Detained NDFP peace consultant hospitalized, seeks release on humanitarian ground

Political detainee Eduardo Serrano, 62, was rushed to the Taguig General Hospital yesterday morning, December 16, after he experienced chest pains. It turned out Serrano had a myocardial infarction (heart attack). Private physicians of Serrano from the Health Alliance for Human Rights (HAHR) sought his transfer to the Heart Center of the Philippines where he is now confined at the Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. He is set to undergo angioplasty.

Serrano, a peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) has been detained for more than 11 years now based on multiple criminal charges meant for a certain Rogelio Villanueva. He is among the 561 political detainees under the Aquino regime; and 19 NDFP consultants currently detained despite the immunity provided for by the GPH-NDFP Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

On November 26, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court-Branch 100 acquitted Serrano of the charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder, crimes attributed to “Rogelio Villanueva”. Judge Editha G. Mina-Aguda said the prosecution failed to prove Serrano’s guilt “beyond “People to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.” The court viewed the witnesses’ testimonies as “either imagined or trumped-up.”

In October, the QC RTC Branch 98 Judge Marilou Runes-Tamang ruled that accused Rogelio Villanueva is not the same person as Eduardo Serrano; and Serrano should therefore be immediately released. The Branch 98’s October resolution said Serrano’s arrest and detention for 11 years is an “outright mockery of the basic human rights on due process of law which is enshrined in our Constitution.”

Serrano faces two more similar trumped-up criminal charges of multiple frustrated murder at the QC RTC Branch 215 and kidnapping at Branch 97 which are up for resolution early next year. The cases lodged against Serrano are baseless as proven by the Court’s decisions on the two other criminal charges.

Serrano should be immediately released because the cases against him, aside from being fabricated and baseless, violate the JASIG. He is also among the elderly and ailing political prisoners whose release on humanitarian grounds is demanded.

WHO IS EDUARDO SERRANO?

Eduardo Serrano has been a long standing NDFP peace  consultant  representing the Southern Tagalog region. He was arrested on May 2, 2004, a few days after he had just come from a three-week  long consultation(from April 11 to May 2, 2004) with NDFP negotiating panel members Fidel Agcaoili and Connie Ledesma regarding the formation of the  of the joint Secretariat of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) and several other agenda and developments in the peace process. As NDFP peace consultant, Serrano is supposedly protected by the standing NDFP-GPH  JASIG and “should have been guaranteed  safety from arrest in going to, attending, and leaving the consultations to return to his  area of work,” according to the NDFP Panel.

Serrano finished his college course in agriculture at the UP Los Banos in Oct. l976, worked as a research assistant at the Dairy Training and Research Institute(DTRI) in 1977  and was sent to Copenhagen, Denmark for a post graduate course in animal science in 1978-1979. In 1980, at the height of struggle against the fascist Marcos dictatorship, he decided to work as fulltime among the peasants in Bicol and Mindoro.

During his three years of detention (May 2, 2004 to Aug. 12, 2007) at the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Jail in Calapan City, he continued to do political work among ordinary detainees whom he also helped in curing their ailments with the use of acupuncture, in providing paralegal advices on their cases in court and in helping improve even by a little the economic conditions in prison through the establishment of a cooperative store of the inmates and guards.

After his transfer to the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, on August 13, 2007, he devoted party of his time in taking a long-distance diploma course on Environment and Natural Resources Management at the Open University of UP and finished the said course in May 2009. Much of the time, he is also engaged in political work among fellow detainees, especially in the promotion and defense of the human rights of political prisoners and other prisoners.

People’s SONA organizations file complaint to CHR, Ombudsman

“Those who exercised the right to express the people’s grievances to the Aquino administration were met with repression,” Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general said as the group, along with leaders of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and other progressive organizations, today filed complaints at the Commission on Human Rights against the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the garrison-style containment, use of water cannons and physical injury against the protesters during BS Aquino’s 2014 State of the Nation Address (SONA) last week.

On July 18, 2014, Bayan applied for a permit to hold the annual People’s SONA at the IBP Road in front of the Batasang Pambansa grounds before the Office of the City Mayor of Quezon City under the provisions of Batas Pambansa 880. The application was not acted upon within the two working day period as mandated by Section 6 (b) of the said law. As such, the rally permit application was deemed approved as of the end of business hour on July 22, 2014.

