Protest at the 19 extrajudicial killings perpetrated in the Philippines since January 1, 2014- Philippines Australia Union Link

March 29, 2014,



H. E. Benigno C Aquino III
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
San Miguel, Manila
Philippines
Email: op@president.gov.ph



Protest at the 19 extrajudicial killings perpetrated in the Philippines since January 1, 2014

Dear Excellency,

Our organisation has been working with the trade union movement in the Philippines since 1984. We find that your presidency is becoming just as deadly for trade union leaders, peasant leaders, political activists and all kinds of human rights advocates as was the notorious presidency of your predecessors, the dictator Marcos and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Here is the deadly tally of 19 people so far this year:

January 03, 2014 - MONTERONA, Marcelo, 41, Farmer, Indug Kautawan, Maco, Compostela Valley
January 12, 2014 - TOLENTINO, Antonio, 62, Farmer, Aniban, Hacienda Dolores, Porac, Pampanga
January 30, 2014 - ORBINA, Henry, Worker, Cabadian, Sorsogon
January 31, 2014 - AMBONGAN, Datu Rolando, 39, Higaonon tribe, Katribu Partylist member, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte

February 05, 2014 - LAURON, Julieto, 41, Farmer, Kasama - Bukidnon, Valencia, Bukidnon
February 06, 2014 - RAYTERAN, Rosaldo, Driver, Albay People's Org, Libon, Albay
February 06, 2014 - RAYTERAN, Rasty, 18, Youth, Libon, Albay
February 18, 2014 - ARCHIVAL, Noel, 53, Lawyer, Dalaguette, Cebu
February 18, 2014 - MIÑOZA, Candido, 47, Archival's aide, Dalaguette, Cebu
February 18, 2014 - JAYME, Alejandro, 45, Archival's driver, Dalaguette, Cebu

March 03, 2014 - LIGIW, Fermin, 29, Binongan-Tinguian tribe, Anakbayan/Kastan (CPA provincial chapter), Baay-Licuan, Abra
March 03, 2014 - LIGIW, Eddie, 45, Binongan-Tinguian tribe, Kastan, Baay-Licuan, Abra
March 03, 2014 - LIGIW, Licuben, 77, Binongan-Tinguian tribe, Kastan, Baay-Licuan, Abra
March 15, 2014 - CAPALLA, Romeo, 65, entrepreneur, PFTC, SELDA, Oton, Iloilo
March 22, 2014 - LUBIANO, Julio, 31, Small-scale miner, Caramoan, Camarines Sur
March 22, 2014 - LUBIANO, Rene, 28, Small-scale miner, Caramoan, Camarines Sur
March 22, 2014 - VIRTUS, Salem, 24, Small-scale miner, Caramoan, Camarines Sur
March 22, 2014 - BRONDIA, Jesse, 35, Small-scale miner, Caramoan, Camarines Sur
March 25, 2014 - BUGATTI, William, 43, CHRA, CPA, BM provincial coordinator, Kiangan, Ifugao

Among all these fine Filipino people who have been murdered for their political activity, we especially note the workers Henry Orbina, Rosaldo and Rasty Reyteran, and selfless people’s advocates Romeo Capalla, Noel Archival, and William Bugatti.

We condemn these political murders and urgently call on your government to act now for justice for these victims of extra-judicial killing.

The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into these incidents of human rights violations, and to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
The withdrawal of Oplan Bayanihan, the Philippine government’s counterinsurgency program that victimizes innocent and unarmed civilians.
3. The Philippine Government to observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all the major Human Rights instruments that it is a party and signatory to.

Yours sincerely,



Peter Murphy
Secretary

Cc: Sec. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
doj.delima2@gmail.com

Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com lorettann@gmail.com

Hon Julie Bishop MHR
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
foreignminister2013@dfat.gov.au

Legal Aspects of arbitrary arrest of peace negotiator of the National Democratic Front-Philippines (NDF-P) by the police

Why the arrest of the Tiamzons et al is illegal and unjustified
By the legal defense team of the PILC and NUPL
26 March 2014


1. The Tiamzon spouses are covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) arising from the peace negotiations and thus must not be arrested by the Government of the Philippines (GPH).


2. Benito and Wilma Austria Tiamzon are holders of documents of identification (more popularly known as “safe conduct passes”) numbers ND978227 and ND978226, respectively, as consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). Both have also been issued Letters of Acknowledgement by two Chairmen of the GPH Negotiating Panel, Howard Dee in 1996 and Silvestre H. Bello III in 2001.


3. Wilma Austria Tiamzon is publicly known by her real name to be involved in the GPH-NDFP peace negotiations since the 1990s, and must be afforded recognition and protection as such. The use of assumed names by accredited or protected persons, such as “Crising Banaag” by Benito Tiamzon, is justified by:
3.1. Accepted practice in peace negotiations with underground organizations, and as agreed upon by the Parties.
3.2. Additional implementing rules pertinent to the JASIG signed by both Parties explicitly allowing such use.
3.3. Historical lessons during the 1986 peace negotiations when a number of participants from the NDFP were exposed, arrested, and even killed.
3.4. Security and privacy considerations, to encourage those who want to participate in the negotiations, and as assurance against present or future reprisals.


