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A 22-year-old activist from Smokey Mountain shares how from being her parent's perennial headache, she rose to the challenges of fighting for their community through now jailed activist Reina Nasino's help.
“There is no reason especially why the prison authorities will not allow us to send food, flowers and solace to Reina Mae at this lowest point in her life.”
"Another victory for the youth — a clear manifestation of fighting for rights and injustices of the Filipino people is not unlawful."
"The arrest of Belen is a very clear example of the dangers of red-tagging, resulting in violations to the right to life, liberty and security of human rights defenders, including indigenous women human rights defenders who are fighting for their communities’ land, resources and rights.”
Men took up actor Angel Locsin’s red lipstick challenge in protest of Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. General Antonio Parlade Jr.’s latest red-tagging spree against government critics.
“The issuance of the IRR has set the stage for the unimpeded implementation of the assailed law; the targeting of activists and critics of the government; the suppression of dissent; and the curtailment of civil and political rights, all in the altar of national security,” the motion read.
With the release of implementing rules and regulations, experts and concerned citizens see the potential of the law of being abused and used against those who simply want to express their opinion on issues affecting the country.
“He poses himself as an advocate of free speech, and welcomes dissent, when in reality he is the number one violator of democratic rights in Southern Tagalog.”
“It is our hope that people may be allowed to freely participate in meaningful and rational discussion of issues without having been red-tagged.”
The Anti-Terrorism Act violates international standards on human rights and countering-terrorism with its vague and overboard definitions of “terrorism” as well as the excessive powers it grants to the Executive branch of the government.
“Most importantly, they demonstrate the BJMP and PNP’s unconscionable contempt for the accused’s grief and suffering as well as total disregard to human feelings, oblivious to public sensibilities and unmitigated disrespect for out eternally observed culture in times of bereavement.”
“Why did this happen? I thought this would be our moment. This is not solemn. Don't you have a family?” Marites Asis, mother of Reina Mae Nasino
Netizens have expressed their sympathy to the grieving mother, comparing the treatment she is receiving to that of the furloughs earlier granted to former presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Joseph Estrada, and Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, and the release of US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton.
Time and again, human rights organizations have called for independent investigation of mounting cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arrests and filing of trumped-up cases, to name a few.
Kapatid said a simple Google search will reveal that longer furloughs and privileges were granted by the courts and prison agencies to big-time politicians. Thus, there is no reason why Reina Mae Nasino cannot be allowed to grieve and be with her daughter for just mere three days.
"There is no reason to deny her motion. If big names in politics were allowed furlough, the same should be accorded to a grieving mother whose only desire now is to have a last glimpse of her dead 3-month-old child.”
The death of the three-month-old daughter of political prisoner Reina Mae Nasino has again brought to the fore the flaws of the justice system and the viciousness of government's counterinsurgency policy.
Nasino pleaded to the court to immediately give her “the decent and humane chance to be with her baby daughter, whom she was not able to comfort and hold while in sickbed up to her dying hours, for the last time, and to properly grieve over her tragic and untimely passing.”
“As several research, surveys, and studies clearly show, capital punishment is an ineffective deterrent to crime — contrary to the propositions of those advocating for its reimposition.”
“No country wants to be responsible for violating international law and considered unlawful particularly with laws that have been voluntarily ratified. It paints a picture of inconsistency, reduces the credibility of state responsibility and genuinely undermines the rule of law.”
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