Category Archives: Statement

Statement in Support of the Global Campaign Against Child Labor | HRonlinePH.com

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Statement in Support of the Global Campaign Against Child Labor
June 7, 2023

Human Rights Online Philippines (HROnlinePH), a network of human rights defenders working online for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines, joins hands with human rights organizations, social activists, and child rights advocates around the world to express our unwavering support for the global campaign against child labor.

Child labor is a grave violation of human rights that affects millions of children worldwide. It denies children their right to a childhood, to education, to play, and to grow into healthy, well-rounded individuals. Instead, they are subjected to hazardous working conditions, exploitation, and a loss of opportunities that hinder their overall development.

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Statement in Advancing Digital Rights | HRonlinePH.com

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Statement in Advancing Digital Rights
June 7. 2023

Human Rights Online Philippines (HROnlinePH) is a network of human rights defenders dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights in the digital age.

We recognize that as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the advancement of digital rights is crucial in ensuring the dignity, privacy, and freedom of individuals in online spaces. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to advocating for the rights of individuals in the digital realm.

The digital landscape presents both opportunities and challenges to all of us. While technology has revolutionized the way we communicate, access information, and participate in public discourse, it has also given rise to new forms of surveillance, censorship, violations of privacy, and even the proliferation of troll farms.

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[Statement] “It’s Time for Immediate Action: A Challenge to the New Health Secretary on Tackling the Persistent Health Crisis” | MAG

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MAG STATEMENT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW HEALTH SECRETARY
June 6, 2023

“It’s Time for Immediate Action: A Challenge to the New Health Secretary on Tackling the Persistent Health Crisis”

The Medical Action Group (MAG) welcomes the appointment of Dr. Ted Herbosa, a renowned expert on emergency medicine and public-private partnership in health, as the new Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH). After a year of the Marcos administration, healthcare has seemingly taken a backseat to other government priorities. But with the appointment of a health professional with DOH experience at the helm of the national health agency, expectations are high that he will translate his experience to doing what is best for the health system of the country – which is to work comprehensively to deliver on the promise of the universal health care – that all people have access to the full range of quality health services they need without financial hardship.”

It is a matter of fact that the Philippine public health system is in dire need of improvement. Limited access to healthcare has resulted in preventable illnesses and deaths of many Filipinos.

As the new health secretary, it is now his duty to address these inadequacies and decays in the public health system. MAG as a health and human rights organization, recommends that the new health secretary make a firm resolve to:

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[Statement] Pahayag ng TDC hinggil sa data gathering ng DEPED para sa National Learning Camp sa paparating na bakasyon

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Pahayag ng TDC hinggil sa data gathering ng DEPED para sa National Learning Camp sa paparating na bakasyon

Malinaw naman na ang mga guro ay entitled sa dalawang buwang school break (summer break) at iyan ay ginagarantiyahan ng mga panuntunan at kautusan ng CSC at DepEd mula pa noong pahanong hindi pa ipinapanganak ang marami sa atin. Wala kasi tayong paid vacation at sick leave na mayroon ang ibang kawani, pampubliko man o pribado.

Ibig sabihin nito, anumang trabaho na ipagagawa sa atin sa panahon ng bakasyon ay dapat voluntary at dapat ding tumbasan ng additional compensation gaya ng service credits o overtime pay. Napakahalaga kasi ng school break. Ito nag panahon na maaaring makapagpahinga at makapaghanda para sa susunod na school year ang mga bata at ang mga guro matapos ang sampung buwan ng pagpasok sa eskwela. Kakaiba pa ngayon sapagkat nakaranas tayo ng matinding init na lalong nagbigay-pasakit sa lahat.

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[Statement] on World Environment Day | ATM

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Statement on World Environment Day

In celebration of World Environment Day, members of Alyansa Tigil Mina are mobilizing in different parts of the country this week to highlight the environmental destruction caused by mining and to demand a halt to destructive mining operations.

“The push for the revitalization of the mining industry by the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. imperils our natural resources and local communities,” said Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator.

“As an extractive industry, mining has irreversible environmental impacts. In many Sites of Struggles (SoS), mining destroys the biodiversity, water sources, and ecosystems of the region as well as the livelihoods of the people. Even protected areas such as Mount Guiting-guiting in Sibuyan Island, Romblon and Mount Mantalingahan in Brooke’s Point, Palawan are affected by mining operations,” Garganera said.

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[Statement] on the mass displacement and filing of criminal cases against farmer-members of SANAMABASU | KATARUNGAN

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OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE MASS DISPLACEMENT AND FILING OF CRIMINAL CASES AGAINST FARMER-MEMBERS OF SANAMABASU
February 7, 2023

The Kilusan para sa Repormang Agraryo at Katarungang Panlipunan (KATARUNGAN) strongly condemns the man-made humanitarian crisis affecting more than 70 farming families in Brgy. Sumalo, Hermosa, Bataan. These farmers organized under the Samahan ng mga Nagkakaisang Mamamayan sa Brgy. Sumalo (SANAMABASU) are literally under siege from relentless attacks on their right to land, housing, and basic freedoms through the criminalization of their land rights movements. Their situation highlights the cavalier treatment and continuing marginalization of farmers in the country. Many small farmers and producers who are reeling from the negative impact of trade liberalization and smuggling are also being driven forcibly from their land and livelihoods and are deprived of their right to live peacefully and with dignity.