4. The status of the Tiamzon spouses as consultants of the NDFP is not questionable. There is no need for further or additional verification/validation of their identities.
4.1. They are in possession of and presented documents of identification and letters of acknowledgement. Further verification is only obligatory when there are no other means of establishing identity. (JASIG Implementing Rules)
4.2. Out of 427 political prisoners in the Philippines, only 14 are being claimed by the NDFP as consultants.


5. Arresting the Tiamzon spouses constitutes bad faith on the part of the GPH in complying with its obligations under binding bilateral agreements.
5.1. JASIG was crafted precisely to facilitate the peace negotiations, to create a favorable atmosphere conducive to free discussion and free movement during the peace negotiation, and avert incidents that may jeopardize the peace negotiations. It actually benefits the panelists, consultants, staff and security of both Parties to safety and immunity guarantees.
5.2. Under the principle in international law of “pacta sunt servanda” (Latin for promises must be kept), agreements are binding between the Parties and must be kept and performed in good faith.
5.3. A Party like the GPH cannot use its domestic law as a justification or excuse for the non-performance/compliance with its obligations under a binding international agreement like JASIG.


6. Protection of the Tiamzon spouses under the JASIG subsists.
6.1. JASIG can only be terminated by written notice of either Party to the other and will only be effective 30 days upon receipt (JASIG Part III. No. 5). No written notice has been sent or received by the NDFP for the termination of the negotiations by GPH under the Aquino administration.
6.2. There is no provision in the JASIG allowing for suspension or "inoperatibility" of its protections as this will render nugatory its objectives and practical value.
6.3. The whole peace process or negotiations are huge and elaborate and do not only involve scheduled formal talks across the negotiating table. It equally involves continuing phases such as consultation, research, study, education, information, advocacy, backchanneling, exploratory meetings, informal talks, and formal talks. Absence, suspensions or impasses in formal peace talks do not mean the whole peace negotiations/process are automatically absent, suspended or terminated.


7. The Tiamzon spouses are engaged in activities directly related to their role as consultants in the peace negotiations.
7.1. The Tiamzons were conducting intensive consultations with peasants and basic sectors in the Visayas at the time of their arrest particularly with respect to socio-economic issues and the effects of supertyphoon Yolanda.
7.2. Even the GPH alleges them as leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New Peoples’ Army. It stands to reason and common sense that they should be monitoring implementation of agreements on the field, be consulted by and conduct consultations with members of the NDFP and pertinent individuals and groups, in such a significant work as the peace negotiations.


8. Four days after their arrest have passed yet still no valid warrants have been presented against the seven detained.
8.1. The detained and their counsels have not received, nor have been furnished previous valid warrants against any of them. Even present attempts to procure these are being blocked by the military. It is not implausible that shotgun warrants would eventually surface as the Tiamzon spouses are mechanically made default respondents or “usual suspects” in incidents allegedly involving the New People's Army.


9. The belated inquest proceedings for the trumped-up charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives are highly irregular and cannot be given legal credence or effect.
9.1. It was conducted 44 hours after the arrest, way beyond the GPH maximum period of 36 hours of legal detention without charges being filed; thus the detention is arbitrary and illegal.
9.2. It was conducted not at the place of the alleged crimes in Cebu, but some 355 miles away, in Quezon City.
9.3. Evidence has been planted. It is incumbent now upon the GPH prove the integrity and admissibility in court of the firearms and explosives allegedly taken from the detainees. The presumption of innocence subsists and the burden of proof and evidence does not shift to them.
9.4. New, false, and fabricated charges were filed as an afterthought to cover previous fatal infirmities in supposed warrants almost two days after the incident.
9.5. Police CIDG officers did not inform counsels for detained about the inquest despite presenting themselves the day before. Counsels were surprised with and only informed about the inquest for the new and fabricated charges only three hours prior by members of media.


10. The practice of charging common criminal offenses, instead of political crimes, against consultants of the NDFP (and other political prisoners) cannot legalize the arrest and detention of the Tiamzons.
10.1. Filing criminal charges , false, anomalous and fabricated at that, are precisely calculated to undermine and remove the very protection of the JASIG; conversely, the JASIG was intended to shield participants of the peace process from harassment and other acts that hinder their work, like the filing of such charges.
10.2. These new false charges are designed to ensure the detention of the Tiamzons when other possible old charges against them wither in the face of intense scrutiny.
10.3. These trumped up charges violate the political offense doctrine, which mandates that all crimes in furtherance of political beliefs must be subsumed under one political crime of rebellion. Any person investigated, charged, arrested, prosecuted or convicted in violation of this judicial doctrine must be released as mandated by the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), which the GPH co-signed with the NDFP way back 1998.#



References:


Atty. Rachel F. Pastores
Managing Counsel, Public Interest Law Center (PILC)
+639279219539

Atty. Edre U. Olalia
Secretary General, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL)
+639175113373

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National Secretariat
National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL)
3F Erythrina Bldg., Maaralin corner Matatag Sts. Central District,Quezon City, Philippines
Telefax no.920-6660
Email addresses: nupl2007@gmail.com and nuplphilippines@yahoo.com
Follow us on twitter @nuplphilippines and facebook @https://www.facebook.com/nuplphilippines
Visit the NUPL website at http://www.nupl.net/

Is the Philippine government of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III sincere in pursuing peace?

