Archive for the ‘Justice’ Category

Kabataan Party-list holds Espana-wide noise barrage today

Tuesday, May 8th, 2007

Slams illegal arrest, detention of organizer in Ormoc

Kabataan party-list, the leading youth party-list participating in the elections, is set to hold an Espana-wide noise barrage later this afternoon for clean and honest elections.

The activity dubbed, “Kalampagin ang Espana: Tie A Blue Ribbon against electoral fraud and for youth representation in Congress” will commence at exactly 5:00 in the afternoon in various points along Espana in Manila.

Kabataan members and supporters from Welcome Rotonda, Blumentritt, Sampaloc, Lacson, UST, Miguelin, Riles, Algeciras and Trabajo Market will all converge along Espana with their noise-makers to register the youth party-list’s clamor for clean and honest elections.

“With barely a week before Election Day and killings and political repression still rampant, the youth and the people are given no reason to believe that massive electoral fraud and violence are at bay. We call on all concerned and democracy-loving citizens to join our crusade against electoral fraud and violence. Let us all fight for our stake for a promising future for the youth,” said Raymond Palatino, national president and nominee.

Palatino cited the most recent cases of political repression namely Makati Rep. Jejomar Binay’s ‘midnight suspension’ and the harassment against Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino and his companions in a motorcade in Ormoc yesterday as omens of more rampant suppression of the political opposition ahead.

One of Casino’s companions, Rolando ‘Jun-Jun’ Cabato, 21 years old, and a Kabataan organizer in Ormoc, was illegally abducted by elements of the AFP’s 19th IB. He remains missing to date.

He also criticized the government’s lack of political will to put a stop to electoral-related violence which escalated these past weeks. More than 100 have already fallen victim to electoral-related violence.

“We cannot hope to have fraud-free and peaceful elections for as long as the military remains at the cudgels of supposed ‘peace and order’ operations for the elections. The government cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the fact that in some, in fact most, cases of repression and violence, the military is involved,” said Palatino.

Palatino announced that the youth party-list will commence with a ‘Three-Day Countdown’ for clean and honest elections from May 10-12. The countdown will kick-off with a massive ‘cyber-countdown’ of young Filipino bloggers who are also supporters of Kabataan.

On May 11, Kabataan party-list will stage a nationally-coordinated noise barrage. The countdown will end with a vigil in front of the Commission on Elections on May 12. ###.

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gmanews.tv: Youth groups hit detention of protester

Thursday, May 3rd, 2007

http://www.gmanews. tv/story/ 40709/Youth- groups-hit- detention- of-protester

Militant youth groups cried foul Wednesday over the alleged harassment in the arrest and detention of a student leader who attended Tuesday’s May Day rally.

Youth groups led by the League of Filipino Students (LFS) and Kabataan Partylist staged a protest action in front of the Manila Police District headquarters in Manila Wednesday.

Police arrested Ken Mark Ambay, 23, a member of the Kabataan party-list group, while he was walking behind his friends along Morayta Avenue after the Labor Day rally along C.M. Recto Avenue.

A plainclothesman later identified to be from the Manila Police District grabbed and arrested him.

“When I resisted, the policeman along with two others shoved me so I fell on my back. They stepped on my neck and waist as they tightly placed handcuffs on my wrists,” recounted Ambay.

Ambay’s companions, also members of Kabataan party list, said the policemen who grabbed Ambay pointed guns at them as they approached Ambay to help him.

When Ambay was brought to the Manila Police Station 4, he was charged with assaulting the policemen that arrested him, an act Ambay denied.

“I could never have assaulted any policeman during the rally because it was a very peaceful demonstration. If I have hurt the ones that arrested me, I’m sorry but it was only natural for a person to resist when he is being grabbed and arrested for no reason,” he said.

Vencer Crisostomo, national chairman of the LFS and spokesman of Kabataan, described Ambay’s arrest as “a display of police brutality and power tripping.”

“We joined the Labor Day rally to fight for our rights, not to become victims of the denial of these rights by the government through the Philippine National Police,” said Crisostomo.

The groups said they are planning to file complaints against the policemen who arrested Ambay, saying that they shall not tolerate such events to occur. – GMANews.TV

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Kabataan Partylist condemns arbitrary arrest, detention of youth coordinator

Thursday, May 3rd, 2007

More cases of illegal detention against members of progressive partylists feared as elections comes near

The Kabataan Partylist today condemned the arbitrary arrest and illegal detention of one of its coordinators Ken Ambay following the Labor Day celebrations.

