Category: General

No hero’s burial to a non-hero

Davinci Maru

Text and Photos by DAVINCI MARU

With mixed shock, anger, frustration, and outrage, hundreds of Filipinos gathered at Rizal Park in Manila amid intermittent rain to express their resounding opposition to the proposed burial of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

The tortured and the arrested during the dark days of martial law, human rights advocates, lawmakers, students, and citizens stood united against the plan of President Rodrigo Duterte to accord Marcos a hero’s interment.

“Marcos is not a hero,” they declared. A hero does not lie, steal, or kill, they said.

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Media on Elections and Violence 2016

Davinci Maru

A Report of the Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility

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The coverage of violence and conflict in media presents the subject as a critical concern about the role of the press in society and its impact on development. Violence is endemic, criminal and embedded in various aspects of national life.

A gun culture perpetrates this violence, giving rise to an incidence that should not be tolerated by civilized society.

Focusing on the election related violence, this study examines the quality of the political exercise in a different light, concerned not with the security of electoral procedures as much as the security of the stakeholders of the exercise. This concern draws us to regional conditions that are under-reported by the media — the poverty, the lack of public services, of health and education for so many communities in remote areas which underline severe social inequalities in the country. The state of such deprivation makes these citizens vulnerable to attacks and threats, intimidation, harassment and other dangers. These may not prevent the holding of elections, but it raises questions about the freedom of the people’s choice.

In monitoring the coverage of violence in the 2016 elections, CMFR assigned regional team leaders in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the latter concentrating on ARMM. As journalists, these were engaged as well in covering elections for their news organizations, while evaluating media reports about violent incidents in the course of the campaign up to election week.

The limited study recorded the highest incidence of electoral violence in the provinces of ARMM in Mindanao, in Samar in the Visayas, and Abra in the Cordilleras. These incidents were reported as incidents without reference to the context of conflict in these communities.

The study shows a limited scope of coverage given to regional news by national newspapers. Monitoring teams have also noted that media reports mainly relied on police and military records to describe the violence, circumstances and identity of casualties. Lacking context in reports, the press fails to draw policy attention to the underlying issues of conflict.

Read CMFR’s full report here.

 

UNODC slams ‘extrajudicial killings’ in PH

Davinci Maru

Human Rights

Statement by the UNODC Executive Director on the situation in the Philippines

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) remains greatly concerned by the reports of extrajudicial killing of suspected drug dealers and users in the Philippines. I join the United Nations Secretary-General in condemning the apparent endorsement of extrajudicial killing, which is illegal and a breach of fundamental rights and freedoms.

Such responses contravene the provisions of the international drug control conventions, do not serve the cause of justice, and will not help to ensure that “all people can live in health, dignity and peace, with security and prosperity”, as agreed by governments in the outcome document approved at the UN General Assembly special session on the world drug problem.

UNODC supports balanced, people-centred, evidence- and rights-based approaches to drug control, rooted in the agreed international conventions and standards.

UNODC stands ready to further engage with the Philippines and all countries to bring drug traffickers to justice with the appropriate legal safeguards in line with international standards and norms, and promote prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration approaches based in evidence, science, public health and human rights.

Breathing Life to People’s FOI

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STATEMENT OF RIGHT TO KNOW, RIGHT NOW! COALITION
28 July 2016

With the signing of the Executive Order on Freedom of Information (FOI) last July 23, 2016, the decades-long fight for a Philippine FOI law has been breathed life anew. Even as it reminds that it does not take the place of an FOI statute, the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition (“R2KRN”) believes that the EO is definitely a landmark step for the country in its quest for institutionalized transparency and culture of accountability and informed citizen’s participation.

The EO on FOI, consisting of 19 sections, provides a clear and unequivocal directive to all public officers and employees of the Executive Department to respect and fully operationalize the right of every Filipino to have access to information in their custody, subject only to already EXISTING exceptions under the constitution, law or jurisprdence. It also encourages the LGUs, through its power of general suprevision, to likewise observe and be guided by the EO.