Is Aquino really sincere in pursuing peace in the Philippines?



The illegal arrest and detention of peace consultants is a step backward in the peace process.

This is the statement of the Asia Pacific Committee for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (APCHRPP) as it condemns the illegal arrest by the Philippine government’s security forces of Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria in Cebu, Philippines last March 22, 2014.

Both Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria are consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and are helping very actively in the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP/GPH) and the NDFP.

The GRP/GPH is imperiling the peace negotiations as well as violating agreements that it has signed with the NDFP with the arrest of Tiamzon and Austria. The specific agreement that the GRP/GPH violated is the JASIG, or the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees.

Both Tiamzon and Austria are holders of Document of Identification as well as a Letter of Acknowledgment signed by then GRP/GPH Negotiating Panel Chairman Silvestre H. Bello III. The said Letter of Acknowledgment states that the holder of the said Letter is entitled to safety and immunity guarantees as provided in the JASIG, which was signed by members of the negotiating panels of both the GRP/GPH and the NDFP on February 24, 1995.

Composed of various organizations and networks in many countries based in the Asia Pacific region, the APCHRPP is concerned that the Philippine government is only further prejudicing the peace negotiations by arresting and detaining peace consultants like Tiamzon and Austria.

The group also questions the inquest of Tiamzon and Austria in Camp Crame, a military camp in Manila, where they were also charged with additional cases like illegal possession of firearms and explosives. According to the lawyer of the two arrested peace consultants, Atty. Rachel Pastores, the validity of the inquest proceedings itself is in question while the new charges did not register in earlier reports of the arrest. Such proceedings being led by the government are highly contentious and unacceptable.

The arrest of Tiamzon and Austria comes on top of many human rights violations being committed in the Philippines. According to Philippine human rights group Karapatan, since Philippine president Benigno Aquino III took office, 169 cases of extrajudicial killings have been documented, in addition to 179 cases of frustrated extrajudicial killings, 19 cases of enforced disappearances, 86 cases of torture and 570 cases of illegal arrest and detention.

How will just and lasting peace be achieved when those in authority are the ones violating the very agreements that they signed with the NDFP? Why would they arrest those who are important to the peace negotiations? With this new development, it is hard not to cast doubts on the sincerity of the Philippine government to pursue peace when their actions clearly run counter to their statements.

If President Aquino and the Philippine government really want just and lasting peace, then it should heed the urgent demand to release immediately and unconditionally Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria.



For reference: Rev. Joram H. Calimutan,
Secretariat

When will the government ever uphold the right to life, freedom and democracy of the people?

March 17, 2014

An Open Letter to President Benigno Aquino III
Condemning the Massacre of Freddie Ligiw, Edgar Ligiw and Licuben Ligiw

Dear President Aquino,

We, the members of the International Coalition on Human Rights in the Philippines – Canada chapter, condemn in the strongest terms the brutal killing of Freddie “Fermin” Ligiw, Edgar Ligiw and their father, Licuben Ligiw on March 2, 2014 in Baay-Licuaan, Abra. In solidarity with their family and indigenous community, we demand speedy justice for them. We call on you to immediate order an independent and impartial investigation, prosecution of those responsible for this heinous crime and speedy justice for the victims.

Elements of the 41st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) are believed to be responsible for the killing. On February 19, soldiers from this battalion forcibly took Freddie to serve as a guide in their operation against suspected New People’s Army combatants in the area. Subsequently, Fermin and his brother and father were reported missing and their dead bodies found on March 7. The 41st IB has a long record of human rights violations in Abra province that includes harassment and intimidation, political vilification, arbitrary arrest and detention of ordinary civilians.

The massacre of the Ligiw family is just the latest in the spate of killings, abductions and similarly grievous human rights violations committed against leaders and members of people’s organizations that have been reported since January 2014. Freddie was a member of a youth organization, Sidakan-Anakbayan, and with his brother and father and other family members was member of the Cordillera People’s Alliance, KASTAN – Kakailian Salakniban Tay Amin ti Nagtaudan (People Defending the Ancestral Land) and Baay Licuaan Stand Up for Your Rights that successfully resisted the exploration activities of Canadian company, Olympus Mining Co.

Even as we are writing this letter, another human rights advocate has been killed. Romeo Capalla was killed on Saturday, March 15, 2014 in Oton, Iloilo. The 65-year old Capalla was the chairperson of the board of directors of the Panay Fair Trade Center, a member organization of the International Federation of Alternative Trade.
Mr. President, we are deeply troubled by the deafening silence of your administration in the face of this brutal violence committed by state agents against citizens of your country. Your government’s commitment to human rights has lost credibility. The Aquino government is following the pattern of past President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who played deaf and blind to the extrajudicial killings that escalated into a crisis during her administration, which to this day, has remained unabated. Our observation is supported by the occurrence of extrajudicial killings almost every week since the beginning of 2014:
Marcelo Monterona, killed on January 5 in Maco, Compostela Valley

Arman Padino, killed on January 13 in Hacienda Dolores in Pampanga

Henry Orbina, killed on January 30 in Cabid-an Sorsogon City

Rolando Ambungan, killed on January 31 in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte

