Remember Nanay Patria Andal - #rememberML@40

“Anong hirap pala ang mawalay sa mga mahal mo sa buhay, sa katulad kong isang ina. Ngunit ang damdamin ko ay lalo kong pinagtitibay; hangad ko pa rin ang paglaya at muling magkapiling tayong lahat.” – Nanay Andal

Nanay Patria Andal

Nanay Andal. Source: TFDP
Her story is that of a mother’s unselfish love for her children, on March 2, 1979, in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro. Element of the Philippine Constabulary and Integrated National Police raided her house and retrieved a carbine under the bed in the room formerly occupied by Reynante, Nanay’s late son.

Nanay Andal had to be fetched from her small meat stall in the market, and her other son, Ervin were arrested and detained at the Provincial Jail.

It took ten days before they were arraigned in court and both pleaded innocence to the charge. The lawyer assigned to them convinced Nanay to plead guilty. He told her, that if she plead guilty, her son will be set free and she would get, at the most, two years in jail. She agreed. She withdrew her plea, and instead, entered a plea of guilty. Two years imprisonment was little sacrifice for her son’s freedom.

In the decision of the court dated December 14, 1979, Nanay Andal ws sentenced to a minimum term of 20 years to a maximum of life imprisonment.

The gun found at her house, was a momento she kept of her dead son Reynante, who was killed by members of the Task Force Lawin of the Philippine Army in 1971.

Source: “Filipino Women in Struggle” TFDP

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=406567262717209&set=a.406566046050664.98469.383902711650331&type=1&theater

On the 40th Anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, let us push for the ‘Compensation Act’ for all victims
of human rights violations of the Marcoses,
JOIN us in our pledge to remember, inform and inspire the youth with the truth and lessons that our nation learned from this dark period of our history.
I pledge to…
Never Again to Martial Law!
We remember, we inform, we inspire
Our youth with the truth and lessons of Martial Law.
#rememberML@40
and Invite people to…
1. Like and share the “Remember ML@40” FB page
2. Invite/recruit 40 or more others to like “Remember ML@40” FB page and ask them to recruit 40 more
3. Submit and/or post own “Pinky Pledge Photo” and ask others to do the same
4. Like and share all posts from “Remember ML@40” FB page
5. Participate in the “Online action day”
6. Change profile pic on September 21, 2012

Palparan's hearing reset for Feb. 6

Palparan's hearing reset for Feb. 6 
By Dino Balabo, The Philippine Star
January 13, 2012  

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – Retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan’s hearing today was reset for Feb. 6, the original schedule.

Prosecutor Edre Olalia said he learned from the Department of Justice yesterday that Malolos Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 14 here will not hear Palparan’s motion for reconsideration.

The case will be heard on Feb. 6, along with other motions as per agreement of the parties on Jan. 2, he added.

Olalia said he was surprised to learn that Palparan’s counsel has filed a motion for an immediate court proceeding today.

Palparan’s counsel claimed inaction on the part of Judge Teodora Gonzales on their omnibus motion filed last Jan. 2, he added.

The motion prayed for the recall of the warrant of arrest and hold departure order against Palparan, and for the suspension of proceedings.

Palparan along with Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario and S/ Sgt. Eduardo Osorio, has been charged for kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

Palparan and Hilario remain at large, while Anotado and Osorio have surrendered.

Read complete article @ www.philstar.com

Breaking News: Man dies in Calif. state-sponsored torture scandal - www.examiner.com

by Deborah Dupre, Human Rights Examiner
December 31, 2011

Another Pelican Bay Prison SHU man dead after strip celled, blasted with 'ice cold air' in retaliation for peaceful hunger strike

Another Pelican Bay Prison Hunger Striker has died this week according to an Examiner.com source Saturday evening. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has yet to announce the death, name or cause. State-sponsored torture continues throughout California's solitary confinement units prompting another prison to announce a mass hunger strike this weekend.

This death "makes it three now here, all strikers and its sad," inmates at Pelican Bay Prison Segregated Housing Unit (SHU) solitary confinement said on Dec. 30, their message emailed to this reporter by a source late Saturday evening.

Prisoners in Pelican Bay Prison's SHU decided early this summer to protest tortuous conditions in isolation using the only peaceful means available to them, a hunger strike, quickly spreading to over a third of California's 33 prisons, 16 prisons where up to 12,000 prisoners refused food.

After the prisoners officially ended the strike, it resumed but ended again in October, Since then, at least three of the strikers "committed suicide," two in Pelican Bay State Prison’s SHU and another at Calipatria State Prison’s Administrative Segregation Unit (ASU).

Read more @ www.examiner.com

Lack of P-Noy’s explicit policy on human rights opens doors for violations on the ground

In commemoration of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) reiterates its call to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to combat torture and other forms of human rights violations.

There is a need for P-Noy to explicitly declare that he is waging war against human rights violations in the same way that he promised to fight corruption during his campaign for presidency.  Situations on the ground demand a stricter and more serious order from the leadership to its personnel to give the highest respect for human rights.

P-Noy should consider that human rights violations are also rooted from poverty.  The eradication of human rights violations may even be more important than the fight against corruption. 

Paradigm shift, as the authorities call it, must not remain a mere proclamation. It is a must that the military and the police discontinue their practice of torturing people.  It is imperative that P-Noy looks into this matter seriously with urgency.   

The recent cases of harassment of human rights defenders in Bulacan and the cases of torture and illegal arrests in Central Luzon and Mindanao prove that the “paradigm shift” has still a long way to go.  The government must prove its sincerity and gain the people’s confidence. 

After the legislation of Republic Act 9745 or the Anti-Torture Act of 2009, cases of torture still persist.  Worse, perpetrators still operate with impunity. 

P-Noy’s lack of an explicit policy on human rights, against torture and human rights violations, in particular, may be considered as the weakest link.  This can be interpreted that P-Noy is either not in control or that human rights is not really part of his agenda.

On the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, TFDP also reiterates its appeal for the release of all political prisoners.  TFDP has already communicated to the Office of the President the urgency of the case of Tatay Umbrero, a political prisoner who has stage four cancer.  TFDP implored for executive clemency since it is within P-Noy’s power to immediately act on the case of Tatay Umbrero.  But the government only responded by referring Umbrero’s case to the Board of Pardons and Parole.

It is hard to comprehend why Umbrero’s case would not deserve the urgent and immediate attention and action of P-Noy.  Is this not equally important as the issue of wangwang that merited inclusion in his previous State of the Nation Address?  Is human rights not included in P-Noy’s matuwid na daan?

The UNCAT recommends among others that the Philippine Government educate its members specially its security sectors about the right not to be tortured.  How can P-Noy raise awareness among his ranks when he seems to be busy only with issues that will hit the headlines?  Or could it be that it is P-Noy who needs human rights education?

Stop torture. Prosecute perpetrators.

Free Tatay Umbrero. Free all Political Prisoners.

BASTA! Run Against Torture! (BRAT V)

 

Friday,  June 24, 2011

ASSEMBLY: 700 – 730 AM in front of the Department of Interior and Local Government Building (Mapagmahal St. corner EDSA)

Route: EDSA (in front of DILG) – East Ave. – QC Elliptical Road –PhilCOA – Commonwealth – Commission on Human Rights

700 runners from the United Against Torture Coalition (UATC),

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) ,Presidential Human Rights Committee,

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Justice (DOJ),

Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)

For more information, please contact Mei Orias of Amnesty International Philippines through the following contact numbers: mobile – 09996282066 / landline – 4338100 / email – meiorias@amnesty.org.ph