Manila— Members of Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD)
marched to Mendiola today bearing their rating for President Benigno
Aquino III in terms of protecting, promoting and respecting human
rights in his second year in office.

“Zero ang rating namin kay Pnoy, wala pang naparusahan kaya wala pang
katarungan para sa mga biktima,” this according to KPD Secretary
General Chester Amparo as members of the group carried ‘ANGRY BIRDS’
placards and a big ZERO.

According to KPD, civil and political rights continue to be violated
under the Aquino administration, extrajudicial killings continue as
well as enforced disappearances and even torture.

In Central Luzon, there have been 86 new incidents according to the
broad human rights network DEFEND–CL chaired by former Pampanga
Governor Ed Panlilio including eight cases of extra-judicial killings
as well as six incidents of enforced disappearance in 2010.

“No arrest, no conviction translates to no justice for the victims and
their families,” pointed out Amparo. He added that GMA’s arrest though
laudable visibly lacks mention of her bloody human rights record that
is marked by the rise of army officers like Palparan.

“Though an ex-president, she (GMA) still has to be made accountable
for her actions in terms of respect for human rights in the ten years
that she held the reins of power,” declared Amparo.

According to KPD,not only civil and political but economic rights have
also been attacked under Pnoy.

Issues like the right to food –high prices and oil hikes; right to
shelter – demolition without proper relocation; the right to decent
work- issues of contractualization and non-compliance to labor
standards like Hanjin Shipyard in Subic and even issues concerning the
environment – the rise of coal plants and more vigorous mining
investments using more destructive, labor-intensive and cheaper
extraction techniques.

“Due diligence must be exercised by the state to protect the rights of
its citizens.  We call on freedom-loving Filipinos to show their
indignation at Pnoy’s lack of seriousness in dealing with human rights
and lack of conviction to break the culture of impunity. Justice must
be served and the guilty punished,” ended Amparo