On Malacañang’s Branding Human Rights Violations as Leftist Propaganda

October 24, 2012 | Free Jonas Burgos Movement 

Statement of Mrs. Edita Burgos, mother of Jonas Burgos, desaparecido

My son, Jonas, is still missing as so many others are. He was forcibly abducted during the Gloria Arroyo administration, and until now we have yet to get a categorical statement from authorities on the fate of my son. And my family had admittedly become vocal in our plea that military produce my Jonas.

File photo. Bulatlat.com

To call this propaganda and to label it leftist is the height of insensitivity to a mother who continues to search for his missing son. I stand before the Lord, who is truth Himself, in witness of this truth.

Now, when you are looking for a missing loved one, is it justified to label you as leftist? Unless the definition has been changed, I would not subscribe to what has been officially said by Malacanang.   To seek justice and to right a wrong done to families who have been victims of enforced disappearances, will that be considered a leftist act?

Incidentally, a few days ago, President Aquino approved the promotion of several military generals. Among them was Col. Eduardo Año who was promoted to Brigadier General.

Col. Año is one of the respondents in the criminal case we filed with the Department of Justice for the abduction of my son. After one year, the case is still under preliminary investigation.

Today, I fear that the message relayed in such blatant act by authorities can be a justification for human rights violators to continue their abuses.

With Malacanang’s tough branding of human rights violations as leftist propaganda, are the authorities now saying that I will never see my son again?

Edita Burgos

Desaparecidos to Noynoy: You’re no different from GMA and Marcos

 

“Surface the desaparecidos,” relatives of victims demand. (Photo by Janess Ann J. Ellao/Bulatlat)

 

PRESS RELEASE

August 30, 2012

We, Families of Desaparecidos for Justice (Desaparecidos) gather today, on the International Day of the Disappeared to demand from the Noynoy Aquino government for justice for all victims of enforced disappearances.

The practice of enforced disappearance among those it perceives as “enemies of the state” did not stop when martial law was ended. The practice of enforced disappearance, although not highlighted, continues up to the present, where there are already 11 documented victims in the first two years of the Aquino presidency.

Also, the existence of the paramilitary groups which started during martial law and proliferated during the Cory Aquino is again sowing terror in the far-flung provinces doing the dirty work for the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ counter-insurgency activities.

On the night of July 19, 2011, Micheal Celeste, Jully Devero and Gerald Abale, peasants from Magallona, Negros Occidental were abducted by members of Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Buncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB). They remain missing up to this time. The RPA-ABB is a break-away group of the New People’s Army and has long surrendered to the government. The Noynoy Aquino government supports the RPA-ABB through its PhP31 million PAMANA project.

Human rights violations are increasing and enforced disappearances is one of the gravest form that persists from the time of martial law up to the regime of Noynoy Aquino. The government’s counter-insurgency program, the Oplan Bayanihan is instrumental to the unabated human rights violations and has resulted in more victims of enforced disappearances.

We hold the Noynoy government responsible for all the disappearances that happened under his regime. We also hold the Noynoy government answerable to the continuing impunity and injustice such as the continuing disappearance of many victims and the non-arrest of the Butcher Ret. Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr.

President Noynoy promised the Filipino people justice, yet,  we only get INJUSTICE. Noynoy Aquino is no different from his predecessor Gloria Arroyo, and even Marcos. He has done nothing to correct the injustices that happened during the past regimes. He has, in fact, perpetrated the terror of martial law by implementing the same laws and by sowing the same terror, especially in the rural areas.

We, Families of Desaparecidos for Justice will not be fooled. We have learned from those ahead of us that as long as disappearances continue, the perpetrators remain unpunished, and the missing are not found, we will remain steadfast in our struggle for justice.

SURFACE ALL DESAPARECIDOS! STOP ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES!

DISMANTLE ALL PARAMILITARY GROUPS!

JUSTICE FOR ALL VICTIMS!

Reference: Lorena ‘Aya’ Santos, Deputy Secretary General Contact Number: 09175230396

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Human rights violators GMA and Palparan are free, our loved ones remain missing. Is this what you call justice? – families of Desaparecidos

“Nasaan ang hustisyang ipinagmamalaki mo noong SONA, President Noynoy?” (What justice were you bragging about in your SONA?” Mary Guy Portajada, secretary general of Families of Desaparecidos for Justice dared President Noynoy Aquino. “Hustisya ba itong malaya si Gloria Arroyo, siyang may sala sa pagkawala ng mahigit 200 na desaparecido noong rehimen niya?” (Where is justice when Gloria Arroyo is free when she should be held accountable for the more than 200 disappearances during her regime), Portajada said.

Meanwhile, Linda Cadapan, mother of missing activist Sherlyn Cadapan said, “Naniniwala na ako na nagkasundo na talaga si GMA at Noynoy. Kasi kung seryoso ang ating Pangulo, matagal na niyang kinasuhan si Gloria sa kaniyang human rights violations at titiyaking hindi makalaya si Gloria. ” (I am truly convinced that Noynoy and GMA have already come to a compromise because if the President is serious, he could have already charged Arroyo on her human rights violation and would ensure that GMA is jailed.)

According to KARAPATAN, Gloria Arroyo left her presidency with a record of 1,206 cases of extra-judicial killings and 206 victims of enforced disappearances. Through her Oplan Bantay Laya, Arroyo, together with high ranking military officials such as Ret. Maj. Jovito S. Palparan Jr. is responsible to the deaths and disappearances of unarmed civilians and activists who were targeted for “neutralization.”

“Let us not forget those victims of Arroyo, especially those who disappeared. It is clear that Aquino’s speech remains just a speech, ” Cadapan said.

“Hindi talaga pantay ang batas natin – para sa mga may pera at may kapangyarihan lang,” (Our law isn’t equal . It is only for the rich and powerful,” Concepcion Empeño, mother of missing Karen Empeno blurted out.  “Our case has been pending for many years now, yet GMA is freed with just one a snap.” Mrs. Empeño added.

Linda Cadapan and Concepcion Empeño are the mothers of the two University of the Philippines students who were abducted on June 26, 2006 while conducting their research in Hagonoy, Bulacan. Raymond Manalo, another victim of abduction testified in court to have seen the two students at the custody of the military under the command of now Retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan. According to Manalo, the two were raped and tortured.

“Malacañang can point all their fingers elsewhere but GMA’s freedom is Noynoy’s accountability.” Portajada said. “Noynoy can put the blame on GMA for the disappearance of the victims but it is already Noynoy’s inaction that the victims remain missing up to the present and justice is still elusive, ” Portajada concluded.###

Reference:
Mary Guy Portajada, Secretary General
Contact Number: 09175230396