Tag Archives: Phillippines

[Statement] Guevarra report to the UN deflects culpability, accountability from Duterte, shields him from justice | iDEFEND

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#HumanRights #StopTheKillings

Guevarra report to the UN deflects culpability, accountability from Duterte, shields him from justice

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Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra reported to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday regarding his initial findings on the extrajudicial killing of drug suspects in the government’s war on drugs. Guevarra mainly highlighted police errors and operational breaches in anti-drug operations in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga and Cavite, including failure to follow protocol in processing crime scenes and lack of ballistic and paraffin examinations.

It audaciously glossed over the widescale failure to follow protocol and proper procedure by security forces and skipped mentioning the overall policy which directed these killings, then created the environment of impunity for the perpetration of these crimes, downgrading the systematic and brazen disregard for rule of law into individual lapses of judgement by a few bad elements in law enforcement.

Operation Double Barrel, launched by the national police at the prompting of President Duterte, obliterated the rule of law, targeted specific members of the Philippine population for extermination, and violated Constitutionally guaranteed human rights.

Guevarra’s report not only deflects accountability from the President but misrepresents summary executions in the Philippines as mere procedural failures, while maintaining the illusion that domestic mechanisms are intact. This despite the glaring lack of conviction and censure with the mounting death toll from the so-called war on drugs that has abated little in spite of the pandemic.

President Duterte repeatedly promised executive clemency to police should they be convicted of crimes in the conduct of the war on drugs; Duterte encouraged community residents to kill neighbors who use drugs; Duterte issued unverified narco-lists of alleged top drug lords, following which several named therein had been “neutralized” mostly by unknown gunmen.

In his 2020 State of the Nation address the president reiterated that the government will combat COVID19 “with the same fervor as our campaign against illegal drugs, criminality, insurgency…” indicating the continued overarching policy of heavy-handed, repressive measures against violators of local quarantines. According to Human Rights Watch killings went up 50 per cent during the lockdowns.

Now there are attempts to apply aforementioned Operation Double Barrel (Oplan Tokhang) against ‘left-leaning personalities and organizations’ in the northern provinces, sparking concerns of escalated EJKs and human rights violations if enforced. Despite Guevarra’s report of official failures and lapses in the Oplan’s operations, the policy is in full gear, and remains the central theme of Duterte’s governance.

These, along with the government’s non-transparency in its so-called inquiry, the exclusion of families of victims of extrajudicial killings, the Commission on Human Rights and civil society, and most of all the deafening silence in the halls of justice for the more than 30, 000 cases of summary killings, betray the hollow efforts of the Justice department to escape international accountability.

Immediately, in light of the DOJ report, nothing less than the total revocation of Oplan Double Barrel, the prosecution of the perpetrators of extrajudicial killings, providing justice to victims’ families, and the overhaul of the national drug policy towards a rights-based and humane approach can indicate steps in the right direction.

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[Press Release] Briones asked: implement Magna Carta for teachers -TDC

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Briones asked: implement Magna Carta for teachers

e2809cthismagnacartaisconsidered0aabibleoffilipino0ateachersandlistsseveral0aprovisionsthatensure0at-defaultTeachers and civil society groups vowed to engage DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones and the Duterte administration on their five-decade advocacy for the implementation of Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA 4670), a vintage law enacted in June 1966.

“This Magna Carta is considered a bible of Filipino teachers and lists several provisions that ensure the rights, welfare and dignity of the country’s public school teachers.” Said Benjo Basas, the national chairperson of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC). “However, some of those provisions have not been implemented since the 1960s, and many still are selectively and partly enforced.” Basas added.

Basas cites certain provisions like the salary scale in which the law provides the teachers’ salary progression from lowest grade to highest grade within a maximum period of ten years, overtime pay for those who teach beyond six hours, free medical examination and hospitalization, paid study leave for those who served for seven years, and special hardship allowances, among others.

On its part, the Education Network-Philippines (E-Net) a national alliance of education sector advocates lamented the outcome of the 50-year old law, “This law embodies our government’s commitment ‘to promote and improve the social and economic status of public school teachers, their living and working conditions, their terms of employment and career prospects.’ But after five decades, teachers are not rejoicing but remember instead how their Magna Carta had been a long-forgotten law.” Said Addie Unsi, E-Net National Coordinator.

The groups have jointly initiated a massive information and education campaign for the Magna Carta through a series of forum that started on June 18, 2016, exactly 50 years after the law has signed by the then Pres. Ferdinand Marcos. The initiative aims to strengthen and mobilize support for its implementation by engaging the respective government agencies, especially DepEd.

“This is one sad thing about this country, you have to fight for the enactment of a social legislation, and you then have to wage another battle to implement it.” Basas exclaimed.

