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Suspected AFP and PNP agents harass human rights lawyer

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A lawyers’ group condemned the harassment of one of its members by suspected Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel in Caloocan City yesterday.

In a statement, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) said Atty. V.J. Topacio was tailgated by a white Toyota Revo vehicle and a motorcycle from a hearing at the Caloocan City Prosecutor’s Office where he represented Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Metro Manila campaign officer Ferdinand Castillo.

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Peace advocates hound AFP chief of staff Eduardo Año

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Peace advocates and human rights defenders hounded Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Eduardo Año at the Ateneo de Manila University this morning, recalling his record of human rights violations.

Año delivered a lecture at the Jesuit university on protecting the people and the State, which the rally participants said is ironic as the general is at the forefront of implementing the Duterte government’s ongoing all-out war that victimizes civilian communities throughout the country.

Año had been charged with masterminding the abduction and enforced disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos, among other human rights violations. Read more

AFP-PNP arrest and torture activist

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AN activist from Metro Manila was arrested and tortured by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) over what human rights group Karapatan said are false charges.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Metro Manila campaign officer Ferdinand Castillo, 57, was arrested last February 12 in Sta. Quiteria, Caloocan by elements of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the Intelligence Service Group of the Philippine and the Intelligence Service of the AFP (ISAFP) for charges of murder and attempted murder. Read more

Black Friday protest vs impunity held at Camp Crame

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A multi-sectoral rally was held at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame to protest the killings in the Duterte government’s “war on drugs,” citing the brazenness by which the crimes were committed, mostly among the urban poor residents.

Rights group Karapatan said Pres. Duterte is “partly to blame for this brutality as he condones the police actions done in the name of his ‘war on drugs.”

The protesters called on the government to instead focus its attention to ‘economic reforms that would address poverty and violence”, which are among the reasons why the drug problem persists. (Video by Divine C. Miranda) Read more

Karapatan: Attacks to sabotage talks?

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ROME, Italy—The death of two activists and a New People’s Army (NPA) fighter in the Philippines since the ongoing round of formal talks began last January 19 may be the work of peace saboteurs, a human rights group said.

“Are these attacks efforts to sabotage the peace talks?” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay asked in reaction to the killing of peasant leader Alexander Ceballos in Murcia, Negros Occidental and Veronico Lapsay Delamente in Claver, Surigao del Norte last January 20 as well as the military operation that killed an NPA fighter in Makilala, North Cotabato last January 21.

“The killing of Ceballos and Delamente are cases of human rights violations while the military operation in Makilala is a violation of the reciprocal ceasefire agreements,” Palabay said.

Ceballos, a leader of the National Federation of Sugar Workers, was gunned down in his home in Barangay Pandan Silos, Murcia, Negros Occidental by a masked goon reportedly in the employ of former Don Salvador Benedicto town mayor Nehemias dela Cruz.

Delamente, a Mamanwa leader and member of Kahugpungan sa Lumadnong mga Organisasyon (Kasalo), was shot by unknown assailants in Punta Naga, Barangay Cagdianao and later died at a Surigao City hospital. He previously reported receiving death threats because of his anti-mining activities, Kasalo said.

Delamente was also the Katribu Party provincial coordinator since 2010.

In Makilala, 39th Infantry Battallion soldiers of the Philippine Army pursued an NPA unit in Barangay Biangan that resulted in an hour long gunfight and the death of a Red fighter, 33-year old Rojet Ranara.

Eight soldiers were also killed, NPA-Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command Spokesperson Rigoberto Sanchez said.

“The war dogs of the 39th IB and the entire AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) cannot wash their hands clean of this flagrant violation of their own ceasefire. Sitio Lokatong in Barangay Biangan is a remote area that their presence can only mean an offensive operation against the NPA,” Sanchez said.

“They fool no one by claiming that their combat operation was merely in response to reports by local authorities of the presence of lawless groups, for the entire day, they actively maneuvered to engage the evading unit of the NPA,” he added.

Sanchez said the Rodrigo Duterte government should know it is the insincerity of the AFP that is the biggest impediment to the quest for just and lasting peace.

Palabay said the killings and the military operations are attacks on the ongoing peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“Is the AFP laying the ground for further human rights violations akin to those committed under Oplan Bayanihan? Its Oplan Kapayapaan in its first three weeks is nothing but the same counter-insurgency program that unleashes war against the people and fomenting un-peace,” Palabay said.

Asked for comment, GRP Negotiating Panel chairperson Silvestre Bello III said they still have to receive an official notice from the NDFP.

