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"Our evidence is strong. The suspects were positively identified, again and again, by our two main witnesses.” – Julian Oliva Jr., counsel of the families
“We seriously hope that the Human Rights Victims Claims Board will be composed soonest. Martial law victims cannot afford to be disenfranchised, much more neglected again.” - SELDA
Accused former Air Force Col. Eduardo Kapunan admitted in court that he ordered the surveillance of labor leader Roland Olalia, who was later found brutally murdered with companion Leonor Alay-ay, in 1986.
"Disappointingly, the investigative efforts of the Special Investigation Task Force Group-Balao falls way below acceptable standards given today's available technological and sophisticated measures." -- RTC Branch 63
The Tinoc folk called for the pull-out of the Alpha Company of the 86th Infantry (Highland) Battalion of the 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in Tinoc. They also called for the prosecution and punishment of erring soldiers and particularly mentioned Capt. Danilo Lalin who allegedly raped a minor in their headquarters in Tinoc.
Today is the sixth year since farmer-activist Jonas Burgos was abducted by state security forces. For the first time, his wife speaks in this video made by Jonas's younger brother, JL.
"Why do such human rights violations persist with impunity even under the Aquino administration?" – Fr. Rex Reyes, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP)
“He missed to celebrate four of his birthdays with us. This is the fifth. Nevertheless, we never forget to celebrate it with or without him. It feels empty to celebrate a birthday without him though. But what can we do? He was taken away from us forcefully and we were left with no choice but to deal with this emptiness.” -- Nonette Balao.
“Nanay, don’t worry. We are still intact as a family. We will continue to fight for you and for all the other victims of extrajudicial killings.” -- Ara Marcellana
"Justice is dead in our country." – Orly Marcellana
"Manong! Be strong as always! We share your hardships, feel your pain, we miss you so much and we will not stop searching for you! May you have a Happy Birthday!"
“They treat us like dogs. We may be poor but we also want to live decently.”
“Press freedom violations are being committed to prevent student writers from becoming critical, or to tame, paralyze and even shut down militant student papers.” – College Editors Guild of the Philippines
A state witness said then colonel Gringo Honasan headed the Special Operations Group, under the Defense department, that abducted and killed labor leaders Rolando Olalia and Leonor Alay-ay in 1986.
"It is about the journey of a mother who seeks the truth about her son.”
In the morning of April 2, the day she was abducted, Gestine saw two men in soldier’s uniform on a motorcycle parked in front of her school staring at her.
“Nisinggit pa gani ko, mga bata mi sir, tulo ka beses, ayha sila miundang og pabuto, dayon mitubag sila, sa ibabaw ra daw sila nagpabuto, (I shouted at them three times, that we are kids, then they stopped firing and replied that they were firing at the hills,” Alvin said, adding that he immediately went to Roque when the gunfire stopped.
The 13-year-old wounded boy, Jonas, (not his real name) who is still recuperating at the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City is now “heavily guarded” by military men of the 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army. Hanimay Suazo, secretary general of human rights group, Karapatan, told Davao Today in a text message that the family of the victim is insulted and feel harassed by this act of the military.
The military repeatedly refused to turn over to the courts documents that could have determined what happened to Jonas.
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