“To say that there is no evidence of killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and all attacks is mere parroting of the respondents’ line. It is as if the CA is acknowledging the attacks but absolving the government’s role in all of it.”
Cristina Palabay,secretary general of Karapatan, said, “We have not been given the chance to be heard.”
NUPL President Edre Olalia pointed out that Duterte himself publicly threatened human rights defenders and all supposed communist fronts.
“We reiterate that activism and the full exercise of our civil and political rights is not a crime. While we continue with our everyday human rights work, we are also resolute in our commitment to see this through.”
“Human rights defenders helping the victims and survivors, as well as those working to expose the real situation of extensive rights violations on the ground should not be subjects of attack.” – political prisoners
“It is a painful price we have to pay sometimes in the service of the people and as a pledge to the next generations we will leave behind.”
“Only tyrants and human rights violators stand to gain with the deaths of human rights defenders like Mariam Acob.”
“…But what only the bureau fails to understand (or care about) is that you cannot predict that a person is fit to travel and not in danger from a deep vein thrombosis-which i have previously suffered-and nearly died from with a blood clot in my lung… it seems to me that the bureau is putting my life at risk.”
Karapatan deplored “the continuing spate of harassment against human rights defenders like Prof. Boehringer who are being harassed and intimidated, for conducting human rights advocacy and international solidarity for victims of rights violations in the Philippines.”
“This poison list disguising as petition filed by the DOJ is actually a kill list and an arrest list. Anyone can be a target of extrajudicial killing or illegal arrest using this DOJ petition as a pretext. An alias in the list can be alleged to anyone and that is what makes the petition and list even more precarious.”
“We call on President Rodrigo Duterte to immediately put an end to the political repression and persecution of human rights defenders.” By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL Bulatlat MANILA – An alliance of children’s rights advocate groups is calling on President Duterte to step in on the continued harassment on progressive leaders and members, especially with…