“We cannot turn a deaf ear to these reports, but such incidents should not negatively affect the peace process,” Bello said.

“In fact, such incidents should compel both parties to accelerate the peace talks to its logical conclusion for a just and lasting peace,” he added. # (Raymund B. Villanueva/Featured image by Breakaway Media)

GRP forces commit human rights violations with ceasefire in effect–Karapatan

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ROME, Italy—Human rights violations victimized 28,890 civilians throughout the country while the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)’s unilateral ceasefire declaration is in effect, Karapatan in a 50-page report said.

The group, an independent observer to the ongoing peace talks, submitted its collated reports of 17 types of human rights violations committed by GRP forces and agents from August 21 to December 31, 2016.

The GRP received the report at a plenary discussion of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Friday morning.

The cases  included the killing of 24 peasants and indigenous peoples; the enforced disappearance of two lumad activists; at least 14,659 incidents of threats, harassment and intimidation; and 4,170 incidents of indiscriminate firing and bombings by troops who have occupied communities in the countryside despite the ongoing ceasefire.

“We urge the GRP peace panel to look into the violations and heed the calls of affected communities, the victims and their families to stop these violations, to pull out the AFP and paramilitary forces in civilian communities and to respect and implement the CARHRIHL,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.

“Just and lasting peace can only be achieved if there are sincere efforts to abide by previously-signed agreements and human rights obligations and people’s rights and welfare are upheld and protected at all times,” Palabay said.

GRP Response

GRP will look into the complaints, its negotiating panel chairperson Silvestre Bello III told reporters.

“We accepted the report by Karapatan as a signatory of the CARHRIHL and we will study it closely,” Bello said.

Bello said the GRP in turn has submitted a list of human rights violations committed by NDFP forces, but declined to give details.

“I also have yet to look at the report we gave the NDFP,” Bello said.

NDFP Panel senior adviser Luis Jalandoni said they “would have to see if GRP’s report were human rights violations at all.” (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Political detainees support third round of talks despite continued imprisonment

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ROME, Italy—Political prisoners are finding their promised release too slow in coming even as they expressed support for the third round of formal talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Two days before the talks in this ancient city, 33 political prisoners at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig said they are dismayed that GRP President Rodrigo Duterte is backtracking on his promise to release all political prisoners.

“Two round of formal negotiations were concluded in 2016, one political prisoner has already died in jail, we and our respective families have conducted a hunger strike last December, and Christmas and New Year have already passed, but President Duterte’s promises are nothing but press releases,” the detainees said.

The detainees also expressed resentment at how Duterte is treating them like trading cards in his government’s bid to force the NDFP to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement.

“It seems he wants to force the NDFP and the people into a simplistic ceasefire without first complying with previously-signed agreements such as the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and giving justice to political prisoners,” the detainees said.

Duterte told NDFP chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili in a private meeting in Davao City immediately after his election last May he will release all political prisoners through a general amnesty, which he later repeated in several public speeches.

He has since announced he will only sign a general amnesty order for more than 400 political detainees if a signed NDFP-GRP bilateral ceasefire agreement is delivered to him.

“I cannot give you that.  I’m sorry but I have already conceded so much on the side of the government,” Duterte said last December 5.

The GRP Negotiating Panel has also repeatedly committed to work for the immediate release of prisoners but there have been no additional releases from the 19 released in time for the resumption of negotiations last August.

The NDFP for its part said the immediate release of political prisoners is a matter of justice and compliance with signed agreements.

Successful third round

The Bagong Diwa detainees are however hoping for a successful round of formal negotiations in this Italian capital starting tomorrow until the 25th.

“We support the third round of formal talks, especially the negotiations on socio-economic reforms and other substantial issues,” their statement said.

“We expect that genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization are to be discussed to address the root causes of the armed conflict,” they added.

The detainees are also asking on the GRP to stop the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ counter-insurgency operations as well as summary executions raging throughout the country.

“We call on the Filipino people to continue to stand for the advance of our democratic rights and interests for a just and lasting peace,” the detainees said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva/Featured photo by Karapatan)

 

Activists slam Duterte on Human Rights Day

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PROGRESSIVE organizations have had enough of human rights violations under the five month old Rodrigo Duterte government.

Thousands of torch-bearing activists stormed Mendiola on International Human Rights Day last December 10 to protest human rights violations under Duterte, including more than 6,000 extrajudicial killings, militarization of communities and the hero’s burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

“We support President Duterte’s commitment to the peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the revolutionary Moro groups as well as his pronouncements for an independent foreign policy, but we will never accept and turn a blind eye to every fascist act and tendency by the administration,” Karapatan secretary-general Christina Palabay said.

