Category Archives: Statement

[Statement] Red-tagged labor rights NGO filed a complaint at CHR | CTUHR

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Red-tagged labor rights NGO filed a complaint at CHR

On June 14, 2022, the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) formally filed a complaint at the Commission on Human Rights, a week after it publicly denounced the malicious statements made by elements of the NTF-ELCAC against their institution.

In its complaint, CTUHR narrated that they received a report that they have been red-tagged in the program, “Laban Kasama ang Bayan” aired last June 6, 2022. One of the topics discussed in the said episode was “Labor Infiltration Operations of CPP-NDF-NPA in CALABARZON, Central Luzon and NCR,” where they zoomed in on the strike conducted by J&T Express workers in Cabuyao, Laguna.

The guest Charlie “Steve Alejandro” Ponclara and one of the hosts Jeffrey “Eric” Celiz, in a series of exchanges, purported that the strike of the workers was illegal and that they were infiltrated and instigated by operatives of the CPP-NPA-NDF. CTUHR was tagged as one of these, together with Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan – Kilusang Mayo Uno (PAMANTIK-KMU).

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[Statement] “Angat Buhay Para sa Kalikasan” Statement on the New Administration

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“Angat Buhay Para sa Kalikasan” Statement on the New Administration

President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. and Vice-President-elect Sara Duterte are slated to take their oath this month and govern our country for the next six years.

However, in the wake of election irregularities such as massive-voting buying, malfunctioning VCMs, disenfranchisement of voters and allegations on electronic vote rigging, we call on the Comelec to investigate these cases and hold accountable those found guilty.

We recognize that President Marcos, Jr. and Vice-President Duterte has captured the votes of the electorate in a landslide victory. But we also note that this victory is a result of a decades-long campaign to rehabilitate the reputation of the Marcoses through historical revisionism and the propagation of fake news. There have been reports of massive disinformation and misinformation, particularly on Martial Law and the dictatorial rule of President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.

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[Statement] Stop enforced disappearances everywhere in the world, including Bangladesh |AFAD, FIDH, Maayer Daak, and Odhikar

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A Joint Statement by the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Maayer Daak, and Odhikar on the occasion of International Week of the Disappeared 2022

BANGLADESH: Government must stop enforced disappearances and ensure right to truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence

Dhaka/Manila/Paris, 23 May 2022: On the occasion of the International Week of the Disappeared, the Asian Federation against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Maayer Daak, and Odhikar remember and pay homage to victims of enforced disappearance and stand in solidarity with the families of the disappeared.

In Bangladesh, enforced disappearances continue to occur. Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies, particularly the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Detective Branch of police are responsible for the commission of the majority of cases of enforced disappearance in the country. Most of the victims of enforced disappearance have been identified as leaders and activists of opposition parties and dissidents.

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[Statement] On the 2022 Philippine Presidential Election | AMP

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Joint Statement on the 2022 Philippine Presidential Election

After the landslide victory of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte-Carpio in the 2022 presidential election the Aktionsbündnis Menschenrechte-Philippinen (AMP) calls on the new government to immediately address the dire human rights situation in the country.

The AMP expresses its concern that neither Marcos Jr., the son of former dictator Marcos Sr., nor Duterte-Carpio, the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, have distanced themselves from the human rights violations committed under their fathers.

Both Marcos and Duterte-Carpio vowed to continue President Duterte’s war on drugs and to disallow independent international investigations into the human rights abuses under the Duterte government. Instead of neglecting these abuses, the unity proclaimed by the Marcos-Duterte tandem should imply acknowledging the victims and human rights violations, enabling justice, and ending impunity. The AMP therefore calls on the designated President Marcos and Vice-President Duterte-Carpio to enable the investigation and prosecution of at least 279 cases of extrajudicial killings of human rights defenders (HRDs) and journalists1 as well as of about 12,000-30,000 extrajudicial killings in the name of the so-called war on drugs.

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[Statement] Recent shooting incident against IPs, Ka Leody’s team, a product of Duterte’s years of emboldening and enabling a culture of violence and impunity |LILAK

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Recent shooting incident against IPs, Ka Leody’s team, a product of Duterte’s years of emboldening and enabling a culture of violence and impunity

LILAK Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights strongly condemns the shooting committed by the security guards of an agri-business plantation company at the Manobo- Pulangiyon indigenous peoples in Quezon, Bukidnon yesterday, April 19.

