Author Archives: Human Rights Online Philippines

[Press Release] House of Representatives has passed on third and final reading the bill protecting human rights defenders | Rep. Edcel Lagman

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House of Representatives has passed on third and final reading the bill protecting human rights defenders

Hon. Edcel Lagman, photo source http://ph.yfittopostblog.com/

For two consecutive Congresses, the 17th and the current 18th, the House of Representatives has passed on third and final reading the bill protecting human rights defenders (HRDs).

Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, the principal author of HB 10576, entitled “An Act Defining the Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Human Rights Defenders, Declaring State Responsibilities, and Instituting Effective Mechanisms for the Protection and Promotion of These Rights and Freedoms”, disclosed that the House approved on third reading on Monday, 17 January 2022, the crusading measure affording full protection to HRDs.

The precursor HB 9199 was passed by the House on 03 June 2019 during the 17th Congress but was not acted upon by the Senate due to time constraints.

The enactment of the Human Rights Defenders Act will put an end to the prevailing impunity on the extrajudicial killings and extreme harassment of HRDs.

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[Maikling Kwento] BORIS | ni Rene Boy Abiva

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BORIS

ni Rene Boy Abiva           

Aripue’y isang nilalang

Utusa’t ampaw sa katwiran

Kaya tama lang din na walang

Laman ang kanyang utak at tiyan.

Isang araw ay umulan nang hindi gaanong kalakasan. Iyong eksakto lang. Kumbaga’y hindi nakakairita sa pandinig ng tao. Ni hindi ito nakakabagabag. Para itong salidummay na humehele sa mga gutom sa layang malay at katawan ng mga aripuen. Mga aripuennahindi singlaya ng mga pipit, panal, sitsitok, at martines na lumipad at dumagit sa dibdib ng alangaang. Mga aripuenna hindi singlaya ng tubig na ipadama ang kanyang bagsik at lumanay sa pamamagitan ng pagdaloy at pagsalpok sa mga matatalim at dambuhalang bato sa kandungan ng Ilog Magat.

Tama. Hindi nga isang malayang nilalang ang mga aripuen. Mula sa pagputok ng mga silahis sa likod ng Sierra Madre hanggang sa paglubog nito sa likod ng Caraballo ay bihag sila. Paano ba naman kasi’y naturingan silang mga animal.

Naturingang mas mababa sa hayop?

Ano ang tawag kaya rito?

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[Statement] On the order for barangays to submit list of unvaccinated residents | CHR spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia

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Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the order for barangays to submit list of unvaccinated residents

The Commission on Human Rights continues to remind the government that upholding human rights remains to be an important consideration in crafting and implementing policies addressing the pandemic. With the recent directive of the Department of the Interior and Local Government for barangays to submit a list of unvaccinated individuals in their communities, we hope that this does not result in the breach of the right to privacy of individuals and, more importantly, not restrict the unvaccinated from accessing essential good and services. We cannot use the present pandemic as a justification to set aside pertinent laws and human rights standards meant to protect human rights and dignity in all situations and at all times.

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Include your full name, e-mail address, and contact number.

All submissions are republished and redistributed in the same way that it was originally published online and sent to us. We may edit submission in a way that does not alter or change the original material.

Human Rights Online Philippines does not hold copyright over these materials. Author/s and original source/s of information are retained including the URL contained within the tagline and byline of the articles, news information, photos, etc.

[Statement] Reaksiyon ng TDC sa tugon ng DEPED Central sa hinihinging academic health break

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STATEMENT
January 14, 2022

Reaksiyon ng TDC sa tugon ng DEPED Central sa hinihingi nating academic health break

Ang naging tugon ng DepEd ay hindi kasinglinaw ng atin sanang inaasahan. Ni hindi nga nila ito tinawag na academic break, health break o academic health break. Kaya hindi pa rin ito masasabing ganap na tagumpay sapagkat sa halip na desisyunan ng Central Office, partikular ng Kalihim Leonor Briones, ipinaubaya nila sa field officials, mga schools division superintendents (SDS) at Regional Directors (RD) ang determinasyon ng hinihinging break sa kani-kanilang nasasakupan. Ang resulta, maaaring magkaiba-iba ang petsa, maging ang bilang ng araw ng break na ito sa bawat dibisyon o rehiyon. Maaari rin namang walang break sa iba.

