composite military and police team in a raid at 1 AM this morning in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur.
“Duterte is lying about being offered a place in what he imagines as invitation to a coalition government. He could not even qualify as NDFP consultant when he offered himself to become one,” Jose Maria Sison said.