The protesters, led by Karapatan, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacanang (CARMMA), marched from Liwasang Bonifacio to Mendiola bearing hundreds of torches they later used to burn an effigy of Marcos.

“During his campaign, Duterte promised change. But there has been little done for human rights under his regime,” Palabay said.

“Instead, he freed a president that launched the bloody Oplan Bantay Laya (Gloria Arroyo) and promoted Gen. Eduardo Año—the one who abducted Jonas Burgos—to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff. This is not the change we want,” Palabay added.

Not serious

The protesters also criticized Duterte for his refusal to release more political prisoners, despite his promise to the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) during his campaign to do so.

Duterte said in various recent speeches that he will not release any more political prisoners unless the NDFP signs a bilateral ceasefire with his government.

“The political prisoners are already in jail. Must they be hostages now?” Boy Cadano, father of political detainee Guiller, said.

“This is blackmail, plain and simple. This is unacceptable,” Cadano added.

“How many more must die in prison before the government begins acting to release them? The political prisoners are innocent, after all,” Cadano said, citing the recent death of Bernabe Ocasla who died last month while in detention.

NDFP consultant Concha Araneta-Bocala for her part said that this was a sign that the Duterte administration is not serious in his negotiations with their group.

“The peace process is not some poker game where you can treat the political prisoners as bargaining chips,” she said.

“The president’s statements make it clear that he is not serious about addressing the roots of the armed conflict. All he wants is a ceasefire so he can carry on a charade of peace,” Araneta-Bocala said.

Mounting death

The activists condemned the increasing number of extrajudicial killings due to of Duterte’s so-called war on drugs.

“The number of victims of the war on drugs has ballooned. Over 6,000 have died in allegedly legal operations carried out by supposed vigilantes,” human rights group Rise Up’s Irma Balabad said.

“Meanwhile, most of the killers remain free, as the president has stated that he will defend the policemen,” Balabad added.

They added that the war on drugs was actively being used against activists.

“Oplan Tokhang is now being used in rural communities to harass progressives,” Balabad said.

“It is very sad that a regime that talks about change so much is slowly beginning to smell of fascism and oppression,” Balabad added.

Choose wisely

The progressives spoke against the burial of dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, as well as Duterte’s continued affiliation with the Marcos clan.

“The dictator and his clan are addicted to power. We will not allow them to be rehabilitated and reclaim it,” CARMMA lead convenor Bonifacio Ilagan said.

“Duterte must end his alliance – or whatever he wants to call it – with the Marcoses if he wants change to be real. Otherwise, his promises are all just empty words,” Ilagan added.

“Marcos has been buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani but there is still no justice for victims of Martial Law. State fascism remains long after the dictator’s ouster,” Palabay said.

Ilagan said that they are not intimidated by either the Marcos’ return to power or Duterte’s multiple threats against human rights violations.

“This is not enough reason for us to stop our struggle. We have survived Martial Law and we will survive another attempt at it,” Ilagan said.

“We are ready to fight and revolt if things like Martial Law ever happen again. Don’t dare us,” Anakbayan chairperson Vencer Crisostomo for his part said. (Abril Layad B. Ayroso)

 

Karapatan: State terror continues

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Tinay Palabay of the people’s rights alliance KARAPATAN, martial law victim Boni Ilagan of CARMMA(Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang) and Nato Reyes of BAYAN (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan) address a rally marking International Human Rights Day 2016 in Manila.

Protesters marched from Liwasang Bonifacio to Mendiola where they burned an effigy of Marcos.

Also seen at Mendiola is human rights stalwart Rene Saguisag meeting with Concha Araneta and Alan Jazmines from the peace panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

The GRP-NDFP peace negotiations is currently imperiled by the Marcos rehabilitation by Pres. Duterte, stalled release of political prisoners, continuing militarization of communities under the US-designed Oplan Bayanihan, and the recent appointment of Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año as the new chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) — worrisome issues for human rights raised at the rally. Read more

Activists condemn human rights violations under Duterte

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Thousands of activists slammed continuing human rights violations under the Rodrigo Duterte administration in rallies on International HUman Rights Day last Friday.

In Manila, the main rally led by Karapatan said Duterte is not serious in giving justice to victims of rights violations.

Instead, the activists said Duterte buried the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos as a hero and led the so-called war on drugs that have killed an average of 1,000 every month in his more than five months as president.

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