Julieto Lauron, killed on February 5 in Haindangon, Valencia City

Rosauro Rayteran, killed on February 6 in San Pascual, Libon, Albay



The pattern indicates to us that the Philippine government is intensifying its implementation of the Operational Plan Bayanihan. It is cynical of the Philippine government to be ramping up the counter-insurgency war, which the United Nations and human rights organizations around the world have pointed to as the root of the extrajudicial killing crisis, while seeking a seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

We call on the Philippine government to

Immediately order an independent, impartial and competent investigation into the killing of Freddie “Fermin”, Edgar and Licuben Ligiw and speedy prosecution of those responsible for the crime in order to render speedy justice to the victims

Pull-out the 41st IBPA and all military troops from Abra to ensure that the investigation is independent and impartial

Immediately order the formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into the above mentioned incidents of human rights violations, and to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.

Effect the immediate withdrawal of Oplan Bayanihan, the Philippine government’s counterinsurgency program to demonstrate its serious intent to observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all the major Human Rights instruments that it is a party and signatory to.

Resume the formal peace talks of the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines to discuss the roots of the armed conflict, and an end to militarization of communities
Justice NOW for the Ligiw family! Stop the killings NOW! End impunity NOW!

Akdaan (Toronto, Ontario)
Anakbayan – Toronto (Toronto, Ontario)
Asilo (Toronto, Ontario)
Basics Community News Service (Toronto, Ontario)
BAYAN - Canada
Beaconsfield United Church (Montreal, Quebec)
Beaconsfield Initiative
Binnadang-Migrante (Toronto, Ontario)
Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Centre d'appui aux Philippines - Centre for Philippine Concerns (Montreal, Quebec)
Centre des travailleuses et travailleurs immigrants - Immigrant Worker's Centre (Montreal, Quebec)
Filipino Christian Fellowship, Toronto, Canada
Filipino Migrant Workers’ Movement (Toronto, Ontario)
Gabriela – Ontario (Toronto, Ontario)
IWworkers - Association of Filipino Women Workers (Toronto, Ontario)
Migrante Canada
Migrante – British Columbia
Migrante - Ontario
PATAC (Toronto, Ontario)
Philippine Solidarity Group – Toronto (Ontario)
United Church of Canada
Logan Sellathurai - Retired Trade Union Activist
Rev. Stuart Lyster, retired United Church Minister

*The International Coalition on Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) is a global network of organizations outside the Philippines who are concerned about human rights Philippines and committed to work for a just and lasting peace in the Philippines.

A SUNSET TO REMEMBER

Seldom would I see the sun sets on the western horizon,
Although I would see more than frequently the sun rises in the east
Whenever the sun rises surrounded by the crimson clouds
The native weather prophets would tell me it will be a hot day
My mother would be so pleased to see the sun rises
Because she and some of us kids would spend a day in the sun
Standing, hands busy spreading, arranging varieties of fish on the
matted bamboo slats made into the fish dying panels.
The day may end with the soft wind blowing cooling the sweat drench body
And my mind would gently go calm as I witnessed the golden sun sets on the western horizon.
Another day is over, another night of youthful dreams and hopes for a better life ahead.
While the sun sinks into the sea, my spirit soars.
This is the sunset to be remembered.

Call for justice for the victims of killing in Central Luzon, the Philippines

APPEAL FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION


Dear friends,

Please join us in our call for justice for the farmers who were victims of killing and other human rights violations. The farmers are in haciendas owned by big landlords or in haciendas targeted for land conversion for real estate and other commercial purposes.

Arbitrary killing, frustrated killing, and harassment of farmers in Hacienda Dolores, Porac, Pampanga

On January 12, 2014, around 3:00 to 3:30 am, Eduardo Tolentino, a resident and farmer of Purok 7, Hacienda Dolores, Porac, Pampanga went to his field to pick fruits and tend to his animals. Upon reaching an underpass that connects the village and farm lands through the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, Eduardo, with his neighbors, were accosted by Triple L security guards. Eduardo called for assistance. Ener, Eduardo’s brother, woke up his companions, including village guard Tanod Virgilio Padiño and residents Arman Padiño, Noel Tumali, Norma Ignacio and Josie de Jesus to go to the said underpass to talk to the security guards.

While negotiating with the guards, Ener’s father village captain Antonio Tolentino arrived. The guards immediately fired their guns. Arman Padiño was hit in the head and Noel Tumali at the back. Both were immediately brought to Songco Lapid District Hospital in Porac. At around 2:00 p.m., the following day, January 13, Padiño was pronounced dead.

During the gunfire, Bgy. Captain Tolentino grabbed security guard Larry Sabado who was about to shoot him. Luckily, the gun misfired. Sabado reloaded his gun and Tolentino again grabbed Sabado, who in turn, hit him on his head with the gun.

Sabado was eventually overpowered. The men tied him and brought to Tolentino’s house before he will be turned over to the authorities. Sabado was able to escape, but was later found hiding in another house nearby. He later surrendered to the policemen who arrived at the village.

The next day, on January 13, Brgy. Capt. Tolentino and his son Ener charged Larry Sabado with frustrated murder at the Prosecutor’s Office; only to learn that the they already face charges of slight physical injuries and three counts of grave threat filed by Triple L Company.

