Category Archives: Statement

[Statement] On the passing of CHR Chair Gascon | PMCJ

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#HumanRights #ChitoGascon

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐇𝐑 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐆𝐀𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐍

The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice mourns the passing of Commission for Human Rights Chair Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon, who was a steady ally in the fight for Climate Justice and Human Rights.

Chito led his inquiry into the effects of climate change to human rights through discussions with petitioners and victims of Climate Catastrophe in the Philippines, as well as scientists and experts on climate change.

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[Statement] Passage of UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Resolution recognizing the right to a safe, healthy and sustainable environment | ATM

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#HumanRights #Environment

Passage of UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Resolution recognizing the right to a safe, healthy and sustainable environment

Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) welcomes the recent passage of the UN Human Rights Council recognizing the right to a safe, health and sustainable environment, in Geneva.
While the resolution is not binding to all member-states, this sends a strong message to all countries on the urgency of addressing climate change impacts and listening to the demands of the most vulnerable countries as we face greater risks especially in the midst of this pandemic.

ATM believes that the Philippine government must immediately pass domestic laws and national policies that will subscribe and fulfill this mandate. It is necessary to recall that the 1987 Philippine Constitution already recognizes this under Article 2, Section 16 which states “The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature”.

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[Statement] Pagpupugay at pasasalamat sa buhay na inialay sa pagtatanggol ng karapatang pantao | iDEFEND

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#HumanRights #ChitoGascon

Pagpupugay at pasasalamat sa buhay na inialay sa pagtatanggol ng karapatang pantao

Nagluluksa ang iDEFEND kabilang ang komunidad ng mga human rights defenders sa biglang pagyao ng Chairperson ng Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines na si José Luis Martín C. Gascón. Kilala bilang Chair Chito, saksi ang iDEFEND sa kanyang dakilang buhay at paninindigan para sa kalayaan, demokrasya at karapatang pantao. Nakakadalo siya sa ating general assembly upang makipagtalakayan sa mga usapin ng ating bansa at himukin ang ibayong pagkilos, pagharap sa mga pagsubok at pagkakaisa.

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[Statement] CHR spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the passing of CHR Chairperson Chito Gascon

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#HumanRights #ChitoGascon

Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the passing of CHR Chairperson Chito Gascon

It is with deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of Chairperson Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon. He passed away early this Saturday morning, 9 October 2021, due to Covid-19 complications. He was 57.

At a time of unprecedented human rights challenges, Chair Chito courageously and steadfastly upheld the constitutional mandate of the Commission. Amidst the unrelenting attacks against the institution and to him personally, he was unwavering and unflinching in fighting for the universal values of freedom, truth, and justice that are essential in the pursuit of human rights. He was undaunting in the fight for human rights, rule of law, and democracy out of deep reverence to the equal rights and dignity of all.

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[Statement] More than flowers and praises, teachers deserve dignity | TDC

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#HumanRights #Teachers

More than flowers and praises, teachers deserve dignity
(Statement for World Teachers’ Day 2021)

This school year will be the second chapter of Philippine education under the pandemic. Last September 13, a new school year was, according to the DEpEd, successfully opened. But we have to forgo most of the excitement that accompany school openings.

Only a month earlier, new cases of infection hovered in the vicinity of the dreaded 20K per day, a streak of record highs Filipinos could only watch with their eyes. Then came the announced pilot implementation of face-to-face classes in some 120 schools that seems to have miraculously “managed” the Covid-19 inflation somewhat.

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[Statement] Pro-people and rights-based COVID-19 response is needed, MAG demands for a comprehensive COVID-19 pandemic response | MAG

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#HumanRights #HealthWorkers #COVID19ph

MAG Statement
Pro-people and rights-based COVID-19 response is needed, MAG demands for a comprehensive COVID-19 pandemic response
September 3, 2021

More than a year in lockdown, the Philippine government still needs to understand that the imposition of wide-scale lockdowns will not suffice in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. By September 1, 2021, the Philippines recorded a total of two (2) million COVID-19 cases. With a population of 109 million people, only around 33 million doses have been administered, with 13.7 million individuals fully vaccinated, and 19.3 million got their 1st dose, as of August 29, 2021.