Around 500 Manobo-Pulangiyon people were set to repossess their ancestral land yesterday occupied by the Kiantig Development Corporation (KDC). They planned to occupy the remaining four hectares unplanted to pineapples, out of the 958 hectares recognized by the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) as their ancestral land. As the indigenous peoples reached the area, they planted a white flag, as part of their repossession activity. That was when the security guards fired shots at the Manobo-Pulangiyon, together with the team of Presidential aspirant Ka Leody de Guzman, and senatorial candidates David D’Angelo and Roy Cabonegro.

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[Statement] Compressed workweek: misguided policy for workers amidst fuel crisis | IOHSAD

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Compressed workweek: misguided policy for workers amidst fuel crisis

The Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development or IOHSAD calls on the government to directly address the reasons for the continuous oil price hikes instead of pushing for the implementation of a compressed workweek that can be detrimental to workers’ health and safety. This work scheme passes the burden of surviving this crisis to the backs of workers while the government turns away from the responsibility of mitigating or ending, the dreadful effects of oil deregulation on people’s lives.

Long working hours kill workers! Longer working hours prolong exposures to hazards at work, and this increases the risk for work-related injuries and diseases. There is a time-dependent increase in the risk for accidents, injuries, falls, infections, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases beyond the standard working hours. Twelve-hour workdays increase the risk for injuries and accidents by 37%, and this risk increases with overtime and an extended workweek.

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[Statement] Urging President Duterte to Veto the “SIM Card and Social Media Registration Act”

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Statement Urging President Duterte to Veto the “SIM Card and Social Media Registration Act”

We urge President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to veto the bill entitled “An Act Eradicating Mobile Phone, Internet or Electronic Communication-Aided Criminal Activities, Mandating For This Purpose Ownership Registration of All Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Cards For Electronic Devices and Social Media Accounts”, also known as the “Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act” recently ratified by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines.

The intent and purpose of trying to eliminate illegal activities enabled by mobile phones, the Internet, or other electronic communication-aided crimes are noble. However, the bill is deeply flawed. It contains provisions that are overly vague, violate constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression, freedom of association, personal privacy, and endangers the safety of Filipino citizens and children.

While the benefits of SIM card registration are still under debate, of utmost concern are the provisions on social media registration.

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[Statement] on the arrest of health worker Dr. Natividad ‘Naty’ Castro | CHR

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Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the arrest of health worker Dr. Natividad ‘Naty’ Castro

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expresses grave concern over the manner of arrest of health worker Dr. Natividad ‘Naty’ Castro early Friday, 18 February 2022 in San Juan City.

Dra. Naty had been red-tagged for her work as a human rights and development worker. Before the pandemic hit the country in 2020, Castro initiated several health programs in Mindanao. She also brought members of the Lumad community before the United Nations in Geneva to seek help against harassment in their areas. She also once served as secretary-general of rights group Karapatan in the Caraga region.

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[Statement] Ipaglaban ang substansyal na dagdag sahod sa panahon ng krisis sa kalusugan at kabuhayan | BMP

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Ipaglaban ang substansyal na dagdag sahod sa panahon ng krisis sa kalusugan at kabuhayan

Ang Bukluran ay nananawagan sa lahat ng mga samahan ng manggagawa na igiit ang substansyal na pagtataas sa minimum na sahod. Ito ay kagyat na kahilingang hindi na makakapaghintay pa sa pagpapalit ng rehimen matapos ang halalan sa Mayo.

Napako ang minimum na sweldo habang patuloy ang pagtaas sa mga batayang pangangailangan ng mga pamilya ng maggagawa. May mga regional wage boards na ang huling kautusan ay noon pang 2018 (see table).

Ang minimum na sahod ay nananatiling malayo sa Konstitusyunal na garantiya para sa living wage. Ito ay kahit pa ang “demand for a living wage” ang numero uno sa dapat na sampung batayan ng wage board sa pagtatakda ng minimum wage, ayon sa RA6727 o Wage Rationalization Act.