Hindi rin Memorandum o Order mula sa Office of the Secretary ang inilabas kundi memorandum mula sa Office of Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instructions at pirmado ni Usec Diosdado San Antonio.

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[Off-the-shelf] Pantayong Pananaw at Paninindigang Pulitikal | ni Jose Mario De Vega

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PANTAYONG PANANAW AT PANININDIGANG PULITIKAL

Ang munting akdang ito ay isang pagtatangkang ituloy ang sa tingin ng manunulat na ito ang hindi natapos na proyekto o layon ng aklat na Pook at Paninindigan: Kritika ng Pantayong Pananaw ni Propesor Ramon Guillermo (2009) at isagad yaon hanggang sa lohikal nitong konklusyon.

Sa harap ng mga problemang panlipunan na kinakaharap ng bayang ito at gayundin ng iba’t ibang mga bansa sa mundo ukol sa pamamayagpag at tila paghahari ng populismo at pasismo o alalaumbaga ng malayong kanan (far right) ay kinakailangang magbalik-aral at tanaw ang mga rebolusyonaryo, aktibista, manghihimagsik, at akademikong mulat kung papaano ba ito susuriin at kakabakahin gamit ang mga kaisipan at kamalayan na naroon na rin sa nasabing mga bayan. 

Hindi maaaring hanggang wika at kalinangan lamang ang pakikibaka para sa katarungang panlipunan

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[Statement] Teachers call for academic health break | TDC

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Teachers call for academic health break

Field offices of the Department of Education (DepEd) are now intensifying the physical reporting of teaching personnel despite the fact that there are no essential tasks to be done in schools. This is a clear violation of DepEd’s own rule that says work-from-home (WFH) is the default set-up for classroom teachers. At the time of this writing, these DepEd offices are imposing physical reporting, while the country is experiencing record high COVID-19 infection.

At a time when these leaders should be focusing on the psychosocial well-being of teachers and students, it appears that to some offices, “normalcy of operation” outweighs the well-being, even the very lives of Filipinos. It is incomprehensible how oblivious DepEd officials can be of the danger of their choices.

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[From the web] Labor and Environmental Groups Push for a Stronger Anti-Asbestos Policy to Protect Human Health | Ecowaste Coalition

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Labor and Environmental Groups Push for a Stronger Anti-Asbestos Policy to Protect Human Health

There is an urgent need to modify and improve the Philippines’ twenty-one year old asbestos policy regulation on the manufacture and use of asbestos and asbestos containing materials in the country, said a confederation of labor unions and a coalition of environmental organizations.

According to the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and the Ecowaste Coalition, the moribund Chemical Control Order (CCO) for Asbestos issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on January 6, 2000 needs serious improvement in its mandate to protect the public in the light of its passive enforcement, growing non-compliance to the regulation, and the unfettered importation into the country of raw asbestos and materials and products containing asbestos.

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[From the web] Amid the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, Teachers asked DEPED to retain their work from home status | TDC

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Amid the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, Teachers asked DEPED to retain their work from home status

Amid the rising cases of COVID-19 especially in Metro Manila, the Teachers ’Dignity Coalition (TDC) has asked the Department of Education (DepEd) leadership to publicly declare that the agency is compliant with its own policy on alternative work arrangements for public school teachers. In a series of Facebook posts this morning, TDC Chairperson called the attention of DepEd officials to reiterate the alternative work arrangement of public school teachers.

“Yung ilang schools/SDOs sa Reg 3 & Reg 4A na nagpapasok sa teachers physically, relax, ‘wag niyo na dagdagan ang exposure ng tao para hindi matulad dito sa NCR. Remote modalities ang teaching, remember?” Basas posted referring to some schools in Central Luzon and CALABARZON requiring the physical presence of their teachers despite the remote teaching modalities employed by DepEd.

