Pinoy Weekly | Anger, discontent pour in streets over Aquino’s bad human rights record

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 01:13 AM PST

Thousands of protesters marched around the country to commemorate the 65th International Human Rights Day. In Manila, groups carried effigy of Pres. Aquino dubbed as “Destroyer King” for unabated human and economic rights violations. (Macky Macaspac)

Three years into its term, the administration of Pres. Benigno Aquino III  has gone bad to worse in upholding human rights. This was how the human rights group Karapatan described Aquino’s human rights record, as thousands around the Philippines marched to commemorate the International Human Rights Day.

Aside from the alleged gross human rights violations of the current administration, Karapatan also slammed Aquino for government negligence in dealing with the aftermath of many calamities like typhoons and earthquakes.

“People are enraged at the negligence and apathy of the Aquino government over the plight of the victims of disasters, while the whole world are shaken and concerned,” the group, said in a statement.

Days before Human Rights Day, the group recorded at least three cases of extrajudicial killings.

The first victim, a member of the indegenous people’s group Pangalasag was killed, while Rolen Langala sustained multiple stab wounds and a was shot twice in the head.

According to Rural Missionary of Philippines (RMP), Langala was killed by two village officials of Brgy. Bagocpoc, Opol, Misamis Oriental. The group Pangalasag is opposing the entry of mining and oil palm plantations in the area.

“Ironically, under the government of Aquino, warlords and paramilitary groups were not dismantled. Worse now, the same warlord group is said to help facilitate the entry of mining and oil palm plantations like that of A. Brown company in the area. Those who opposed them shall suffer the consequences,” said Datu Jomorito Guaynon, chairperson of Kalumbay a regional Lumad organization.

Another victim, Nickson Tungao was killed in a violent demolition of urban poor community in Calangahan, Lugait, Misamis Oriental last December 4, while Mansaka tribal leader Pedro Tinga was killed last Dec. 6 in Maco, Compostela Valley.

Accordingly, police and military elements are suspected to be the perpetrators of the two last incidents.

Karapatan said that Aquino is accountable for 152 extrajudicial killings and 168 frustrated killings, 18 enforced disappearances, 358 illegal arrests and detentions on trumped up charges, tortures and other gross human rights violations, affecting a great number of the peasantry, indigenous people and urban poor dwellers.

The figure covered the three years of Aquino administration. The group added that impunity still pervades with the implementation of the counter-insurgency policy-Oplan Bayanihan, and further violations are committed because no one is punished.

“Military officials charged for masterminding abduction and tortures are promoted to higher ranks. Masterminds of extrajudicial killing and disappearances are at large, and many were let off the hook by the courts for their crimes,” Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan said.

Jessamine Villeno, daughter of Ben Villeno. (Macky Macaspac)

While a bill penalizing enforced disappearances was signed by Aquino, abduction and enforced disappearances still happen.

Ben Villeno, a trade union leader was the latest victim of enforced disappearance. “I’m being trailed by someone,” Ben was quoted through a text message to his daughter Jessamine before he was gone missing.

“That was the last time I heard of my father,” Jessamine said in an interview with Pinoy Weekly.

She said that since her fathers’ abduction on August 27, she Jessame has been having hard a time, working night and at day to search her father at police stations and military camps. She had also been filing blotters and cases against military agents they presumed to be suspects to the abduction.

In addition to the family’s suffering, Jessamine’s siblings in Leyte were victimized by typhoon Yolanda. “It’s good that no one was hurt, but they suffer what other typhoon survivors experienced: scarcity of food and water,” she said.

Ben Villeno was one of the 18 victims of enforced disappearances according to Karapatan’s documentation from July of 2010 to August 2013.

“My father is a good man, it’s not a sin to organize workers and fight for their welfare and rights. If he is around, I know my father will be in Leyte, helping my siblings and other victims of Yolanda,” Jessamine said.

While Aquino expressed reservation over former Batangas governor Antonio Leviste’s parole, 449 political prisoners continue to languish in different detention facilities nationwide.

Like Leviste, some 28 political prisoners are elderly. “They, too, deserve to be out of prison. After all, they are not criminals,” said Marie Hilao-Enriquez, chairperson of Samahan ng Ex-detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda).

At least three ailing political prisoners died during Aquino’s term.

On September, Alison Alcantara, 55, died of fatal arrhythmia, sepsis and health-care associated pneumonia. According to Enriquez, the government ignored repeated pleas for the release of Alcantara on humanitarian grounds and was only taken to the Philippine General Hospital after he fell into coma a few days before he died.

Another political prisoner, Intong Amirol, 70, died this year due to a stroke and other medical complications, while Crisanto Fat died of cancer and heart attack in 2011.

“There are at least 48 others who are similarly suffering from various ailments without proper medication,” added Hilao-Enriquez.

Of the 449 political prisoners, 13 are peace consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines or NDFP who went on a ten-day fasting and hunger strike.

“Pres. Aquino is accountable for the destruction that happens in the daily lives of the people, as we all contend with the rising cost of food, fuel and electricity, water and gasoline, transportation, and education and health services. People’s lives are sacrificed and people wallow in poverty and/or killed because BS Aquino chose to uphold the interests of his political allies, and the foreign and big businesses. Even the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) concedes that at least one out of five Filipino families live below the poverty line despite government pronouncements of economic growth,” said Palabay.

Palabay further said that the “spell of Aquino” over the people has gone.

“We believe BS Aquino, too, must go. After all, popularity is not a license or a test to truly serve the people.  The system he is dying to save is moribund and desperately needs a change,” concluded Palabay.


Photos of the protest action, by Macky Macaspac:

Protests were also held in Ilocos,100 protest centers in Bicol Region, Davao City and some parts of Mindanao. (Macky Macaspac)

Children are victims, too. According to Salinlahi and Children’s Rehabilitation Center, 18 children were killed during since Aquino assumed office.  22 were branded as child soldier, thousands were victims of forced evacuation, disruption of classes and other rights violations. (Macky Macaspac)

The spell of “tuwid na daan” popped, as portrayed in a play. (Macky Macaspac)

Protesters burned the effigy of President Aquino, who was dubbed by the protesters as “wrecking king.” (Macky Macaspac)

Protesters burned the 2nd effigy of President Aquino, who was then dubbed as “the Destroyer.” (Macky Macaspac)