As the Philippine government continues to fall behind in supporting the overwhelmed health system, more and more lives of Filipinos are put at risk. The recent issue on misuse and underutilization of DOH funds and questionable COVID-19 supplies procurement, involving PhP 67 billion worth of COVID-19 funds has raised concerns on corruption within the health department. At the same time, reports of patients not able to access health services, whether for COVID-19 or not, due to overcapacity of hospitals have become common. The government needs to hasten crafting solutions in accordance with these realities in the grassroots and the health facilities. Specifically, this may include provision of additional life support equipment (e.g. ventilators and hospital oxygen supply), establishment of systematic contact tracing, integration of local and national referral systems such as the One Hospital Command Center to effectively coordinate COVID19 and non COVID19 cases, as well as faster vaccine rollouts.

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[Statement] on the murdered human rights lawyer, Rex Fernandez | by Bishop Alminaza

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Bishop Alminaza statement on the murdered human rights lawyer, Rex Fernandez

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13

On behalf of the Visayas Clergy Discernment Group (VCDG), a 2008 CBCP initiative to address social concerns, I express our grief over the senseless murder of human rights lawyer Rex Fernandez. He was killed last August 26, 2021 in Cebu City.

Lawyer Rex Fernandez, a former Redemptorist seminarian, had a heart for the people and had touched so many lives.

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[Statement] The Importance of Eliminating Enforced Disappearance in Asia | by Asia Alliance Against Torture

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Joint Statement on the International Day of the Disappeared: The Importance of Eliminating Enforced Disappearance Practices in Asia
Asia Alliance Against Torture
August 30, 2021

Today, on the occasion of International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the Asia Alliance Against Torture (A3T) condemns the practice of enforced disappearances that continues to occur in Asia. It is a cruel practice that perpetuates impunity, where the government shows no political will to investigate and solve cases of enforced disappearance. Marking today’s annual commemoration of the Day of the Disappeared, the A3T would like to highlight the importance of eliminating enforced disappearance practices in Asia.

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[Statement] AFAD Commemorates the UN International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

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AFAD Commemorates the UN International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances
30th August, 2021

Manila: Today, on the occasion of International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) remembers the victims across the globe and extends solidarity to the families of the disappeared and countless human rights defenders fighting to put an end to impunity amid great challenges. According to the United Nations, enforced disappearance is more than “a human rights violation against an individual”. Enforced disappearances affect the entire family of the victim and is “used as a strategy to spread terror within the society”.

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[Statement] Karapatan condemns the killing of Atty. Rex Fernandez

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#HumanRights #StopTheKillings

Karapatan condemns the killing of Atty. Rex Fernandez in Cebu City yesterday, August 26.

As Karapatan’s former legal counsel, Atty. Fernandez handled cases of rights violations, and represented victims and their families in court for years and defended political prisoners charged with trumped-up cases.

A few years after the writ of amparo – a legal remedy to seek protection amidst threats to life, liberty and security – was made available by the Supreme Court in 2007, Atty. Fernandez served as legal counsel in petitions for writ of amparo on a number of cases of abductions and enforced disappearances. Among these were the petition for the writs of amparo for Romulo Robinos, Ryan Supan, and disappeared UP students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan. He also lawyered for peasant activist Noriel Rodriguez and Filipino-American activist Melissa Roxas, both abducted, detained and tortured in Cagayan and Tarlac, consecutively, both in the year 2009.

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[Statement] On the brutal killing of Cebuano lawyer-activist Rex Fernandez | SANLAKAS

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#HumanRights #StopTheKillingsPh

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐲. 𝐑𝐞𝐱 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐳

Sanlakas vehemently condemns the brutal killing of Cebuano lawyer-activist Rex Fernandez.

To date, Fernandez is the 64th lawyer assassinated under President Rodrigo Duterte, himself a lawyer. Human rights defenders, among them lawyers, have been defenseless targets of murderers who remain at large. Their fault lies in their vigilance and persistence in defending the poor and marginalized as well as being active in causes for social change. The unabated killings make more evident the complicity of the Duterte Government in both encouraging attacks on human rights defenders and failing to exact justice from perpetrators.

