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Dr. Ma. Luisa Garcia, 46, and Rosita Labarez, 57, president and vice-president of the Controlled Economic Zone Federation, Inc. (Cezfed), were leading residents of Barangay Holy Spirit to protest the impending bidding of the 13-hectare residential area, in front of the Sandiganbayan, when they were arrested.
Seven years after soldiers killed his daughter, peasant-turned-activist Gregorio Galacio was killed by suspected military men at dawn on July 19.
Peasant leader Edgardo Lopez of the Bicol Coconut Planters Association is the 50th victim of extrajudicial killing in the region alone under President Aquino.
“Do the members of the claims board understand that it was martial law, when military power took over civilian institutions? How do you expect victims, many of whom are farmers and ordinary people, to acquire such documents? How could they ask for legal papers when they were massacred, abducted, arrested and tortured in huge numbers?”- Karapatan
“If such ailments were the bases for Reyes’ hospitalization, then 50 ailing political prisoners should be accorded the same.- Selda
“How tragic to have Andrea arrested, detained, and have lost a baby daughter over false, trumped up, malicious charges, which the Pasig Court correctly struck down with prejudice.” – National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers
"Military agents are working round the clock to discredit the Morong 43 and say we are members of the New People's Army to justify the torture we suffered in the hands of the military.” -- Justice for the Morong 43 Alliance
“As one of the around 500 political prisoners under the Aquino government, I couldn’t help but sympathise with my fellow political prisoners who have to deal with poor prison conditions, some considered inhuman. In comparison, those charged with plunder cases are being given much leeway.” – Kim Gargar
Republic Act No. 9745 or the Anti-Torture Act of 2009, signed into law under then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, but the way the government has been handling cases filed under the said law lends truth to the legal maxim “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
“The BS Aquino government has shown its fangs once again with the arrest of another pregnant woman. Evil is an understatement to describe the treatment of the government to pregnant women like Maria Miradel Torres and Andrea Rosal. Both were going through difficult pregnancies when state forces mercilessly arrested them on spurious charges.” – Karapatan
On top of Kapunan being out on bail, and only two of the accused in custody, “some of the perpetrators of the beastly torture and cold-blooded murders are still at large, and some of the widely-perceived masterminds are even also implicated in other past shenanigans and present anomalies including the Pork Barrel scam.” – Edre Olalia, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers
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“As military generals, those who murder and torture, get promoted and plunderers of the nation’s coffers receive special treatment in jail, the Aquino government is on full blast promoting impunity.” – Karapatan
“We cannot just sit back and allow such injustices to continue.”– Desaparecidos
“I have yet to read and know the details of the charges filed against me but I know that I was never involved in any crime that would make me end up here. I demand that they release me. I do not want to lose my baby like what happened to Andrea Rosal.” – Maria Miradel Torres
Erwin Rosales, one of the witnesses against Rosal, was the same witness used by the military against security guard Rolly Panesa who was eventually ordered released by the Court of Appeals after finding inconsistencies in the statements of the military.
After the prosecution presented several eyewitnesses in the abduction of Karen and Sherlyn, the defense was given several opportunities to present their own witnesses. Not one has been presented since.
Their relationship was tempered by difficulties, hardships, living with risks, and the ups and downs of waging a revolution.
“Why should one stop when a lot has to be done to attain radical change not only for Filipinos but for other exploited and oppressed peoples as well?”
“Happiness is in the revolution,” Benito said, smiling. “I could not think of any other life. There is no other way. The revolution is not a burden, an obligation I perform with a heavy heart. It comes out naturally.”
“The cases, filed as early as 2008, have been gathering dust in the records of the Ombudsman, which has shown nary a hint of interest or resolve in investigating criminal and ethical violations by top military brass down the line.”
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