Karapatang Pantao

Rights groups slam trumped-up charges vs activists, peace consultants

Human rights groups picketed the Manila Regional Trial Court to call for the junking of murder charges against former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and some peace consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), including Randall Echanis, Rafael Baylosis, Vicente Ladlad, and the recently arrested Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria. The clarificatory […]

THROWBACK | Revolutionaries in enemy hands

What happens after Philippine military and police forces arrest a leader of what it claims to be the biggest security threat to its existence? A “tactical interrogation” ensues, said Voltaire Gazmin, Philippine defense secretary. He said this after Benito Tiamzon, alleged by the military to be the chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines […]

Arrests, extra-judicial killing of activists intensify

Human rights group Karapatan condemned the recent arrest of a pregnant daughter of the late Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal–the latest in a series of arrests and killings of supposed revolutionary leaders and sympathizers across the country. Andrea Rosal, nine months pregnant, was arrested by elements of the National […]

Rising number of extra-judicial killings in 2014 alarms rights group

Eleven cases of extra-judicial killings in 10 weeks. Human rights advocates, in a picket-protest in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ), called attention to this fact and urged the  Aquino government to find and punish the perpetrators of these killings and other human rights violations. “If the Aquino government cannot control and stop its […]

Rights group condemns killing of Bishop Capalla’s brother

Human rights group Karapatan condemned the killing of Romeo Capalla, a fair trade activist and younger brother of Davao Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla. Romeo was shot early evening of March 15 in Oton Public Market, Iloilo by an unidentified gunman. He was rushed to Western Visayas Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival. Karapatan […]

On eve of Women’s Day, female political prisoner freed in Davao City

A female hors d’combat and political prisoner, injured and in hospital arrest for almost three years at the Southern Philippines  Medical Center, has been released by a Davao court after posting bail on the eve of the International Women’s Day. The release of Vanessa delos Reyes, 29, was greeted with applause by her supporters and […]

US report on PH rights abuses ‘hypocritical’ — Karapatan

The United State Department’s2014 Human Rights drew flak from human rights group Karapatan, saying the report is “hypocritical” since the US is also responsible for abuses committed by Philippine state security forces. “It is image building. The US government is trying to soften its image among Filipinos and also in the international community as it […]

Panggigipit sa Courage 2, nagpapatuloy

Nadismaya ang mga kawani sa pamahalaan, kasama ang Free Randy and Raul Movement, sa desisyon ng Camarines Norte Provincial Prosecutor na ituloy ang prosekusyon laban sa dalawang organisador ng mga kawani na tinaguriang “Courage 2”. Nagpiket ang mga kawani sa ilalim ng Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) sa harap ng […]

Marcos victims urge Aquino to recall claims board chair

Victims of the Marcos dictatorship led by Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensiyon at Aresto (Selda) urged President Aquino to recall the appointment of former police general Lina Sarmiento as chair of the government board that will process Martial Law human rights claims. Protesting at Mendiola Bridge near the Malacanang Palace, they denounced the […]