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[Statement] on the ambush of lawyer Rex Fernandez | CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia

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#HumanRights #StopTheKillingsPh

Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the ambush of lawyer Rex Fernandez

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) condemns the killing of lawyer Rex Fernandez in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City on Thursday afternoon, 26 August 2021. CHR will be sending a quick reaction team to conduct an independent investigation on this incident.

Fernandez was said to have been ambushed by unidentified assailants when his vehicle stopped at an intersection. The lawyer died on the spot. The lawyer’s driver was reportedly left wounded after the attack.

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[Statement] NTF-ELCAC’s Unwanted Visits to Unionists Homes Threatens Unionists | CTUHR

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#HumanRights #StopRedTagging

NTF-ELCAC’s Unwanted Visits to Unionists Homes Threatens Unionists

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) raised the alarm anew on the report of a new wave of “unwanted visits” of elements of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to homes of union officers of Nexperia Philippines Inc. Workers Union (NPIWU), in Laguna last Sunday, August 22.

According to the account of the union, elements of the NTF-ELCAC, clad in fatigue military uniforms, some with firearms, simultaneously visited the homes of four (4) officers of their union at around 8:00 to 9:00 in the morning of August 22. The residences of the four (4) are in Brgy. Pulo and Brgy. Banaybanay in Cabuyao, Laguna. The said agents were summoning them to the Barangay Office to have an orientation with a “surrenderee” and sign an “agreement.” The three (3) refused to come to the Barangay Hall, while the other one was at work at the time of the visit.

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[Statement] Justice for Gwenn Salamida | NUJP

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#HumanRights #StopTheKillingsPH

[Statement] Justice for Gwenn Salamida

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines condoles with the family and colleagues of Gwenn Salamida of ‘Saksi Ngayon’, who was shot dead in a salon that she owned in Quezon City on August 17.

According to a statement by the National Press Club, Salamida was shot by an unidentified assailant and sustained four gunshot wounds, including two in the head.

NPC said it is in close coordination with the Quezon City Police District and the Presidential Task Force of Media Security on Salamida’s case.

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[Statement] on the shooting of a curfew violator with mental illness by a barangay tanod | CHR spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia

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#HumanRights #COVID19ph

Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the shooting of a curfew violator with mental illness by a barangay tanod

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is now probing the reported shooting of Eduardo Geñoga, a 59-year-old curfew violator with mental illness, by Cesar Panlaqui, a barangay tanod. The shooting happened in Tondo, Manila on 7 August 2021, the second day of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila.

According to reports, Panlaqui accosted Geñoga for allegedly slamming doors and gates in Tayuman Street during curfew hours. The victim allegedly approached the barangay tanod with a stick, which prompted the suspect to shoot the victim in the chest resulting to the latter’s death.

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[Statement] #DutertePalpak | #CourageOn coalition

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Over 70 organizations call Duterte admin’s performance a ‘failure’

The #CourageON: No Lockdown on Rights coalition urges Filipinos to continue holding government officials accountable and register to vote in the coming elections to avoid a repeat of President Rodrigo Duterte’s brand of leadership

Below is the statement of the #CourageON: No Lockdown on Rights coalition, which was signed by more than 70 organizations, following President Rodrigo Duterte’s final State of the Nation Address on July 26. #CourageON is a broad coalition of human rights groups that aims to keep watch on abuses and violations and identify opportunities for collective action to promote and defend human rights.

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[Statement] Wakasan ang krisis sa karapatan. Panagutin ang rehimeng Duterte! | iDefend

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Wakasan ang krisis sa karapatan. Panagutin ang rehimeng Duterte!
Monday, 26 July 2021

Matatapos na ang termino ni Presidente Duterte sa gitna ng malubhang krisis sa karapatang pantao, bumubulusok na pandemya, tumitinding kahirapan, talamak na katiwalian, at kawalan ng katarungan para sa libu libong pinaslang sa ilalim ng giyera laban sa droga at giyera laban sa terorismo.