Basas said that they have asked the new DepEd Secretary, Dr. Liling Briones for a dialogue to tackle the issue. “The law mandates the DepEd Secretary to implement many of its provisions and even directed her to prepare budgetary estimates to be submitted to Congress for appropriations.” Basas said. “We are confident that Sec. Briones will be on our side on this matter, being an expert on fiscal policies and an advocate of social justice, the Secretary’s wisdom is very much anticipated.”

Briones was also present in the first forum in UP Diliman and has stated that teachers deserve more than just lip-service recognition and accolades but a genuine change in their condition where their economic and democratic rights are being respected and protected.

Addie Unsi, E-Net National Coordinator ended saying “we are hoping that the new administration will really effect genuine change, it can start by correcting the errors of the past administrations, respect and protect teachers’ rights by fully and correctly implementing the provisions of the Magna Carta.”

TDC and E-Net initiated forums are set on July 22 and 23 at the DepEd Regional Office in San Fernando City Pampanga and DepEd-NCR office in Quezon City, respectively. Another forum is also tentatively scheduled on July 29 at DepEd CALABARZON office in Cainta, Rizal. #

For details:
Benjo Basas, TDC National Chairperson, 0927-3356375/ 0999-9744612
Addie Unsi, E-NET National Coordinator, 0906-1748411

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[Press Release] Taguig fiscal recommends indictment of PMPI 4 on Cyber Libel -PMPI

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Taguig fiscal recommends indictment of PMPI 4 on Cyber Libel

PMPIA TAGUIG prosecutor has endorsed the filing of cyber libel charges against a civil rights group for reporting a mining company’s operation in Manicani Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar, allegedly for post-typhoon rehabilitation.

Prosecutor Patrick Noel De Dios submitted the resolution to the Taguig Prosecutors’ Office more than five months after the cyber libel complaint filed by Hinatuan Mining Corporation (HMC) against civil society network Philippine Misereor Partnership, Incorporated (PMPI) and four PMPI personnel. HMC is a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corporation.

HMC’s cyber libel complaint stems from a press release of PMPI reporting a June 2015 incident where a barge hired by the mining company to carry its equipment ran over and destroyed small fishing boats off the coast of Manicani Island.

“Just like what we said on our counter-affidavit, we believe that the complaint of the HMC is a form of SLAPP [strategic legal action against public participation] and plain harassment for our organization that is instrumental why HMC’s operations in Manicani Island is suspended until now. It is sad that the prosecutor failed to see that but the fight is not over,” said Yolanda Esguerra, PMPI National Coordinator.

De Dios has recommended cyber libel charges be filed against Esguerra, as well as PMPI staff members Candy Hidalgo, Edel Garingan and Victor Morillo (together called the “PMPI 4”).

HMC’s operations in the island of Manicani have been suspended since 2002 upon the request of the Diocese of Borongan on behalf of Manicani residents due to the mining operations adverse impact on the environment. Since the early 2000s, PMPI and the Diocese of Borongan have been helping the resistance put up by islanders led by the Protect Manicani Island Society, Inc. (PROMISI) – formerly the Save Manicani Movement (SAMAMO).

“Acknowledging how powerful and connected the complainants are, we have prepared for the worst. We will not be shocked if a warrant against us will soon be issued and we are ready. In fact, we are elated with the number of lawyers and organizations that have signified their intent to help us in our case,” Esguerra said.

While the complaint was recommended to be heard in court, only one of the three counts of Cyber Libel raised by HMC will become the basis for the case.

“The prosecutor considers as libelous the PMPI report regarding the destruction of three fishing boats by the mining company’s barge,” Atty. Macki Maderazo, the PMPI 4’s legal counsel, explained.

He added that they will challenge the part of the resolution that says a mining company cannot be considered a public figure because Philippine jurisprudence and several expert legal opinions have repeatedly asserted that corporations may also fall under the public figure category.

The Secretariat
Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc.
Unit 204 Pacific Century Tower
1472-1476 Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon Ave. Quezon City, Philippines
Landline/Fax No.: (02) 961 5956
Mobile No.: +63 922 850 1843
Website: http://www.pmpi.org.ph/
FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/philmisereor

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[Press Release] Active Vista Human Rights Film Festival challenges Filipino electorate: Exorcise historical amnesia! -DAKILA

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Active Vista Human Rights Film Festival challenges Filipino electorate: Exorcise historical amnesia!

Dakila newTo mark the commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the People Power Revolution, the Active Vista Human Rights Film Festival opened its 4th edition with the screening of the film, EDSA XXX by renowned avant-garde filmmaker, KHAVN, last February 24, Wednesday, 6pm at the Cinema 4 of Shang Cineplex, Shangri-La Mall, Mandaluyong City.

“30 Years after EDSA, has nothing really changed?” “Are we better off now than we were before?” Active Vista explores this recurring question through a political satirical musical dedicated to “Filipinos who know how to live for love of freedom and liberty”.

With the theme, “truth X imagination”, Active Vista dares to inspire a revolution of the mind and hearts of Filipino audiences by bringing together human rights and film, advocacy and art, and empowerment and entertainment on the big screen. Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the historic EDSA People Power Revolution, the film festival goes wider and deeper, putting human rights education at the forefront as it holds screenings from February 24 to 27 across public theaters in Metro Manila, Dumaguete, Davao, Iloilo, and Cebu.