“Instead of honoring the rally application permit, the PNP has violated the rights of the people to free expression, peaceful assembly and redress of grievances during the SONA through the use of water cannon, concrete barriers, concertina wires, and containers vans. The barriers used to contain protesters are signs that the BS Aquino government does not want the true state of the nation to be heard. The use of water cannon was even unnecessary. It was already impossible for the protestors to physically go beyond the barriers, container vans and barb wires, let alone the layers of police with shields and truncheons,” Palabay said.

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In the complaint, the petitioners asserted that “the harassment, checkpoints, illegal barricades, violent dispersal with water cannons, were draconian measures and criminal acts perpetrated by the respondents in violation of the constitutionally protected rights of the complainants. It is also a violation of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and international human rights conventions to which the Philippines is a signatory.”

The petitioners in the said complaint are Renato Reyes Jr. of Bayan, Antonio Flores of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Nenita Gonzaga of Kilusang Mayo Uno, Cristina Palabay of Karapatan, Pastor Guillermo Sediarin of Karapatan Southern Tagalog, Gertrudes Libang of Gabriela, Carlito Badion of Kadamay, George San Mateo of Piston, Paraluman Catuira of Migrante, Gloria Bongon of Kilusang Mayo Uno Metro Manila.

A separate complaint was also filed by members of Migrante International at the Office of the Ombudsman against P/Supt. Victor Pagulayan who used a stun gun on jeepney driver Rodel Tortola, 33 years old, and his daughter Rochel Ann ,who is only 12 years old, during the rally. This same complaint was also filed at the CHR. Migrante hired Rodel Tortola and the jeep he is using on the day of SONA to fetch other members and bring them to the rally. During the commotion between the police and demonstrators, Tortola was forced by the police to give up the jeepney’s keys.

“This is the image of a coward dictator tainted with issues of criminal negligence, corruption and violation of the constitution. While BS Aquino is harping on his false achievements, it is at the same time whipping its stick on the people who are expressing discontent amid poverty, corruption, unemployment and injustices,” Palabay concluded.

PNP and BS Aquino are the real violators of children’s rights – Salinlahi

NEWS RELEASE

29 JULY 2014

 

A child-focused NGO lambasted the Philippine National Police (PNP) and BS Aquino over human rights violations committed against the protesters during yesterday’s SONA ng Mamamayan along Commonwealth Avenue.

According to the group,the PNP’s pronouncement that they observed “maximum tolerance” in handling thousands of protesters was a big fat lie. “The protest was peaceful and no violent actions were initiated by the protesters. However,the PNP used brute force by dispersing the people using water cannon,” said Kharlo Manano, secretary-general of SALINLAHI, an alliance of various children’s organizations in the Philippines.

Manano also cited a case documented by Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC), a member-organization of SALINLAHI. A certain Police Superintendent Pagulayan together with other QCPD policemen arrived at the protest area in Brgy. Batasan Hills and dispersed the protesters who were massing up in preparation for yesterday’s action. Nene (not her real name), a 12-year old girl who joined the protest action, was sitting inside their jeepney together with her father, when Pagulayan approached her father and forcibly got his car key. Pagulayan even used a stun gun to attack Nene and her father, who were later forcibly dragged down from the jeepney.

SALINLAHI was further enraged with the callous response of the QCPD Station 6 when Nene’s father was about to file a blotter. A certain PO2 Mary Jane Casinao of QCPD women’s desk even threatened to incarcerate him because he brought his daughter to the SONA rally.

The PNP further reiterated this line of reasoning when they accused militants of violating human rights for bringing women and children in the SONA rally.

Manano pointed out that the PNP is continually hitting the issue of children’s participation in various civic actions such as rallies in order to mislead the public and cover up their abuses and infringement of people’s rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech. The PNP’s lies is tantamount to the lies spawned out by their boss, BS Aquino during his SONA speech regarding the Philippine situation.

“The declaration made by the PNP that women and children are being “used” in protest actions clearly belittles their right to meaningful participation and reflects the PNP’s ignorance of women and children’s rights,” Manano continued.