Pamana ng pamunuang ito ang higit sa 11 trilyon pisong pambansang utang, 4.8 milyong gutom na pamilya, at higit 4 milyong manggagawang walang trabaho; kaakibat ang pamamahalang nakabatay sa seksismo at kawalan ng galang sa kababaihan, habang patuloy na inaalipusta ang hanay ng LGBTIQ+

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[Statement] Statement on the Arrest of Dan Balucio | AMP

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#HumanRights #HRD

Statement on the Arrest of Dan Balucio

The Aktionsbündnis Menschenrechte -Philippinen (AMP) and its member organizations express their deep concern about the recent human rights developments in the Philippines and especially about the arrest of human rights defender and United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP) Pastor Dan Balucioon May 2, 2021.

UCCP Pastor Dan Balucioisa dedicated and well-known human rights activist, community organizer and coordinator of Andurog Mayon, an Ecumenical Disaster Response and Management Committee in Albay Province. In this function he lately coordinated the ongoing humanitarian response in communities affected by the typhoons Rolly and Ulysees. Through his humanitarian activities in the Philippines, he ispart of the civil society movement that facilitates the governments humanitarian response to disasters such as typhoons. He is committed to serve the poor and vocal in his criticism of the current administration under President Duterte. Pastor Dan Balucio is also a member of the South Bicol Conference (SBC) which has a close partnership with the Protestant Churches in Germany.

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[Statement] Pahayag hingil sa karahasan sa Palestina | MHRDNet

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#HumanRights #Palestine

Pahayag hingil sa karahasan sa Palestina

Mariing kinokondena ng Moro Human Rights Defender (MHRDNet) ang patuloy na garapalang pag-atake ng bansang Israel sa Occupied Palestinian Territory, partikular sa East Jerusalem at sa Gaza Strip. Ang walang habas na pamboboma ng Israel na target ang mga pook ng sibilyan ay patuloy na pumapatay at pumipinsala sa mga inosenteng buhay lalong lalo na sa mga kababaihan, matatanda at walang muwang na mga paslit.

Malinaw na ang pananalakay ng Israel sa mamamayan ng Palestina ay tahasang pagyurak sa mga International Laws partikular na sa mga Humanitarian and Human Rights Laws na karapatdapat kondenahin at singilin ng buong Mundo.

Nanawagan ang MHRDNet ng pakikiisa ng lahat lalo na sa Bangsamoro para suportahan ang panawagang itigil ng Israel ang Kriminal na pananalakay at panlulupig nito sa Palestina. Ganundin sumasabay ang MHRDNet sa malawakang panawagan upang umakto na ang United Nations Security Council para mamagitan at mapatigil ang walang pakundangang karahasan.

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[Statement] Natapos ang third quarter nang walang dumating na printed modules | TDC

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#HumanRights #Teachers #COVID19Ph

Natapos ang third quarter nang walang dumating na printed modules

Ngayong araw magtatapos ang Third Quarter para sa School Year 2020-2021 at magsisimula ang Fourth Quarter sa Lunes, Mayo 17, 2021.

Kung tutuusin ay halos patapos na ang kasalukuyang school year at papasok na uli tayo sa susunod na taong-pampaaralan, ang SY 2021-2022 na maagap na itinakda ng DepEd sa Agosto 23, 2021. Inaasahang distance learning muli ang sistema ng susunod na school year dahil na rin sa sitwasyon ng COVID sa ating bansa. At habang lubos ang suporta ng mga guro sa edukasyon sa ilalim ng pandemya, hindi naman maaaring pikitan natin ang mga pagkukulang ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon (DepEd) upang maihatid ang ipinangakong serbisyo para sa ating mga mag-aaral at mamamayan. Ang mga pagkukulang kasi na ito, bandang huli ay mga guro ang siyang magpupuno at mahihirapan.

Tama, natapos na ang third quarter pero hanggang ngayon ay marami pang mga paaralan sa halos lahat ng mga dibisyon- probinsiya at lungsod sa bansa ang wala pa ring printed modules. Kung mayroon man ay kulang na kulang ito o kaya’y soft copy lamang na ida-download ng mga guro ang ibinigay sa kanila.

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