Ambay, 21, and a student of the University of the Philippines Manila, was with other UP Manila students in front of a fast food store near Morayta when two men in plain clothes apprehended him and had him handcuffed.

When Ambay’s companions tried to help him, the two men brought out their pistols and started aiming their gun at them.

“When we began to question why did they handcuff him and why were they taking him, they threatened to shoot anyone who would come near and help Ken,” Mariche Hermosa, also a UP Manila student and one of Ambay’s companions.

Ambay was initially brought to a police precint in the area and was immediately transferred to the Manila Police Headquarters in United Nations Avenue. The two arresting men were later on identified as Inspector Dexter Versola and PO1 Christopher Amistoso. The two claimed that Ambay was identified as one of the assailants who mugged a certain PO2 Raul Gumiran who was not with the officers during the arrest.

“This is a clear case of harassment against Kabataan Partylist.Their accusation against our coordinator Ken Ambay is baseless and fabricated, and is intended to harass members and coordinators. We are calling for the immediate release of Ken Ambay,” Kabataan Partylist President Raymond Palatino said.

Palatino also appealed to the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on Elections to conduct their own investigation of the arbitrary arrest and detention of Ambay.

“We fear that this might lead to more cases of arbitrary arrest, detention and harassment against Kabataan and other progressive partylist groups who are known critics of this administration.”

Meanwhile, Palatino said Kabataan Partylist is planning to file counter charges against the arresting officers for violations of their own standard procedures and for physical assault and threat perpetrated against Ambay and his companions.

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Caloocan youth cry harassment, assault by Echiverri

Friday, April 20th, 2007

Youth partylist seeks Recom’s disqualification
Reference: Kabataan Partylist Caloocan City Chapter

Members of Kabataan Partylist in Caloocan City today picketed outside the residence of reelectionist Caloocan City Mayor Recom Echiverri to protest the detention and harassment of five of its members.

The youth complainants said they were subjected to verbal abuse, harassment and illegal detention and one of them even experienced physical attack from Mayor Echiverri himself.

The victim, who refused to give his name for security reasons, said they were just posting Kabataan campaign materials along Tirona St. in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan in the early hours of April 14 when several policemen apprehended them and forced them in a van.

The complainant said they were readily arrested by the police officers after being caught removing a poster of Echiverri that was covering a Kabataan streamer earlier placed in the area.

“Bumaba kaadad yung mga pulis at pilit kaming pinasakay sa van. Nung tumanggi kami, tinutukan nila kami ng .45 at baby armalite at sinabihang ‘matigas kayo, gusto n’yong palambutin naming kayo?’ (The policemen quickly alighted the vehicle and told us to enter the van. When we refused, they pointed a 45 caliber pistol and a baby armalite at us and said “matigas kayo, gusto n’yong palambutin naming kayo?”),” the complainant narrated.

Instead of bringing them to a precint, he said they were brought to the residence of Echiverri and were presented before the incumbent mayor.

“Pilit niya kaming pinapaamin na may pulitikong nasa likod numg ginawa naming pagbabaklas sa poster niya. Binatukan pa nga niya ako. (He was forcing us to admit that there was a politician behind all of these things. He even hit me in the head.”

He said the Echiverri’s interrogation lasted for an hour before he asked the policemen to imprison them.

They were only released around 9 o’clock in the morning when a parent of one of the apprehended youth appealed to Echiverri.

“Dapat yung insidente na ito ay magbukas sa mata ng mga taga-Caloocan sa klase ng mayor na mayroon tayo rito. Kung kaya niyang gawin ito sa mga kabataan, kayang-kaya rin niya itong gawin sa iba (This incident should be an eye-opener to the people of Caloocan of the kind of mayor we have right now. If he can do these things to ordinary youth, he certainly can do it to other people.)”

He said they are planning to file a formal complaint against Echiverri and seek his possible disqualification for his conduct.

“Ang mga taong katulad niya ay di na dapat mahalal muli. Di na kami papayag na magdusa na naman ang mga taga-Caloocan sa korupsyon at pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan sa susunod na tatlong taon sa ilalim ni Recom (People like him don’t deserve another term. We will not allow ourselves to suffer from corruption and abuse of power for the next three years under Recom).”