More so, Salinlahi encourages not just women and children but the Filipino people to voice out their disgust of the Aquino government who is the biggest violator of children’s rights, and people’s rights and welfare. “BS Aquino cannot deny thefact that the “changes” and “transformation” he stated in his SONA yesterday wasnever felt by millions of impoverished Filipino families and this is the reasonwhy the Filipino people including children clamor for genuine change and hisouster!” Manano ended.

click the link for video coverage of TV5: JEEPNEY DRIVER AT ANAK NA ‘DI KASAMA SA RALLY, KINURYENTE RAW NG PULIS

Kids hit Aquino’s criminal neglect, demand govt to help typhoon victims

Manila- Around 150 children and child rights advocates under the banner of Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns demonstrated their strong discontent over President Aquino’s neglect of issues faced by Filipino children, especially the recent devastation brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

The group called the activity “Arangkadang-kadang: Habulin ang Disaster President sa Malacañang”. Using modified kadang-kadangs or tiyakad bearing calls about Aquino’s criminal neglect to Yolanda victims, escalating prices of basic commodities and utilities, and rampant corruption in government; children chased after someone dressed as B.S.Aquino symbolizing their rage. By the end, the children encircled Aquino and called for his removal as president.

Children angrily encircled Noynoy Aquino and asked him to leave his post as President

” We conducted a series of workshops and discussions in different communities prior to today’s activity where children expressed their thoughts and insights on the issues of disaster, high prices and corruption. The children affirmed that the Aquino must be held accountable for his criminal neglect. Aquino must go away for betraying children and Filipino people,” Salinlahi Secretary General Kharlo Manano said.

Salinlahi Secretary General Kharlo Manano delivered a speech regarding the socio-economic effects of the Typhoon Yolanda to children and their families

Aside from children from different urban poor communities in Metro Manila, the activity was also participated by victims of super typhoon Yolanda from Eastern Visayas.

“Waray kami umabathin maski ano nga bulig tikang ha gubyerno. An amon mga balay ug eskwelahan nagkaruruba, nawad-an trabaho an amon mga kag-anak ngan namatayan kami mga kapamilya ug kasangkayan. [We never felt any support from the government after the typhoon hit us. Our homes and schools were ruined, our parents lost their livelihood and we’ve lost family and friends. It’s been almost four months now since Yolanda, but we are still suffering.],” said Princess, 14, a victim of super typhoon Yolanda from Tacloban.

On the other hand, children from Metro Manila also expressed their opinions on some burning issues affecting children.

“Apektado kaming mga batang maralita sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin at yutilidad tulad ng Meralco. Maliit na nga ang sahod ng amingmga magulang, hirap makabili ng aming mga pangangailangan pero nagtataas pa rin ang presyo. Tapos yung mga nasa gubyerno nakaw lang nang nakaw sa pera ng bayan,” said Vincent, 13, a boy from Bagong Silangan, Quezon City and the current Child Representative to the Salinlahi National Council.

Representatives from People Surge (Alliance of Yolanda[Haiyan] Victims) also participated in the event. Dr. Efleda Bautista, Executive Vice Chairperson of People Surge, opined that the people of Eastern Visayas are still desperate for help and that the government was inutile and unable to respond even to their immediate needs. “We are still demanding for continued relief operations as people have lost their livelihood. We are demanding the P40,000.00 immediate cash relief for the victims and for genuine rehabilitation programs. We are opposing the “no-build zone” policy that is preventing the people from returning to their homes and livelihood but providing incentive and leeway to big businesses for their exploitative operations,” said Bautista.

Through dance, song and acting, members Cultural groups for children also presented a cultural number depicting their deprived situation in their community.The activity ended at noon but street plays were conducted in the afternoon by the Salinlahi Children’s Collective depicting the effects of Aquino’s criminal neglect to disaster, corruption and escalating prices of commodities and utilities. The mobile street plays were conducted in Philcoa and Arayat Market.

Salinlahi Children’s Collective performed a cultural presentation during the program

“Pres. Aquino is culpable for its criminal neglect to Yolanda victims, subservience to business interests on the issue of escalating prices of basic commodities and utilities, and condonation and involvement in corruption! We must run after the disaster president in Malacañang! On the occasion of the International Women’s Day in March 8, children and child rights advocates will join their mothers and other women and other sectors in holding Aquino liable for his betrayal to children’s interests and for his disastrous presidency!” ended Manano. ###

Aquino desperate, uses survey to deodorize his administration – BAYAN Eastern Visayas

Fabricating polls and surveys have been the long practice of the Aquino administration. In order to cover up his criminal neglect to the Filipino people and escape from accountability, his yellow media and survey firms, have been very desperate in making his approval rating high.