The members of SANAMABASU have been tilling the land for many years before the Litton family acquired the area through a Sales Patent in 1979. The 214-hectare land was subsequently transferred to Riverforest Development Corporation (RDC) owned by the Litton family. RDC successfully applied for conversion despite the petition of farmers for land redistribution under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of the RDC in 2007, the land remained eligible for acquisition and redistribution under the CARP due to the RDC’s non-compliance with the reglementary period for conversion. Hence, in 2019, the Office of the President ordered that the property be taken over and given to qualified beneficiaries. The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) later covered 155.6 hectares of the property under the CARP.

Since the farmers petitioned for land rights, the RDC has used various tactics to evict the farmers from their homes and land, including conflict-stirring among residents, hiring armed security guards, and filing of criminal and civil cases against them. The Barangay Captain, who has been leading the petition for land reform, has also been targeted with sustained administrative complaints and suspended from office, hindering his ability to serve his constituents. As of last count, farmers and their leaders already faced more than 50 criminal and civil cases. And cases against them are counting.

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[Statement] Pahayag ng Suporta at pakikiisa sa Manggagawa ng ACCEs |AMBA-BALA

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Pahayag ng Suporta at pakikiisa sa Manggagawa ng ACCEs

Sumusuporta at nakiki-isa ang Alyansa ng Manggagawa sa Bataan (AMBA-BALA) sa mga manggagawa ng Association of Concerned CDC Employees (ACCes) sa kanilang pakikipaglaban upang igiiit ang kanilang karapatan sa matagal na tinatamasang benepisyo.

Bawas sa sahod/ benepisyo ang sumalubong sa mga manggagawa ng Clark Development Corporation sa kanilang Payroll ngayong buwan ng Enero. Ayon sa Unyon humigit kumulang limang libong piso (P5,000) ang nabawas sa kanilang buwanang sahod bilang mga rank and file na manggagawa ng CDC. Batay daw ito sa pagpapatupad ng Compensation and Position Classification System (CPCS) mula sa Governance Commission on GOCCs (GCG).

Bagamat umaapela ang unyon ukol sa bagong sistema ng pasahod, kinaltasan parin ang mga manggagawa ng CDC.
Bukod sa paglabag ito article 100 ng ating labor code ( Prohibition against Elimination or Dimunition of benefits) tahasan ding nilabag ng pamunuan ng CDC ang Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) ng matagal ng umiiral sa pagitan ng unyon at pamunuan.

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[Statement] on senate BRC findings and recommendations re DEPED purchase of overpriced purchase | TDC

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TDC statement on senate BRC findings and recommendations re DEPED purchase of overpriced purchase

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committees finding that the laptops purchased by DepEd and PS-DBM were overpriced was expected. We were all witnesses to the panels series of investigations made public last year. The recommendation to file legal actions against some DepEd and DBM officials and even private personalities will bring this P2.4B deal to the proper forum and the officials will have a chance to prove their innocence.

At almost ₱60,000 each, it should prove impossible to justify the purchase of these laptops, as prices online hover at only 20K to 25K, roughly a third of the winning bid. Recipients of these controversial laptops concluded that the units are not fit for the demands of our work- these are outdated. Some teachers rejected it when they read the specifications on the property acknowledgment receipt (PAR), while others returned the units to their property custodians when they found out that these laptops performed terribly. And there are also those who did not use the laptops and just bought new ones with their own money.

At least 6 teachers executed their affidavits and submitted those to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Why not? Most of us continue to make painful sacrifices to find ways to purchase essential laptops, typically by borrowing money at usurious interest rates that we have to bear for several years. This makes this scandalous purchase of ₱2.4 billion all the more abhorrent.

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[Statement] A win for journalists and the rule of law | NUJP

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[Statement] A win for journalists and the rule of law

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines welcomes the acquittal of Maria Ressa and Rappler Holdings Corp. at the Court of Tax Appeals.

The cases against Maria and Rappler illustrate the increasing use of the law for reprisal against and for intimidation against journalists and civil society.

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[Statement] 10 years of the RH Law in the Philippines: A victory? | Roots of Health

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STATEMENT: 10 years of the Reproductive Health Law in the Philippines: A victory?

Getting the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law (RH) enacted in the Philippines a decade ago was a hard-won battle.

The passage of the RH bill faced gargantuan opposition from powerful sectors and getting it passed seemed all but impossible. But realizing the law’s implementation has been tougher.

Maternal mortality has decreased slightly, but it’s still far above the Sustainable Development Goals target. It took ten years, but the Department of Education has finally disseminated a Comprehensive Sexuality Education curriculum. They are now training teachers to implement it. We are working with local schools to do just that.

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[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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