DEFEND - ST

Despite the many guarantees provided by existing national and international human rights laws, there has always been a need to defend and uphold human rights in the country. The fact that there are existing guarantees is recognition that there are threats to it. To uphold and defend each and every Filipino’s human rights –be it economic, civil or political rights - is a fundamental cause taken by many of our countrymen.

But the current human rights situation in the country has become so dire that the political activists who chose to fight for human rights become the victims themselves. The same human rights defenders turn out to be actual targets of repression and persecution.

Let us not forget the vast number of unresolved cases of extrajudicial killings that targeted mostly political activists. Not to mention the abductions, enforced disappearances, all of which point to a state policy of political repression.

On October 23, 2008, the arrest of Labor lawyer Remigio Saledero Jr. would signal a renewed wave of crackdown against political activists and human rights defenders, specifically in the Southern Tagalog (ST) region. As of November 6, 2008, 4 more activists would be arrested including a bedridden peasant leader suffering from diabetes.

The 5 are facing trumped-up multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder charges along with 67 other people for allegedly participating in an NPA ambush in Puerto Galera town in Mindoro Oriental last March 3, 2006.

Included in the total 72 accused are regional and provincial activist-leaders of progressive people’s organizations in ST. All of the accused are facing warrants of arrest. To cite a few prominent leaders, included in the case are: Arman Albarillo, Sec. Gen, Bayan-ST; complainant in the impeachment case against President Arroyo; son of slain activists Expedito and Manuela Albarillo; Orly Marcellana, Secretary General, Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (Kasama-TK); Chairperson, Bayan-ST; husband of slain human rights defender Eden Marcellana; Bayani Cambronero, 8th Partylist nominee and Southern Tagalog Regional Coordinator, Bayan Muna; Romeo Legaspi, Chairperson, Pagkakaisa ng mga Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan-Kilusang Mayo Uno (PAMANTIK-KMU); Rolando Mingo, President, Southern Tagalog Region Transport Sector Organization, (STARTER); Vice President, Pinagkaisang Lakas ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON); Doris Cuario, Secretary General, Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights – Southern Tagalog (KARAPATAN); Helen Asdolo, Secretary General, National Alliance of Women’s Organizations in the Philippines (GABRIELA) - Southern Tagalog; 5th partylist nominee, Gabriela Women’s Party; Pedro Santos Jr., Secretary General, Anakbayan-Southern Tagalog; Regional Coordinator, Kabataan Party; Convenor, Youth Act Now – Southern Tagalog

It should be recalled that it was in ST where the spate of extrajudicial killings first took place before it reached a nationwide scale. It seems the region is again being used as a laboratory for this refurbished tactic in political repression.

This tactic of wholesale and indiscriminate filing of trumped-up charges has the trademark of the Inter-Agency Legal Action Group (IALAG) created by Pres. Arroyo through Executive Order 493. It is headed by National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales and is created for the purpose of using “prosecutions to dismantle numerous civil society organizations and party-list groups that they (Senior Government officials) believe to be fronts for the CPP (Philip Alston, Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions).” The IALAG is also responsible for the filing of rebellion charges against more than 50 people including the Batasan 6 in 2006 as admitted by Norberto Gonzales himself.

Again, clearly this is state sponsored political repression meant to neutralize and silence the most consistent critics of the Arroyo administration.

With these pressing issues at hand, we call on all freedom loving Filipinos and human rights advocates from all walks of life to oppose this crackdown on progressive activists with the same vigor as when we opposed extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. As we have shown in the previous People Power movements, we Filipinos do not simply sit back and watch when our very rights and civil liberties are being attacked. Through collective action, we believe that justice and genuine democracy will prevail.

Let us defend our Southern Tagalog activists!

Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB - Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines

Carol Araullo, M.D. - Bagong Alyansang Makabayan

Renato Reyes Jr. - Bagong Alyansang Makabayan

Pastor Berlin Guerrero, Spokesperson DEFEND-ST

Mylene Guerrero

Engr. Jun Lozada

Atty. Harry Roque - Concerned Citizens Movement

Atty. Josie Lichauco - Concerned Citizens Movement

Atty. Edre Olalia

Betina Legarda - Concerned Citizens Movement

Ms. Sandra Cam - Whistleblowers Assoc.

Ver Eustaquio - EDSA 3 Coalition

Fr. Rudy Abao, MSC - Kilusang Makabansang Ekonomiya

Ms. Maita Gomez - Action for Economic Reforms

Amado Gat Inciong

Conrado de Quiros - Philippine Daily Inquirer

Anna-fie Windel, Germany

Fr. Jose Dizon – Diocese of Imus