Posted in Government, Justice, News and Press releases | 3 Comments »

Inquirer: Bayan Muna, Kabataan Partylist protest detention of two members

Thursday, April 19th, 2007

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=61223

Bayan Muna, youth party protest detention of two members
By Jolene Bulambot
Inquirer
Last updated 11:18pm (Mla time) 04/18/2007

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Bearing placards, 20 members of two party-list groups protested the alleged abduction and detention of their two members in front of the city courthouse.

The members of the Bayan Muna and the Kabataan party-list groups held a brief silent protest in front of the Marcelo Fernan Hall of Justice in uptown Cebu City to call the public’s attention to the detention of Beethoven Avila, 28, Cebu City South district coordinator of the

Avila said unidentified men also took him into a waiting van upon his arrival from Cagayan City at Pier 5 at 8 a.m. on April 12.

He said he was hit several times on the thighs and the body while being interrogated.

“Still blindfolded and handcuffed, they hit me on the chest, head and thigh as they wanted to force me to admit involvement with the revolutionary armed movement which I vehemently denied,” Avila said in his affidavit. He also named Naldoza as one of his interrogators.

Both Daño and Avila said they were brought to the Toledo City hall on April 13 and were later released to the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID) of the Police Regional Office in the evening.

Senior Superintendent Augusto Marquez, the RIID chief, said the military endorsed Daño and Avila to their unit after the two were arrested based on a warrant of arrest for murder charges.

Marquez, however, said both activists were later released after the Regional Trial Court in Toledo City remanded the murder case to the city prosecutor for re-investigation and temporarily set aside the arrest warrants.

However, Marquez refused to name the military unit that endorsed Daño and Avila to his office.

Bayan Muna Cebu secretary general Armand Perez said they would pursue the filing of criminal and administrative charges against some military officials for kidnapping and electioneering before the Ombudsman this week.

Related stories:
Soldiers grab party-list staff (Sun Star Cebu)
Legitimate arrest, says police: Militant leaders claim abduction (The Freeman Cebu)
Probe on alleged abduction of 2 militant leaders urged (The Freeman Cebu)
Party-list groups ready harassment charges vs. military (The Freeman Cebu)

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I DEFY: A Gathering of Young Civil Libertarian and Press Freedom Advocates on March 29

Wednesday, March 28th, 2007

Friends and fellow civil libertarians,

Greetings of peace and solidarity!

The Permanent People’s Tribunal, an international jury, has stated its verdict: The Philippine government is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of grave human rights abuses in the Philippines.

The PPT, composed of a forum of reknowned lawyers and human rights activists recently held a trial in The Hague and found the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo responsible of unsolved extra-judicial killings, disappearance, political repression and other human rights violations in the Philippines. It also held accountable the Armed Forces of the Philippines as the ‘central force’ implementing rights abuses in the country. The PPT was founded in 1979 in Italy by lawyers, writers and intellectuals, and since then has examined and judged complaints regarding violations of human rights submitted by vicitms or groups from different countries.

As expected, the Arroyo administration was quick to denounce the PPT verdict as ‘unfair and biased’. It has time and again refused to acknowledge the magnitude and gravity of human rights abuses in the Philippines and instead continues to conjure fabricated excuses to escape accountability for the unending spate of killings, disappearances, political repression and other rights violations. It is precisely for the Arroyo administration’s denial of responsibility that rights abuses continue to hound our countrymen with impunity.

The victims of grave threats to life and liberty include Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo who was recently arrested under false charges of murder following the discovery of alleged mass graves in Leyte; and Anakpawis Rep. Crispin ‘Ka Bel’ Beltran who has been incarcerated for more than a year now for rebellion and sedition charges.

Critical youth and students, likewise, fall victim to political repression and tyranny. The forced disappearances of UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, and the brutal killings of student leaders Chris Hugo, Ambo Guran and Farly Alcantara in Bicol, illustrate the government’s merciless attitude towards its critics.

Militarization and human rights violations, including the extra-judicial killings of over 800 activists, journalists and civilians make the Arroyo government the worst human rights violator in the post-Marcos years. This alarming situation will furthermore be aggravated by the recently-railroaded Human Security Act of 2007, or the anti-terror law.