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[Statement] On the possible political interference in the disqualification case against Marcos Jr. | PAHRA

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PAHRA’S STATEMENT ON THE POSSIBLE POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN THE DISQUALIFICATION CASE AGAINST MARCOS JR.

The member organizations of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates are all concerned about the revelation of COMELEC Commissioner Guanzon regarding possible political interference in the ongoing disqualification case against Bongbong Marcos. It is clear that for the past nearly six years of the Duterte regime, big political players aligned with the current regime have been influencing the dispositions of those who represent Philippine institutions which are mandated to provide balance in government.

These deliberate and purposeful intrusions have crippled our democratic institutions and eroded their independence. Through this expose, we bear witness to the emasculation of non-partisan Constitutional Commission officials.

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[Statement] Hinggil sa Mandatory Military Service | AK

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Hinggil sa Mandatory Military Service

Nagpahayag ang vice-presidential aspirant na si Sara Duterte-Carpio na dapat maging mandatory ang military service sa lahat ng kabataang nasa 18-anyos kagaya ng mga bansang South Korea at Israel. Para kay Duterte-Carpio, isa raw itong paraan upang ituro ang pagiging makabayan sa mga kabataan.

Hindi tayo sumasang-ayon sa mungkahing ito, sapagkat, una sa lahat, hindi natin katulad ang South Korea at Israel na nasa estado ng digmaan. Kasalukuyang nasa hidawaan pa rin ang South Korea laban sa North Korea, at ang Israel ay patuloy na naglulungsad ng military occupation sa Palestine. Walang pagkakahalintulad ang kalagayan ng Pilipinas sa mga malalaking kapitalistang bansang ito.

Ang kulturang digmaan ng estado ay isa lamang laro ng mga naghaharing uri upang gisahin ang taumbayan sa sarili nitong mantika. Walang makabayan sa hukbong nagtuturo lamang ng kulturang dahas laban sa kapwa nitong uring manggagawa at maralita.

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[Statement] on the arrest of an 80-year old man who allegedly stole mangoes in Asingan, Pangasinan | CHR

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Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the arrest of an 80-year old man who allegedly stole mangoes in Asingan, Pangasinan

It is unfortunate that an 80-year old man has been sued for theft after picking mangoes from trees that, he asserts, was planted by himself. This incident, at the same time, highlights the importance of knowing one’s rights and the availability of legal assistance, especially for vulnerable and marginalized citizens.

Cognizant of the costly and protracted nature of litigation, the Commission on Human Rights hopes that alternative means to settle the dispute be explored, an amicable agreement be reached, and possibly a desistance of the charge filed given the circumstances of the complaint and condition of the accused.

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[Statement] PH Senate should act swiftly, pass HRDP bill to protect human rights | AIph

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PH Senate should act swiftly, pass HRDP bill to protect human rights

On 17 January, Congress passed the Human Rights Defenders Protection bill on the third and final reading. The bill aims to strengthen existing laws and provide additional institutional measures to protect human rights defenders (HRDs) from extrajudicial killings, and extreme threats and harassment. Butch Olano, Amnesty International Philippines Section Director responds:

“Congress’ approval of the HRD Protection bill is a welcome development and provides a glimmer of hope that impunity will not always prevail in the Philippines. This bill is sorely needed as an answer to the Duterte administration’s intense crackdown on activists and any other person who speaks critically of its policies,

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[Statement] PAHRA maintains its position that the COC of Bongbong Marcos should be canceled

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STATEMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE ALLIANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES ON THE DISMISSAL OF THE PETITION TO CANCEL THE CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY OF BONGBONG MARCOS, JR.

The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) has received the decision of the Second Division of the Commission on Elections regarding our petition to cancel the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

PAHRA maintains its position that the COC of Bongbong Marcos should be canceled and that the case, with all its merits, should have been enough to put an end to his candidacy. It should be noted that the Second Division has recognized the misrepresentations made by Marcos Jr. in Item 11 and Box 22 of his COC. The petition that PAHRA and its member organizations filed is grounded on a clear revelation of a dishonest act by the late dictator’s son that impacts the electoral process and the welfare of all Filipinos. Dishonesty, deception, and cheating are central to and what characterize the personhoods and reign of the Marcoses, hence the significance of this case.

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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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[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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[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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[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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[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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