According to its Festival Director Leni Velasco, “There is nothing more timely than opening this festival on the eve of the 30th Anniversary of the People Power Revolution in this month of love. EDSA, after all, was born out of love – love for freedom, for liberty, for country, for every fellow countrymen. We hope to spark and rekindle that same love again among the Filipino public especially among the youth by presenting these films that will disturb or inspire them to explore social truths.”

The film, EDSA XXX, takes us forward to 2030, the year of the 30th EDSA revolution to post the question, “Have you ever wondered why nothing changes despite countless presidents?”  Here the answer is given in the form of an absurdist cross between low-budget science-fiction musical and crazy political satire. In the film, we see a three-eyed new leader, mermaids in blue leggings, and Freedom Fighters disguised with shopping bags. This is not a film by KHAVN.

“Cinema is not there to be pleasant. It is there to stir, disturb, provoke, to punch the status quo instead of one’s time card, to stop the hiding behind sterilized, anesthetized, spineless art and calling it a fearless struggle for change. Cinema is a rupture and a revolt — a daily, hourly, minutely questioning of what’s right and wrong, good and bad, beautiful and ugly, until the profane becomes the sacred. The profane is the sacred”, Khavn in a statement said.  Most recently, Khavn made headlines by performing a 13-hour live piano film scoring. He set the record for the longest film concert as he unveiled his 13-hour autobiographical film “SIMULACRUM TREMENDUM” at the 45th International Film Festival Rotterdam.

Active Vista Festival Director, Leni Velasco, explained, “Who else can pull off 13 hours of live piano film scoring? No one else but Khavn, bringing the unimaginable to reality as always. EDSA XXX is the most fitting opening film for Active Vista not only because of the obvious but also more importantly because we want to shake the audience with a film that is both absurd and true. The power of cinema lies on its ability to mirror and hammer society and tap into our consciousness. And sometimes, it is in encountering the imaginary that social truths become amplified—this is ‘Truth X Imagination’. “

The Festival Opening marked the start of the yearlong program, which brings human rights themed films to schools and communities nationwide. Active Vista utilizes cinema first, as an educational platform to discuss and shed light on the importance of knowing and asserting human rights; and second, as a tool for empowerment and bringing about relevant social change.

For the Festival Opening, Active Vista presents screenings of Jun Lana’s Barber’s Tales on the 25th and Pepe Diokno’s Kapatiran on the 26th, also at Shangri-la. Ara Chawdhury’s Miss Bulalacao, meanwhile, goes to Dumaguete on the February 25 and shall make a homecoming in Cebu on the 27th with back-to-back screenings at Robinsons Movieworld. Pepe Diokno’s, Engkwentro, will be screened in Iloilo while Chuck Gutierrez’s Iisa goes to Davao. Three internationally acclaimed foreign films, The Missing Picture by Rithy Panh, Citizenfour by Laura Poitras, and Margarita with a Straw by Shonali Bose, will be shown on February 27 at the UP Film Center.

“Street artist, JR, once said, ‘What we see changes who we are’. This Active Vista seeks to remind the public especially the younger generation who may not fully understand yet the importance of the EDSA Revolution that truth is both in the obvious and the obscure. The problem is that we, as a nation, have become afraid of the truth because it is a reflection of who we are and the society we built”, Velasco explained.

“And the truth is – we commemorate EDSA every year because 30 years ago, the nation saw truth and acted on it. The truth is 30 years after, we have forgotten this truth because we have been facing other truths as well, truths that we live with every day of our lives – the truth in the face of children living in the streets; of a mother whose child has disappeared; of women sexually abused or trafficked; of people discriminated because of their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression; of families torn apart by the need to look for greener pastures abroad; of workers living on deplorable working conditions; of parents who can barely provide food in their family’s tables; of farmers suffering from the impacts of climate change; of commuters losing their productivity and dignity in the horrible traffic situation; of public servants who makes corruption a sustainable living, of this May 2016 elections where the changes in leadership means nothing to ordinary Filipinos; of a government who has failed to live up to the promise of EDSA”, Velasco further discussed.

“But truth, no matter how ugly, no matter how difficult, needs to be seen. Because it is only in acknowledging truth that we are liberated and are empowered to transform it. This Active Vista hopes to be that undertaking – a platform to exorcise historical amnesia and usher this new generation into an understanding of the true essence of EDSA. The power of art is its ability to change perception, to change how people view the world. Active Vista inspires to do so through cinema, one viewer, at a time”, ended Velasco.

Active Vista invites audiences to experience “truth X imagination” at the Active Vista Human Rights Film Festival this February 24-27, 2016. For screening schedules, check out http://www.activevista.ph

Press Contact: Kai 09151780240  activevista@dakila.org.ph

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