The two Tolentinos were arrested and detained at the Pampanga Provincial Police Office in San Fernando, Pampanga. They were released on bail.

Sabado, who was detained at a police precinct, was released on January 15, and is undergoing preliminary investigation for charges of attempted murder filed by Capt. Tolentino.

The farmers of Hacienda Dolores face threats of eviction from the land they tilled for generations as the Leonardo Lachenal Leonio Holdings, Inc (LLL), FL Property Management Corporation (FL) and Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) eye the vast tracts of lands.

Bulldozing of farm lands and displacement of farmers in Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac City

Since December 2013, the Cojuangco-owned Tarlac Development Corporation (TADECO) had bulldozed and fenced off the farm lands of more than 20 farmers in Brgy. Balete, Tarlac City.

The land is covered by land reform and is no longer private property of the Cojuangco-Aquino clan based on the notice served by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on December 2013. The DAR’s resolution was reinforced by the local court’s dismissal, on February 4, 2014, of the unlawful detainer or ejectment charge filed by the Cojuangcos against the farmers.

On February 8, security guards of TADECO began bulldozing the farms and farm huts in Brgy. Balete.

Rey Flores, 16, was accosted by the guards who saw him took video of the destruction of the farms. The guards held Flores at gunpoint. He was turned-over to the police. Flores was only released upon the assistance of Tarlac City Councilor Emily Ladera-Facunla and representatives of the Department of Social Work and Development.

In 2013, several peasant-leaders and rights defenders in Hacienda Luisita were illegally arrested and charged with “harassment suits.” The latest victim of these suits is Councilor Emily Ladera-Facunla who was charged by the Tadeco with trespassing and coercion. The charge was ssued by the Tarlac City Prosecutor’s Office without preliminary investigation.

Councilor Facunla is the sister of Abelardo Ladera, a victim of extrajudicial killing in March 3, 2006. Their parents were former sugar workers in Hacienda Luisita. Abelardo was also a city councilor at the time of his death.

Farmers of Brgy. Balete continue to protest the destruction of their lands and the Cojuangco’s blatant disregard of the ruling of the Supreme Court and DAR to distribute the land to the farmers.

UA Date :

March 17, 2014


Recommended Action:
Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:
Justice for the extrajudicial killing of Arman Padiño; and the frustrated extrajudicial killing of Antonio Tolentino and Noel Tumali.
Stop the filing of fabricated charges and arbitrary arrests against rights defenders Antonio and Ener Tolentino, Rey Flores, Tarlac City councilor Emily Ladera-Facunla and farmer leaders at the Hacienda Luisita
The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into these incidents of human rights violations, and to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
The PH government and its state security forces to stop labelling and targeting human rights defenders as “members of front organizations of the communists” and “enemies of the state.”
The withdrawal of Oplan Bayanihan, the Philippine government’s counterinsurgency program that victimizes innocent and unarmed civilians.
The Philippine Government to observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all the major Human Rights instruments that it is a party and signatory to.
You may send your communications to:

H.E. Benigno C. Aquino III
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
E-mail: op@president.gov.ph

Sec. Teresita Quintos-Deles
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
7th Floor Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City 1605
Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Fax:+63 (2) 638 2216
stqd.papp@opapp.gov.ph

Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-6193 / 911-0488 / 982-5600
Fax:+63(2) 982-5600
Email: osnd@philonline.com, dnd.opla@gmail.com

Atty. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-1908
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.211/214
Fax: (+632) 523-9548
Email: lmdelima@doj.gov.ph, lmdelima.doj@gmail.com, lmdelima.doj2@gmail.com

Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 928-5655, 926-6188
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com, lorettann@gmail.com


Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the above-named government officials, to our address below.
URGENT ACTION Prepared by:

Accepting the blessing of fullness of life

Title: Accepting the blessing of fullness of life
Scripture Texts: Genesis 12: 1-4a; John 3: 1-17
16 March 2014
Delivered at Filipino community in Zion Methodist Church, Seoul, Korea
by Frank J. Hernando

Points of Reflection:

1. The catch phrase "born again" has been used mainly by the new religious movements as distinct characteristics of a religiosity that has been centered on separation from the ways of the world and achieved well assured place in the heavenly places. There are those who have been piously following the born again life and somehow this new found life has given them opportunity to live the values after conversion and have reckoned with the possibility to live a godly life have forsaken the ways of the world.

2. Nicodemus, a scholar of the Pharisees secretly met Jesus at night to ask important questions such as how he may enter into the kingdom of God and Jesus answered him saying that unless he is born of water and the Spirit he won't be able to enter it. Then followed by the question how he can be born again and Jesus gave him an illustration about the wind, which a person would not know where it is blowing from and where it goes, it blows freely. This is the life in the Spirit. Furthermore, Jesus stressed the importance of believing in the Son of God. The life in the Spirit can be seen in the life and mission of Jesus. In Jesus the kingdom of God is made real, we hear it, feel it and accessible in faith. God embraces us and the world through the Jesus Christ. This is the very essence of John 3:16.

