Category Archives: Human Rights

Prosecution Fails to Present Evidence; Jose Cawiding Released

What an injustice to the man. Hinuli siya, ikinulong, tapos wala naman palang ebidensiya laban sa kanya. Anya met.

From Sunstar Baguio: THE Benguet Provincial Jail practically became the residence of Bayan Muna leader Jose Cawiding, since his detention in October last year.

But in an order signed last March 16 by Bontoc Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 35 Presiding Judge Joseph Patnaan, Cawiding and co-accused Leticia Banasan were ordered released and charges against them provisionally dismissed.

The prosecution failed to present their witnesses despite a series of hearings scheduled for the presentation of evidence.
Continue reading Prosecution Fails to Present Evidence; Jose Cawiding Released

United Nations, Here He Comes

Thanks to Trublue for telling us about Jaylord Langbayan in his comment here. Jerome, an Igorot kid from Aurora is going to represent the Philippines in a special UN session for children. Here’s the report from Philippine Star (via ABS-CBN).

16-year-old Igorot student to represent RP in UN special session
By RAINIER ALLAN RONDA
The Philippine Star

A 16-year-old senior high school student at the Dipaculao National High School in Aurora province will be a delegate to the UNGASS+5, a commemorative event to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children and its “A World Fit for Children” document.

Continue reading United Nations, Here He Comes

Two Years Later: Remembering Pepe Manegdeg

We’re publishing the reflections of Dom-an Macagne-Manegdeg on the killing of her husband Jose “Pepe” Manegdeg. Pepe was an NGO/church worker who was killed in Ilocos Sur two years ago. His case remains unsolved and according to this update, Dom-an and her family are now facing threats apparently because they continue to seek justice for Pepe.

Gloria and her ilk will, of course, deny that activists are being killed in the Philippines but these killings are real.

Continue reading Two Years Later: Remembering Pepe Manegdeg

Child Abusers in Our Midst

Update: The Digital Chain has a post on the profile of child abusers here. And Padma published a poem by Chinee Palatino which tackles child sexual abuse. Both are must reads.

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Physical and sexual abuse of children is being reported more often in the Cordilleras. Here’s a report on child abuse cases in Mt. Province for the first seven months of 2007. Here’s another one that notes the increasing number of child abuse in Ifugao. And here’s a 2004 report for the whole region predicting a doubling of child abuse cases.

Continue reading Child Abusers in Our Midst

Gloria’s Now for Human Rights? The World Yawns

Were you, like us, surprised when Gloria suddenly became a human rights warrior? Don’t know what we’re talking about?

Well here’s the story: Gloria was in Singapore this week to attend the ASEAN summit. During the summit, she suddenly went, “Yo! Myanmar military junta, the Philippines won’t vote for the ASEAN charter if you don’t release Aung San Suu Kyi.”

Dude, she really acted like our high school principal. Or, for those of you who don’t give a damn about our principal, she acted like Dolores Umbridge in that last Harry Potter movie.

Now, because the Myanmar generals don’t like being patronized by a toady Dolores Umbridge-wannabe, they got bat-shit crazy and went, “Shut up you fake President of 7,107 irrelevant islands.” Continue reading Gloria’s Now for Human Rights? The World Yawns