Amnesty International Philippines (AIPh) launched their October 14 report titled “I Turned My Fear Into Courage,” summing up how the authorities have used social media, Facebook in significant cases, to stifle dissent through red-tagging. They dubbed Facebook as a “cheap and effective” way for the government to harass and intimidate critics.
“Who are Ka Eden and Ka Eddie? They are good Christians, good Samaritans, and good revolutionaries. They followed the Christian example and dedicated their lives to solving inequality in our society.”
“As we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, I couldn’t think of a better way that the Philippine government could show its value, its worth, than adopting and implementing this act. It definitely would show commitment to the work of human rights defenders.”
Karapatan called for the UN Human Rights Council and UN Special Procedures to conduct an independent investigation of extrajudicial killings and other rights violations. “These international organizations should see through the Marcos Jr. government’s attempts to window-dress the dire human rights situation in the country.”
By DEE AYROSO
A local court in Quezon City is set to decide on the perjury case filed against 10 human rights defenders on Monday, Jan. 9.
“This bill is refiled in a new Congress, when all eyes in the international community are on the Philippines for the bloody record of the previous president Rodrigo Duterte, and those of the other past regimes, including the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.”
“We strongly call on our lawmakers to pass the Human Rights Defenders Protection Act — and upholding human rights should be at the top of the legislative agenda of those running for a seat in Congress in the upcoming elections.”
“It is necessary that the relevant provisions of the international declaration are translated into a binding commitment not only to protect human rights but also those that work for the protection of these rights so that they may be able to fulfill their important role in the promotion, protection and defense of human rights and fundamental freedom.”
“We must always remember, that the nobility of every profession comes, not with the title that is prefixed in our names, but in how we use it to serve those who have less, those who have nothing, those who have to suffer every ounce of injustice and indignity.”
Soriano attributed the killing to President Rodrigo Duterte’s Memorandum Order No. 32 that targets human and land rights activists in the provinces of Samar, Negros, and the Bicol region.