3. You might recall the last few hours or even minutes before you depart home for a long journey to work overseas, if not to another city, when you have packed in your luggage clothing, some personal things that are important to you, documents, some photos, and in your hand carry bags were medicines for common flu symptoms, candy or chocolate, few packs of biscuits and for women perhaps lipstick and make-up kit if they have it. After you have said your goodbyes to parents and loved ones, you are ready to go with firm hopes that working or emigrating to another country will give you a better life. Your mind was filled with best interest to support your family when you have found adequate job and prayed that you will be safe and become a blessing to your family.

4. Our generation is not the first to do extensive migrating to other places or countries, the biblical story of Abraham and Sarah is one of the many stories about migration and this can be dated in 2000 BCE in the Ancient Near East, the region in world we now call the Middle East particularly the countries of Iraq, Iran and Palestine. In so many ways, we have been influenced by this biblical story in our journey to other countries to find decent jobs and where we live to realize our personal, family and social dreams of prosperity and find meaning in life. Paul Nuechterlein expresses his insight on this story:

“As I seek to live my faith from day-to-day, there is no more simple theme than "blessed to be a blessing." The promise of blessing to Abraham and Sarah is not just for their sakes but that "in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. In the Spirit, God's loving desire for the whole world begins to become our desire. In making a covenant with Abraham and Sarah, God initiates a long process of salvation that promises to bring us into line with God's desire, with a goal no less than the blessing of being chosen in order to be a blessing to all the families of the earth. A sense of chosenness for its own sake is a failed sense of calling. Chosenness must always be for the sake of being a blessing to all the families of the earth.”

5. Being a blessing both for your own families and all families around the world entails not just knowing your own needs and aspirations but also the broader or deeper reasons why you and all people have those needs such as economic sufficiency, social acceptance, meaningful and fulfilling life. There are psychological approximations of what a blessed life is such as the understanding of self-actualization. Abraham Maslow describes the self-actualized life as the following:

Maslow's self-actualizing characteristics:
+ Efficient perceptions of reality. Self-actualizers are able to judge situations correctly and honestly. They are very sensitive to the fake and dishonest, and are free to see reality 'as it is'.

+ Comfortable acceptance of self, others, nature. Self-actualizers accept their own human nature with all its flaws. The shortcomings of others and the contradictions of the human condition are accepted with humor and tolerance.

+ Reliant on own experiences and judgement. Independent, not reliant on culture and environment to form opinions and views
Spontaneous and natural. True to oneself, rather than being how others want

+ Task centering. Most of Maslow's subjects had a mission to fulfill in life or some task or problem ‘beyond’ themselves (instead of outside of themselves) to pursue. Humanitarians such as Albert Schweitzer and Mother Teresa are considered to have possessed this quality.

+Autonomy. Self-actualizers are free from reliance on external authorities or other people. They tend to be resourceful and independent.

+Continued freshness of appreciation. The self-actualizer seems to constantly renew appreciation of life's basic goods. A sunset or a flower will be experienced as intensely time after time as it was at first. There is an "innocence of vision", like that of an artist or child.

+Profound interpersonal relationships. The interpersonal relationships of self-actualizers are marked by deep loving bonds.

+Comfort with solitude. Despite their satisfying relationships with others, self-actualizing persons value solitude and are comfortable being alone.[19]
Non-hostile sense of humor. This refers to the ability to laugh at oneself.

+Peak experiences. All of Maslow's subjects reported the frequent occurrence of peak experiences (temporary moments of self-actualization). These occasions were marked by feelings of ecstasy, harmony, and deep meaning.

+ Self-actualizers reported feeling at one with the universe, stronger and calmer than ever before, filled with light, beautiful and good, and so forth.

+ Socially compassionate. Possessing humanity.

+Few friends. Few close intimate friends rather than many surface relationships

In summary, self-actualizers feel finally themselves, safe, not anxious, accepted, loved, loving, and alive, certainly living a fulfilling life.

6. Above all these self actualizing characteristics, we need the spiritual power that comes from Jesus Christ who always remind us to live with justice, compassion and love. People around us may know that we are self-actualized Christians but they will feel they are embraced by the love of God when we bless their lives with grace of God. Amen.

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References:
1. http://www.textweek.com/
2. http://girardianlectionary.net/year_a/lent2a.htm
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-actualization

Our transfiguration in Jesus Christ

Title:

Texts: Exodus 24: 12-18; Matthew 17: 1-9
02 March 2014

by Frank J. Hernando

Synthesis:

Today is the last Sunday of Epiphany and the coming week the Season of Lent begins. It is part of the Christian calendar that we talk about the transfiguration of Jesus on a mountain prior to the our scriptural and theological readings and reflection on the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. With the texts both from Exodus and the Gospel of Matthew in cycle A of the lectionary readings, we hear from the scripture how Moses went up the mountain for prayer and fasting for many days and thereupon the mountain received the commandments from God, we commonly know as the giving of the ten commandments, a summary of the laws and regulations that had bound the entire Hebrew people to God and each other as a nation.

Also we hear from Matthew how Jesus went on a mountain to pray and there together with three of his closest disciples, he was transfigured or metamorphosed into Moses and Elijah. Both biblical personages have been considered the bastion of the law and prophetic utterances respectively. Accompanying the transfiguration was the voice of God saying, “This is my Son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” This transfiguration leaves a mark on the connection of Jesus with God and his predecessors, Moses and Elijah who both stood for the unity of the Hebrew nation, given that the Hebrews were not a mono-ethnic nation, but a confederation of tribes which was very difficult to handle politically, socially and economically. Jesus’ mission to realize the reign of love through justice and unity by ending the system of blood sacrifice, received the affirmation that he is the Son of God and that his mission was a once and for all the blood sacrifice that will end the sacrificial system that had oppressed people in history and in the present.

