Philippines: Duterte’s two years in power a human rights calamity President Duterte has presided over a disturbing regression on human rights that has left the Philippines a more perilous place than when he came to power, said Amnesty International, ahead of his third state of the nation address marking the second anniversary of his presidency.…
Instead of investing in a life of dignity for the poor, the government pursues the path of killing and retribution Human rights advocates led by In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND) Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) and Freedom From Debt Coalition (FDC) gathered as early as 10:30 Monday morning near…
Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes thanked Duterte for being the force who untied groups in protest of his administration. “He has united workers and labor groups in protest against his administration. He has united workers and labor groups against contractualization. He has united women’s groups against misogyny,” Reyes said. He added: “He has united religious…
SONAY -State of Nanays Address Sama-sama po ang mga Nanay mula sa batayang sektor ang magpapahayag ng tunay nilang karanasan sa dalawang taon na pamumuno ni Duterte. Sa panahon na mataas ang bilihin dahil sa TRAIN Law, sa panahon na hindi sustenable ang produksyon ng pagkain ng bansa dahil walang pa rin sapat na ayuda…
The Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) explained that Philippine society is divided into ‘two nations’. On one hand, a nation of rent-seeking property-owners and another nation of paupers who are forced to sell their labor-power and have always been at the losing end of state policies. “Year in, year out the toiling masses have yearned…
Invest in education to win war against drugs, crimes and corruption Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte rose in tremendous popularity by attacking the evils of illegal drugs, criminality and corruption on his road to presidential campaign. The formula proved to be very effective that it brought him to power and become the president of the…
Youth for Rights launches Green Mask Campaign Calls for Environment Policy Change not Charter Change! A youth rights defenders group called on President Rodrigo Duterte to prioritize changes in environment policies rather than changing the constitution. Youth for Rights (Y4R), a group of young human rights and environmental rights defenders added its voice to the…
Swapang ni Rene Boy Abiva Anong manhid at lupit sumuso ng pamahalaan sa barker ng dyip na si Bobong at sa gasoline boy na si Buting: mula sa pandesal na tres pesos ang isa na s’yang agahan sa gaya nilang maralita, na madalas parisan ng kapeng tingi-tingi sa tindahan ni Aling Lita na malabnaw sa…
Non-Moro IP Provisions in Senate Bill 1717 and House Bill 6475: Compliant to FAB-CAB and the 1987 Philippine Constitution By Alim M. Bandara[1] The two versions of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) –Senate Bill 1717 and House Bill 6475 have been met with diverse reactions from different stakeholders in the Bangsamoro core areas and outside…
Philippines: End Police Abuses New Police Chief Should Reject ‘Drug War,’ Ensure Independent Investigations The new head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) should urgently address police involvement in “drug war” killings and other abuses, Human Rights Watch said in a June 11, 2018 letter to Director General Oscar Albayalde. The police chief, who assumed…
Not Going Metal: The #PassAMMB Green Fair July 14, 2018 Sagul Malingap Foodpark 43 Malingap Street, Teacher’s Village East, 1101 Quezon City, Join us for a day of poetry, exhibits, and talks about the environment, and learn more about the Alternative Minerals Management Bill (AMMB)! The AMMB is a new mining bill that puts the…
URGENT APPEAL July 9, 2018 (PHILIPPINES) Torture of Indigenous People ISSUES: Assertion of right to life; freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment ______________________________________________________ Dear friends, The Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) is forwarding to you an appeal regarding the torture of four indigenous people in Upi, Maguindanao.…
Madugo’t mapula, basta NutriAsia YOUTH FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY Youth for Human Rights and Democracy (Y4HRD) stands with the contractual workers of NutriAsia who were violently dispersed during a picket held in Marilao, Bulacan last week. NutriAsia has continuously failed to provide its workers with equitable salaries, additional overtime fees and benefits, protective gears…
STATEMENT AGAINST ARBITRARY ARREST OF MINORS UNDER “OPLAN TAMBAY” We, the organisations named below, make this statement to express our serious alarm about the widespread arbitrary arrests of children taking place throughout the Philippines under the ‘Oplan Tambay’ project of the Philippine government. We note that President Duterte issued a directive that children found loitering…
ATM Statement on Reversal of Mine Closure Orders 2 years into the Duterte Administration, mining activists are frustrated We, the Alyansa Tigil Mina, strongly express our frustration over the announcement of the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) that it will overturn the closure orders against 22 mine operations. Our alliance firmly believes that there is…
No One is safe from Torture MAG Statement on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture Genesis Argoncillo alias “Tisoy” was just waiting for the cellphone load he bought from the store next to their house in Novaliches, Quezon City when the policemen arrested him for not wearing a shirt. He was brought…
Justice for Tisoy and All Victims of Torture Today, Balay marks the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture with deep sadness and anger. We join those who mourn and denounce the death of Genesis Argoncillo, 22, and call on authorities to hold accountable those who allowed his death to happen. Policemen arrested Argoncillo,…
Basta! Run Against Torture (BRAT XII) -UATC Torture is abhorrent. Torture is illegal. Yet torture is inflicted on men, women and children in the Philippines and well over half the countries around the world. Despite the universal condemnation of torture, it is still being used openly and secretly using national and international security from acts…
Zaragosa ni Rene Boy Abiva Lumuha ng dugo ang Birheng Niebe at Batang Kristo nang mabuwal sa kanilang harapan ang alay na kordero. Umagos at dumayukdok ang mga butil ng dugo sa paanan ng kulay puti at gintong pulpito, mula sa tatlong butas ng punglong idinuldol sa kanyang bungo. Nagapas ang kanyang hininga ‘di dahil…
The Migrants that seek a welcome by Fr. Shay Cullen Let us look at ourselves as human beings with dignity, values, and inalienable human rights. We are persons not like the animals that see enemies and rivals all around them in the wild and they fight and kill for food and survival. Most humans have…
Balay urged parties in conflict to ensure protection of civilians in the on-going military- BIFF clashes Balay has called on concerned local government units and the military authorities to uphold humanitarian protection and to take steps to ensure civilian safety and welfare following the reported deaths of a pregnant woman and a 14-year old boy…
Nutri-Asia ni Rene Boy E. Abiva Panay ang pang-eenganyo ng mga imahe sa ‘sang dambuhalang billboard sa kahabaan ng Edsa at North Luzon Expressway bitbit nila ang paulit-ulit mong islogan mula 1996 hanggang ngayon: “ masarap, masaya ang lutuin kung hahaluan ng Datu Puti, Silver Swan, UFC, Mang Tomas, PAPA, Golden Fiesta at Locally.” Habang…
Power for People calls for the immediate suspension and permanent removal of erring ERC commissioners The decision of the Ombudsman suspending the 4 ERC commissioners for allowing Meralco’s mishandling of the bill deposit accounts once again confirms that the ERC commissioners have colluded with and continually favored the Meralco to the detriment of the consumers…
The Philippines’ Scourge of Killers on Motorbikes The riding-in-tandem attacks underscore the extent to which rule of law has been diminished by President Rodrigo Duterte’s incitement of killings of drug suspects By Carlos H. Conde On June 11, in the northern Philippine province of Nueva Ecija, Father Richmond Nilo of Zaragosa town was preparing Mass…
PMPI Statement on the unabated killings under Duterte government News on the death of another priest Fr Richmond V. Nilo, the Parish Priest of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija enraged us. He was reportedly shot by two unidentified gun men through the church’s window while preparing for the Sunday mass. Fr. Nilo…