The biggest contribution of the EO to the operationalization of FOI is in spelling out for the Executive branch HOW this will be done. The EO lays down basic standards and procedure in requesting, processing and giving access to information. Every government office is directed to prepare a People’s FOI Manual embodying such procedure, observing the timelines and standards for government action provided by the EO.

The Coalition is aware that by the nature of it being an EO, it is limited in its application to the Executive Department. This notwithstanding, the EO represents a major progressive leap on transparency (contrary to the negativist and misleading assertions by some quarters that the EO is “toothless”).

For one, the executive is the biggest branch of government, responsible for the greatest scope of official acts, transactions, decisions, and policy development that affect the lives of every Filipino. For another, experience from our FOI practice shows that one of the biggest hurdles in accessing information is the absence of uniform, speedy and mandated procedure for access, which the EO addresses. This aspect in fact already constitutes a large portion of what the FOI bills want to achieve. We also appreciate the refreshing and decisive leadership under the present administration to deliver on a stated promise to the people.

The EO is a work in progress, and the coalition commits to continue to work with the Duterte administration on the critical next steps. The first is to ensure that the inventory prepared by the DOJ and the Office of the Solicitor General is faithful to existing law and jurisprudence, and in line with the right to information. The second is to actively engage implementation, both in terms of the implementing rules and actual practice. The third is to push for the review of the outdated information classification guidelines embodied in Memorandum Circular No. 78 mentioned in the repealing clause of the EO. The fourth is the adoption by the LGUs and Constitutional bodies of similar administrative procedures to govern their respective offices.

While the EO is definitely a welcome development in the people’s struggle for our right to access information as enshrined in the constitution, we challenge Congress to prove itself equally responsive by finally overcoming their resistance to FOI and enact a progressive FOI law. An FOI law will be a positive addition to the EO in respect to the following: (1) expanding the coverage of FOI standards beyond the executive department; (2) reviewing the exceptions to limit them to only what are reasonable and necessary; (3) introducing criminal liability where appropriate; and (4) affording further institutionalization given the greater stability of an Act of Congress. In this regard, the coalition will be refiling an FOI bill in Congress through Indirect Initiative, and invites organizations and individuals to join its campaign for the passage of an equally progressive People’s FOI Law in the coming months.

While the EO is a welcome development in the people’s struggle for our constitutional right to information, the Coalition emphasizes that ultimately, it will be the FOI practice of both citizens and government that will be key. The Coaltion calls on the public to engage in FOI practice at all levels, and use the constitutional right to information, the EO on FOI, and the FOI law should one be enacted, as instruments to effect positive change in policy and development.

 

THE RIGHT TO KNOW, RIGHT KNOW! COALITION
28 July 2016

Reference
Atty. Eirene Jhone E. Aguila, Co-convenor
0919 999 4578

SONA sa Lansangan

Davinci Maru

By Jil Danielle Caro, Ehcel Hurna, and Davinci Maru

Libu-libong manggagawa, mangingisda, magsasaka, katutubo, estudyante, guro, at iba pang sektor ng lipunan ang nakilahok sa pagkilos para sa unang State of the Nation Address (SONA) ni pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Inihain namin ang mga katanungang ito: una, ano ang inaasahan mo sa administrasyong Duterte; pangalawa, ano ang mga suliranin na agarang dapat masolusyonan, at ang huli, ano ang mensahe mo sa bagong pangulo. Ito ang kanilang mga naging kasagutan.