Jesus Christ’s transfiguration for believers and disciples then and now discloses both personal and social aspects of life. The sacrificial system has not disappeared on the face of the earth, therefore the continuing confrontation goes on until the reign of love, justice and peace is realized. This can be seen in how many people have lost their dignity and have been alienated from the sources of abundant and meaningful life. Laborers, even with long hours of work could not receive just wages, the poor are marginalized and many people living in cities are deprived of their rights to healthy environment and basic social services. Jesus’ transfiguration is an assertion of the God’s holy will for the unity of the nation and solidarity of nations towards just, loving and peaceful world.

Our own personal and social transfiguration entail repentance, fasting from the habits and use of laws and regulations that prevent God’s love to grow in our lives. This transfiguration should encourage us to be like Jesus Christ who was not afraid to face the cruelty of the Jewish and Roman authorities but challenged them so that new life will emerge and transform society. The necessity of having a religious faith that transfigures our values and our character is much needed. We should transcend religiosity that perpetuate the sacrificial system to prosper. When we are able to transcend this, we are transfigured in the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. +

RELIEF FOOD STUFFS ROT AND BURIED IN TACLOBAN CITY --DSWD under fire for ‘irregularities’

Online news outlet the Manila Standard Today disclosed the following news:
R

eference-credit: http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/03/11/rotten-food-aid-buried-/#.Ux56Ty5uGyY.facebook


DSWD under fire for ‘irregularities’

TACLOBAN CITY—Truckloads of food aid that had gone bad was buried in an open dump in Barangay San Jose on Feb. 5 and March 6, a municipal officer of Palo, Leyte, admitted Monday.

Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Nina Balderas said biscuits, cupcakes, canned goods and rice were declared unfit for human consumption and were buried after they began to smell. Even used clothing was dumped, she said.

Another mess. Leyte Rep.Ferdinand Martin Romualdez decries reports that typhoon victims are being forced to sign testimonials commending the government while undistributed relief goods are going bad in Leyte.

Residents said the food aid was buried in haste in a remote village that could be reached only through an unpaved road.

“It was raining almost every day here in Leyte, and when these goods were delivered to us, the entire shipment was drenched in rainwater, so that even the canned goods were spoiled,” Balderas said.

Balderas also said some of the goods were already about to expire when they were delivered.

But the residents near the dump said that they suspected some irregularity because of the haste with which the goods were buried.

Barangay San Jose Councilman Eubejeldo Amolo, who lives near the dumpsite, said that last Thursday, March 6, he saw two garbage trucks of the municipality of Palo dumping sacks of rice and assorted goods in a pit. A bulldozer immediately filled in the pit.

This was the second time food aid was buried by the municipality of Palo, he said. The first was some time in February.

After the garbage trucks left, residents near the dumpsite dug up the discarded goods and brought them home. Some said that they will feed it to their dogs, hogs and chickens while others said that there are items they salvaged that could still be eaten.

Baldersas said relief good remained stacked in their office because those allocated to specific barangays had not yet been claimed by their barangay chairmen.

Palo, Leyte, 18 kilometers north of Tacloban, was one of the hardest hit by super typhoon Yolanda with more than 1,000 reported dead and more than 200 still missing.

Meanwhile, residents of Tacloban who received a 25k-kilo pack rice from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) complained that it was 5kg lighter.

Mark Simbajon, secretary general of Alyansa han mga Biktima han Bagyo Yolanda ha Tacloban (ABBAT), said upon hearing the complaint, his group launched an investigation to find the truth.

The group went to Barangay 65, Paseo de Legaspi and weighed the still-sealed sacks of rice.

“After three repitions, one weighed close to 20kg, one a gram above 20kg, and one with 21kg, but none weighed 25kg,” Simbajon said.

The DSWD also came under fire at the House, where members of the independent minority accused Secretary Corazon Soliman of bribing Yolanda survivors with P1,200 in cash grants in exchange for “favorable feedback” about her department’s relief and rehabilitation operations.

“We caution the government against resorting to bribery to solicit favorable feedback. They should do their job without asking for anything in return,” Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, leader of the bloc, told a news conference.

Manila Standard repeatedly tried to contact Soliman, presidential spokesmen Edwin Lacierda and Herminio Coloma Jr. for comment, but only Coloma replied.

“Secretary Soliman categorically states that there is no such solicitation or offer being done by the DSWD. Hence, DSWD urges citizens to report impostors so that this anomaly may be stopped. DSWD continues to perform its duties in accordance with its mandate and the President’s guidance,” he said in a text message.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato Reyes said Soliman had invited the Yolanda survivors, led by officials of the People Surge, for a dialogue to clear the air on March 12, 4 p.m. at the Department of Social Welfare Office.

Reyes said Soliman sought an audience with the People Surge after the members complained that they were being compelled to sign a petition drafted by DSWD, commending Soliman for doing a “good job.”