Unexplained military presence in campuses and communities within Metro Manila is causing widespread fear, panic and indignation among youth and students. Troop deployments were documented in campuses such as the Philippine Normal University and Polytechnic University of the Philippines; while residents complain of military harassment in Payatas, Pandancan, Tondo and Kalookan.

No freedom-loving youth could ever find legal and moral justification for the wave of warrantless arrests, press freedom repression and over-all suppression against groups and individuals expressing dissent against the government. In the guise of maintaining peace and order, such abuses have been committed mainly against the leaders and members of people’s organizations and political parties that continue to demand proper closure on the issues of Arroyo’s legitimacy amidst the fraud, corruption and human rights violations committed by her regime.

We maintain that press freedom and civil liberties are essential exercises in a democracy. The role to defend human rights is crucial to every Filipino citizen, especially the youth. In times of crisis, we, young Filipinos are tasked to forge the deepest unity against all forms of political repression and rights abuses.

It is in this light that the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) and the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) invite you to “I DEFY! I Defy Political Repression, I Defy Tyranny; A gathering of young civil libertarians and press freedom advocates,” on March 29, 10AM to 12NN at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City.

We must add our voices to stop the return of dark days when political activists and supporters of people’s movements demanding regime change are arrested without
warrant, brutally killed and forcibly disappeared; when freedom of the press is suppressed; and when all instruments of the state are directed to quell dissent of people seeking urgent political and socio-economic reforms.

Let us DEFY political repression. Let us DEFY tyranny. Let us stand for democracy!

For inquiries, feel free to contact Jose (0918 243 3779) or Alvin (0906 245 8411).

Thank you and we are looking forward to seeing you in this timely and noble gathering.

Sincerely,

(sgd).
Jose Cosido
CEGP, National President

(sgd.)
Alvin Peters
Secretary- General, NUSP

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Youth party-list extends support to Ka Satur

Monday, March 19th, 2007

Slams AFP ‘summons’ to 2nd nominee, parent

Kabataan Party-list, the sole youth party-list participating in the May polls, today expressed unwavering support for Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo following the latter’s forceful transfer of detention from the Manila Police District this morning.

Raymond Palatino, national president and Kabataan Party-list’s First Nominee, described Ocampo as an “inspiration to youth and students for his courage to face political hurdles and stand for his principles despite and amid blatant political persecution.”

“In the eyes of youth and students, it is very clearly the government via its coercive machinery the PNP and AFP that is causing unnecessary alarm and terror this election period. We see a distinguished and honorable Ka Satur being bodily carried out of the MPD and the first thing that comes to mind is, ‘Who’s next?’ If they can do this kind of thing to no less than a duly-elected government official, what is in store for common folks, especially youth and students who remain very critical of this government?,” Palatino said. (more…)

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“9/16″ against VFA

Monday, February 26th, 2007

“We in this Senate found the soul, the true spirit of this nation because we mustered the courage and will to declare the end of foreign military presence in the Philippines. I vote NO to this Treaty and vote Yes to the Resolution of Non-Concurrence.”

This was the speech of Senate President Jovito Salonga on September 16, 1991 when he affirmed the Philippine Senate’s decision to reject the bases agreement with the United States by approving Resolution No. 1259 of Non-Concurrence to “A Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Security.” (more…)

Posted in Government, Independence, Justice, Statements | 1 Comment »

Youth partylist condemns killing of student leader; Fear prelude to bloody polls

Saturday, February 17th, 2007

Kabataan Partylist joins the League of Filipino Students in vehemently condemning the merciless murder of student activist Farly Alcantara II in Camarines Norte yesterday.

22-year-old Alcantara was a member and former spokesperson of LFS and a graduating business administration student of the Camarines Norte State College (CNSC) in Daet.

He was shot dead by still unidentified gunmen Thursday night four meters away from the gate of his school.
(more…)

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GMA is no. 1 child abuser, says youth group

Monday, November 6th, 2006

“Arroyo declaring war on child abuse is like Jack-the-Ripper declaring war against crime, or Hitler against racial discrimination, or Marcos leading a crusade against authoritarianism. This is yet another hypocritical stance for an administration which has long turned its back and betrayed the Filipino youth.” (more…)

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