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[From the web] Tinay Palabay wins prestigious human rights award; dedicates prize to fellow rights defenders | Kodao

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#HumanRights

Tinay Palabay wins prestigious human rights award; dedicates prize to fellow rights defenders

Karapatan’s office was busy Wednesday afternoon and people were scurrying about, as usual. But no list was being updated and no frantic calls were being made. The stacks of papers atop tables were being ignored and the placards were shoved to corners where they could not get in the way of the bustle.

The chatter was happy and the jokes came thicker and faster than usual. And instead of harried-looking human rights defenders, they looked like party-goers in their Sunday best.

In a space usually reserved for quick consultations when there are reports of arrests and killings stood a ring light beside a human rights lawyer, make-up brushes in hand. Under the lights sat Karapatan’s secretary general Cristina “Tinay” Palabay being glammed up.

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[People] Defending and Protecting Human Rights | by Fr. Shay Cullen

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#HumanRights

Defending and Protecting Human Rights
by Fr. Shay Cullen
10 December 2021

When we look around the world today, we see that the people of many countries do not have their human rights fully respected, honored, protected, and celebrated by the governments that have the duty to do so. In fact, everywhere there are many violations by state agencies, police and military, and fellow citizens. The human species aspire to the highest values of being human but are weak, remiss, and dismissive in implementing and respecting those high ideals of the rights inherent in the species because they are human.

Everyone should be aware that every person, according to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, has inalienable rights that must be respected and protected. Irrespective of their nationality, ethnic origin, sex, gender, color, religion, language, or any other status, every person has universal rights. These are the rights: to life, to water, food, security, family, employment, education, freedom and health, and the right to live as they choose.

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Freedom of Expression Conference 5 (FreeXP.con)

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FREEXP.CON 5

Theme: “MAGPAHAYAG, MAKISANGKOT AT MAGING BAYANI PARA SA KARAPATANG PANTAO!”

BACKGROUND

The right to freedom of speech and expression – the right to speak out, to debate, to criticize, to disseminate information on matters of public importance – is one of the most basic of human rights. It is guaranteed under Article 19 of the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Yet the right to speak out, to inform, to report, and to engage in open debate is now being curtailed. This right including other fundamental human rights is under attack by the government and private citizens and groups, and on many fronts including the digital sphere.

Today, the challenges in continuously exercising and defending the right to free speech and expression are unsurmountable under the current political dispensation. There is certainly a systematic and widespread machination to undermine the right to free speech and expression that is being carried by the government and its political allies with the use of punitive laws to control, discredit, punish and silence its critics. Misleading information and hate-driven commentary have been spreading via social media platforms for quite a long time and these are now manipulating public opinion, warping meaningful discourses, and polluting the public moral fabric.

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[Event] Annual Honoring of Martyrs and Heroes | Bantayog ng mga Bayani

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#HumanRights #NeverAgain

Annual Honoring of Martyrs and Heroes

We present four more heroes and martyrs of the resistance against the Marcos dictatorship. On November 30, Andres Bonifacio day, we will unveil their names on the Wall of Remembrance.

#NeverAgainNeverForget

https://web.facebook.com/bantayogngmgabayani/photos/a.1008871302466673/4808267292527036/

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Include your full name, e-mail address, and contact number.

All submissions are republished and redistributed in the same way that it was originally published online and sent to us. We may edit submission in a way that does not alter or change the original material.

Human Rights Online Philippines does not hold copyright over these materials. Author/s and original source/s of information are retained including the URL contained within the tagline and byline of the articles, news information, photos, etc.

[Statement] Palayain si Sally Ujano! | PKKK

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#HumanRights #FreeSallyUjano

Palayain si Sally Ujano!

Mariing kinukundina ng Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK) ang pagka aresto kay Sally Ujano, isang kilalang child’s rights advocate at isa sa mga unang nagbigay gabay sa aming samahan sa pagsugpo ng karahasan laban sa mga kababaihan. Inaresto ng mga nakasibilyang pulis nitong November 14 si Sally sa kanyang tahanan sa Bulacan. Dinala sya sa Camp Crame, at sa loob din ng araw na iyon ay nagpost ang PNP Region 3 sa Facebook na nagsasabing si Sally ay may kasong rebelyon nuong 2005, at isa sa mga most wanted na lider ng CPP-NPA.