“After she had repeatedly snobbed the plea of the People Surge and berated them for coming to Manila instead of using the money to look for livelihood in Tacloban, Soliman had the nerve to make the survivors sign a self-serving petition,” Reyes said.

Reyes said the Yolanda survivors vehemently refused to sign the petition because it was the “opposite of what is actually happening on the ground.”

“The petition was commending Soliman and it says that Soliman and the DSWD were taking care of the survivors and that they were doing their best to uplift their plight and help them recover from the onslaught of Yolanda,” Reyes told the Manila Standard.


Romualdez said he hoped the reports about Soliman were untrue, as these would add insult to injury.

From the Palace, Lacierda said the government will soon launch version 2.0 of its Foreign Aid Transparency Hub website to allow the public to track where international donations went.

Many have observed that the FAiTH website was not as transparent as the government promised it would be as it did not contain an accounting of the billions of pesos of foreign aid, both cash and non-cash, that have entered the country.

“If you look at the FAiTH website, a bulk of the pledges of assistance has not gone to government. We need to also know how many of the pledges have been converted to actual donation,” Lacierda said.

“We will also track those that went to multilateral organizations. The impression is that all the P23 billion went through government and that is not true,” he added.

The Aquino administration has so far received P643.2 million in cash from foreign donors, representing about 21 percent of the P3.08 billion cash pledge made by various international donors.

This has prompted presidential assistant for rehabilitation and recovery Panfilo Lacson to appeal to foreign governments to make good of their promise.

The FAiTH website showed that the total aid pledged has now reached P24.636 billion.

Of the amount, P21.55 billion were in non-cash donations, but there was no information available how much of these have actually been turned over by foreign donors.

While Lacson’s office does not have anything to do with relief pledges, he said the PARR is now in the process of collating data on pledges for reconstruction and rehabilitation.

“We have been continuously collating all the resources poured in by all stakeholders—multilaterals, bilaterals, private sector, non-government organizations, among others—and where these resources went,” Lacson said.

“Right now we have substantial albeit incomplete data,” he added.

All foreign donations coursed through the government have to be examined by the Commission on Audit.

Donations through independent organizations and the private sector, however, are not subject to COA audit. With Christine F. Herrera and Joyce Pangco Pañares

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Statement of the International Migrants Alliance (IMA) on the commemoration of International Women’s Day 2014

Statement of the International Migrants Alliance (IMA) on the commemoration of International Women’s Day 2014

The world was shocked with the pictures of the bruises, wounds and obvious sufferings of Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, an Indonesian woman domestic worker in Hong Kong. The shock turned to anger, and the International Migrants Alliance (IMA) enjoins all migrants to turn our anger into collective actions to change the condition of millions of us who live and work with abuses, exploitation and oppression.

Almost half of the 232 million migrants worldwide are women. They mostly come from underdeveloped and developing countries, and are engaged in all sectors of work especially in service and agriculture.

We are factory workers who are underpaid, agricultural workers who have no security, domestic workers who are treated as slaves, health and care workers whose work is undervalued, women trafficked into the sex and other trades, and marriage migrants who are victims of social exclusion. We are women migrants suffering from all forms of violence at home, in our workplace and in the society.

As migrants, we are victims of the vicious system of commodification and modern-day slavery that tramples on our rights and our dignity. This is the system of migration that puts wellbeing of the likes of Erwiana and numerous more women in serious risk.

This is the kind of migration perpetuated by neoliberal globalization that keeps many people in extreme poverty and creates a huge army of the unemployed and underemployed whose only real recourse for survival is to migrate as cheap labourers. As the world continues to be mired in crisis, imperialists, through the World Trade Organization and other trade deals including the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement and the Trade in Services Agreement, are aggressively pushing to dismantle any vestige of patrimony and sovereignty of poorer countries to save their own economies and thus result to a more widespread displacement of people.

Such migration is now deodorized and used to promote as development framework that does not address the fundamental issues of underdevelopment. International financial institutions such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank as well as bodies like the United Nations, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Global Forum on Migration and Development are consistent in pushing the use of migration for their own version of development that is not based on principles of human rights, equitability and sustainability.

Under the neoliberal globalization framework of migration for development, our future is bleak. There will be more Erwianas, more Kartikas, and more women who will be forced to migrate and be exploited by agencies and unscrupulous employers. There will be more women who will fall victims to the economic, social, political and cultural violence perpetrated by the state and the ruling elite.

On this year’s commemoration of the International Women’s Day we remember our sisters and fellow workers who confronted various violations of our rights as women and as workers.

As we remember the pictures of Erwiana and numerous more battered, bruised and wounded pictures of women migrants, we also celebrate the solidarity women have shown since the first IWD.

Throughout the years, we have won countless victories from our collective struggles. From the level of factory struggles, to national and international levels, women as a sector or as members of the working class and other exploited classes have achieved gains for our rights. We remember the victory of Juana Tejada in Canada, the victory of the campaigns of Asian migrants in Hong Kong, the victory of trafficked women in the US, the victory of stranded women migrants in Hong Kong, and the victory of women domestic workers in having the ILO Convention on Domestic Workers (C189) approved.

These we remember today as we celebrate and pledge to continue our collective struggles until all of us break free from gender and, moreso, class oppression and exploitation.