IPs

“Kung pwedeng matulungan niya kami dahil sa mahirap kami. Nagtatanim nalang kami ng kamote para may pangkain.” -Carmelita Dela Cruz, Esther Garcia, and Maria Provo, Aetas of Tarlac province

Jenilyn Manzon

“Marami po ang inaasahan naming mga mag-aaral sa kasalukuyang administrasyon. Isa na po dito ang libreng edukasyon na dapat matamasa ng bawat kabataang Pilipino. Hindi lamang po ito dapat maging isang prebilehiyo, kundi dapat po ay isa itong maging karapatan.” – Jenilyn Manzon, college student of PUP Sta. Mesa and president of Ugnayan ng Talino at Kagalingan

Domingo Bul-ul

“Yung Mindanao, specifically South Cotabato, ay talaga pong amin po iyon. Pero parang alien kami sa aming lugar. Dapat po tuparin yung mga sinabi niya pertaining to the IPs. Tulungan niya ang mga tribo. We are far behind. Malayong-malayo kami sa lipunan. Kaya kami sumama dito, ipapaabot namin sa presidente na kailangan namin ang tunay na demokrasya.” – Domingo Bul-ul of T’boli Tribe in South Cotabato

Elizabeth Penaverde

“Presidente, thank you, thank you very much sa ginagawa mo sa ating bansa. Napakaswerte namin. Siguro ito na kasi nag-pray ako kay God na bigyan kami ng presidente na magkakaroon ng changes sa bansa natin. Siguro ito na ang hulog ng langit.” – Elizabeth Peñaverde, teacher and property custodian of Antonio J. Villegas Vocational High School

Renato Cada

“Malaki ang inaasahan ko sa bagong pangulo natin sa usapin ng pag-minimize ng kriminalidad lalo na ang drugs at corruption. Krimen din ang corruption.” – Renato Cada of COURAGE, KASAMA KA Quezon City

Rachelle Lisora

“Ang isyu na dapat masolusyonan sa amin ay ‘yung ibinibintang ng mga paramilitar sa amin na kami raw ay mga supporter ng NPA pero hindi yan ang totoo. Ginagawa nila yan para masira ang aming kinabukasan at hindi na po kami makapagpatuloy sa aming pag-aaral para po madali nilang maagaw ang aming lupang ninuno.” – Rachelle Lisora, high school student of Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV) in Surigao del Sur

Gerry Rivera

“Inaasahan namin na mawala na nang tuluyan ang contractual employment. Sa hanay naming mga manggagawa, ang human rights, kasama ang workers’ rights diyan. Ang regular na trabaho, this would be in line with the constitutional provision guaranteeing the workers of security of tenure. Ito ang gusto naming magawa na niya agad.” – Gerry Rivera, president of Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA)

Raoul Manuel

“Inaasahan ko sa kasalukuyang administrasyon ni Duterte ay makinig sa hinaing ng mamamayang Pilipino. Nanalo siya sa pagiging presidente sapagkat sawa na yung mamamayang Pilipino sa kahirapan at pambubusabos na ginawa ng nakaraang administrasyon.” – Raoul Manuel, incoming Student Regent of UP System and first UP Visayas Summa Cum Laude

Camille Mones

“Inaasahan ko na mabawasan ang pagiging mahal ng bilihin dahil napakahirap ng buhay ngayon.” – Camille Mones, vendor

Jason Versola

“Meron akong tatlong punto na kailangang bigyang pansin: Una, sa usapin ng kawalan ng lupa sa mga magsasaka, ikalawa yung usapin ng karapatan ng mga manggagawa ‘yung laban sa kontraktwalisasyon, at ikatlo ‘yung usapin ng mga indigenous people na patuloy na napapalayas sa kanilang mga lupain dahil sa mapanirang pagmimina at pagtotroso.” – Jason Versola, college representative of UP Diliman

Vicente Alban

“Sa bahagi ng League of Urban Poor for Action, ay meron naman kaming malinaw na batayan kung bakit dapat ang gobyerno ay umaksyon para sa kagalingan ng mamamayan. Lalong lalo pa at ang gobyernong ito ay lumagda sa mga kasunduan, sa international at sa ating konstitusyon, na kung saan dapat ang estado ay magsagawa ng kaukulang pabahay sa kanyang mamamayan na makatao, may hanapbuhay, may kumpletong pasilidad at maayos na mga basic services.” – Vicente Alban, chairman of League of Urban Poor for Action NCR