ANG AKUSASYON KAY SALLY UJANO AY ISANG MALAKING KASINUNGALINGAN.

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[From the web] Harry Roque fails in bid for International Law Commission post | GMAnews

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#HumanRights #ILC

Harry Roque fails in bid for International Law Commission post

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque failed to obtain a seat in the 34-member International Law Commission (ILC), the body of experts that help develop and codify international law.
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“My candidature at the ILC was a challenging campaign throughout but we met it head-on. Unfortunately, we did not succeed,” he said in a statement posted on his social media account.

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[From the web] Why the Laud quarry, ‘mass grave’ for DDS victims, haunts Lascañas | RAPPLER.COM

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#HumanRights #Killings

Why the Laud quarry, ‘mass grave’ for DDS victims, haunts Lascañas

When a death squad maintained by the mayor of the Philippines’ largest city goes on a killing spree, where do they bury the bodies?

For their biggest dumping ground – where hitmen had confessed to having buried thousands – the notorious Davao Death Squad (DDS) had a six-hectare quarry owned by policeman Bienvenido Laud in Barangay Ma-a.

In an affidavit submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in October 2020, a copy of which was obtained by Rappler, former DDS insider Arturo Lascañas detailed how the Laud quarry had become a “mass grave” for persons whom then-mayor Rodrigo Duterte had ordered them to kill.

Read full article @ https://bit.ly/3oELuPK

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[Event] World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims | KAGULONG

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#HumanRights #RoadSafety

Sa ika-21 ng Nobyembre, nananawagan uli ang buong daigdig upang alalahanin ang mga nasawi dahil sa aksidente sa kalsada. Araw-araw dito sa Pilipinas ay humigit-kumulang sa 34 na katao ang namamatay dahil dito.

Kailangan nating ipagtanggol ang karapatang mabuhay! Kailangan nating manawagan ng ligtas na kalsada para sa lahat!

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11th #HumanRights Pinduteros’ Choice Awards

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11th #HumanRights Pinduteros’ Choice Awards

“Magpahayag, Makisangkot at Maging Bayani para sa karapatang pantao!”

HR Pinduteros’ Choice Awards – pagkilala at pasasalamat sa mga Bayani ng HR Online.

Sa ika-labing isang taong pagpapasalamat at pagkilala para sa ating mga ka-HR Pinduteros sa kanilang patuloy na pagpapahayag para sa karapatang pantao, inihahandog ng Human Rights Online Philippines o HRonlinePH ang 11th #HumanRights Pinduteros’ Choice Awards.

Sa pamamagitan ng taunan nating pagtitipon na ito ay kinikilala natin ang makabuluhang ambag ng mga indibidwal at grupo para sa pag-mumulat, pagbibigay inspirasyon at pagkilos para sa karapatang pantao.

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[Statement] Convicted tax evader Bongbong Marcos disqualified from running as president claims petition filed with COMELEC

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#HumanRights #NeverAgainToTheMarcoses

Convicted tax evader Bongbong Marcos disqualified from running as president claims petition filed with COMELEC

On November 2 2021 a Petition to Cancel or Deny Due Course the Certificate of Candidacy of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. under Section 78 in relation to Section 74, Article IX of the Omnibus Election Code was filed with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). The Petitioners represent a cross-section of political detainees, human rights and medical organizations that opposed the Marcos dictatorship.

The Petition points out that Marcos’ Certificate of Candidacy contains multiple false material representations. Specifically, Marcos falsified his Certificate of Candidacy when he claimed that he was eligible to be a candidate for President of the Philippines in the 2022 national elections when in fact he is disqualified from doing so.

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[Off-the-shelf] Ethical Guide for Filipino Journalists | NUJP

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#HumanRights #Media

Ethical Guide for Filipino Journalists

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines remains steadfast in upholding the ethical conduct of journalism in the Philippines.

This year, in its goal, to strengthen the self-regulation of media in the country, the NUJP, in partnership with Internews and USAID, took on the challenge to produce a comprehensive and updated Ethical Guide for Filipino Journalists.

A product of rigorous research and a series of consultations and discussions with fellow Filipino journalists, this document aims to serve as a tool to guide journalists and newsrooms on the ethical conduct of journalism.

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