BAYAN Sinirangan Bisayas

IN TACLOBAN CITY – The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN)-Eastern Visayas assailed the recent SWS survey saying that President Benigno Aquino III received a “very good” satisfaction rating from areas ravaged by supertyphoon Yolanda last November.

“The survey is very delusional. The Aquino government must be very desperate that it has now started to exhaust all possible mediums to sanitize what is really happening in areas devastated by Yolanda,” said Jun Berino, secretary general of BAYAN-Eastern Visayas. 

“Who is this administration fooling? The survey result is a blatant lie. The SWS survey was obviously commissioned by Malacanang. It is a lousy attempt to influence public opinion and it failed obviously. It actually boomeranged to the Aquino administration. The people of Eastern Visayas must be enraged at the moment at the results of the SWS Survey,” added Berino.

“We are challenging the Aquino administration to go to the interior villages, evacuation centers, coastal…

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Grupong KADAMAY, kinondena ang iligal na pag-aresto sa manggagawa ng Manila Seedling Bank at ilang aktibista

Kinondena ng gruping Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) ang ginawang iligal na pag-aresto ng Quezon City Police District sa mga aktibista at manggagawa ng Manila Seedling Bank sa North Triangle, QC.

Kabilang sa mga inaresto sina Sylva Attala Fortuno, 27, pambansang opisyal ng Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap, at Joanna Orillano, 14, opisyal ng Anakbayan North Triangle. Sila umano ay binubugbog ng kapulisan matapos silang tumangging magpaaresto. Samantala, 13 manggagawa rin ang nakasama sa pag-aresto.

Aabot na 18 oras na nakadetene ang mga inaresto sa Camp Caringal, kahit wala pang pormal na kasong isinampa laban sa kanila. Si Orellano na isang menor-de-edad at dumanas din ng pambubugbog mula sa mga arresting officers ng QCPD ay dinala naman sa panganagsiwa ng DSWD.

Matapos ang ikinasang protesta ng mga maralita ng QC kahapon kasabay ng State of the City Address ni Mayor Herbert Bautista, pwersahang binuksan ng mga manggagawa ng MSB ang gate sa compound na kanilang pinagtatrabahuhan.

Kahapon ng umaga, sa utos ni Mayor Bautista, ipinasara ng QC LGU ang MSB compound dahil sa mahigit 57M pisong buwis na hindi umano nito nabayaran mula 2011.

Ayon pa sa QC LGU, matagal na umanong pinaabutan ang mga nagosyante sa loob ng MSB na lisaanin ang compound, at pansamantalang pumwesto sa loob ng QC Memorial Circle.

Mariin itong tinutulan ng mga maralitang nagtatrabaho sa compound gayundin ng mga residente mula sa katabing komunidad ng San Roque.

Sa pagsasara ng MSB Compound, nasa 150 manggagawa, 60 empleyado ang mawawalan ng trabaho, pati na rin ang 50 malilit na negosyante na nagtitinda ng mga pananim at halaman.

Samantala, ang grupong KADAMAY kasama ang Concerned Organizations Opposed to Transfer, Lay-off, Privatization and Demolition due to QCCBD, ay tumututol din sa pagsasara ng MSB Compound hindi lamang dahil mawawalan ng hanapbuhay ang mga nagtatrabaho sa lugar, kundi dahil isang hakbang umano ito sa pagpapatupad ng Quezon City Central Business District.

Ang QCCBD ay inaasahang wawalis sa kabahayan at kabuhayan ng natitirang 7,000 pamilya sa San Roque at iba pang komunidad sa North at East Triangle.

Ayon sa SAVE Manila Seedling Bank, planong kuhanin ni Bistek at ng Ayala Land Inc. (sa pangunguna ni ALI CEO Antonino T. Aquino) ang 6 na ektaryang lupain na inuupahan ng MSB sa National Housing Authority para sa Vertis North Project ng mga Ayala.

Kasabay ng pagdiriwang ng Pandaigdigang Araw ng Karapatang Pantao ngayong araw, maglulunsad ng malaking protesta ang mga maralita sa labas ng Camp Caringal ngayong hapon para ipinawagan ang kagyat na pagpapalaya sa mga inaresto, at pagpapanagot sa pasismo ng QCPD sa pangunguna ni Superintendent Pedro Sanchez.###