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"We do not know where to stand or how to feel, whether we could still hope or just move on."
The lawyers raised a fundamental question: if the alleged violations are punishable only by fines, why were individuals arrested or taken into custody?
“It is not a crime to help the poor, fisherfolk, farmers, and indigenous peoples here in Negros. We are doing nothing wrong."
"A lower number of reported cases does not necessarily mean fewer violations."
"Her youth, academic excellence, and idealism should never be weaponized to rationalize custodial violations."
Their arrest during the solemn observance of Lent reflects the continuing injustice faced by those who stand with the poor and oppressed.
“What they called an ‘interview’ was actually an interrogation, with death threats.”
“There is strength in continuing the struggle."
In this series of stories of indigenous women human rights defenders of Cordillera, we give human face to those who were tagged as “terrorists” by the Philippines government.
“Instead of going after the Alamara and the military, the government filed charges against the likes of Ka Satur (Ocampo) and Ma’am France (Castro).”
“The Court of Appeals’ decision affirms what we have long known—the accusations against our mother were baseless.”
The Philippines has been rated “Repressed” for five consecutive years, the second worst rating a country can receive, indicating severe restrictions to the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
But beyond the megaphones and the watchful gaze of authorities are students who still return to their families, friends, and academic responsibilities.
For the families left behind, the years that followed have been marked by grief, frustration, and a continuing fight for accountability.
“These arrests and the filing of fabricated charges expose the worsening climate of tyranny, repression, and impunity under the Marcos Jr. regime, continuing the same pattern of repression seen under the previous administration of Rodrigo Duterte.”
“His libel case is something he does not deserve, for he spoke the truth, and there was no malice in pointing out mistakes in published materials."
The CHR concluded that there were indeed militarization and human rights violations committed by both the Philippine Army and paramilitary group Alamara within the ancestral lands of the Lumad in certain sitios in the towns of Talaingod and Kapalong in Davao del Norte.
“What stands out from the past year is how many people are choosing courage over compliance.”
“We have seen that our collective action can hold even the most powerful official, a former president, accountable."
“Without an operative and legally effective designation at the time of the alleged acts, an essential element of the crime is wanting.”
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