Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD)
Telefax: (02) 725 4760 Email: headphil@gmail.com
Media Release
22 April 2010
Health Alliance for Democracy deplored the double standards of the Philippine justice system in the handling of the Maguindanao massacre suspects. The group was reacting to the Department of Justice decision to drop multiple murder charges against two members of the Ampatuan clan involved in the heinous Maguindanao massacre.
“The DOJ virtually absolved the Ampatuans despite overwhelming evidence,” said Dr. Geneve Rivera, HEAD secretary-general, “Yet it allowed the inquest of the 43 health workers even without any legal counsel and the filing of criminal cases despite the questionable evidence.”
“The rights of the detained so freely being given to the Ampatuans are the very same right being denied the Morong 43.”
The health group noted that even behind bars, the Ampatuans enjoyed so much privileges because the Arroyo government was only too willing to bend over backwards to accommodate its political allies.
In contrast, the families and relatives of the Morong 43 have to go through a military gauntlet every day when they visit the 43 health workers in Camp Capinpin. Even the food and water that they bring are examined and sometimes, are rendered unusable.
“When the Morong 43 were brought to Camp Crame, the Philippine National Police refused to take them into custody, citing a lack of facilities. Yet when the Ampatuans were brought to Manila, the Arroyo government built facilities to house them.”
“Worse, officials of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology even allowed a press conference to be held by the Ampatuans even while in jail!” said Dr. Rivera. “Now, these BJMP officials are harking on human rights to justify their actions.”
Very differently, the Morong 43 are denied even light and water in their detention cells. They are now on their sixth day of fasting to demand their immediate release if not transfer to Camp Crame.”
“Are human rights now only the privilege of the powerful?”
“Baliktad na talaga ang mundo (The world has really turned upside-down),” added Dr. Rivera. “The DOJ, PNP, BJMP, and Armed Forces of the Philippines are all instruments of injustice, allowing criminals to go scot-free while punishing the innocent. They are tools of the fascist Arroyo regime that has enforced the worst forms of repression against the Filipino people in recent history.”###
References:
Dr. Geneve E. Rivera
Secretary-General, 0920 460 3712
Dr. Darby S. Santiago
Chair, 0927 473 7700
Friday, April 23, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Heed the court order, transfer the health workers now
References:
Dr. Julie Caguiat, Spokesperson - 0909-1133038
Philip Paraan, Media Officer – 0919-4861580
Free the 43 Health Workers Now! alliance today called for the military to follow the order issued by the Regional Trial Court of Morong, Rizal to transfer the 38 health workers to Camp Crame immediately.
“The alliance welcomes this development and look at it as a tactical victory for our campaign to free the 43. We are, however, saddened that the court ruled to retain the 5 Community Health Workers in the army’s custody,” Dr. Julie Caguiat, one of the spokespersons of the alliance said.
She maintained that the military’s claim that the 5 CHWs requested that they be retained in Camp Capinpin is preposterous. She cited their lawyers’ argument that allowing the 5 to remain in Camp Capinpin is tantamount to the idea that all detention prisoners have a right to choose their place of detention.
Dr. Caguiat argued that their group’s counsels motioned for the transfer of the 43 health workers to Camp Crame in Quezon City because of the grave human rights violations that the military continues to commit against the health workers. “Our petition for transfer is not because of the inadequate detention facilities in Camp Capinpin but because of the continued torture and threat that the military does to our colleagues. Their relatives are also made to endure different harassment and intimidation tactics. Visiting hours is limited to 10 minutes per detainee,” Dr. Caguiat said.
A detainee revealed to a relative that a soldier warned them, “mag-ipon na kayo ng tubig dahil hindi na namin kayo bibigyan,” (secure your water supply because we will not be providing you with water anymore).
Mrs. Evelyn Montes, wife of Dr. Alexis Montes said that the detainees’ families also had to endure everyday harassments from the military. “Even though they [military] see us and write to their log books every day as we come to visit our loved ones, we are repeatedly asked to identify ourselves and produce identification cards in every level of security until we reach the visiting area. One soldier even denied the voter’s ID of a relative saying that was not a valid ID. He was looking for the relative’s cedula instead!” Mrs. Montes shared in disbelief.
“We will not soften our demand that all of the 43 health workers be transferred to Camp Crame. We expect the military to heed the court order ASAP,” Dr. Caguiat added.
The group expressed hope that the detainees be immediately transferred to Camp Crame because of its proximity to the relatives and the Commission on Human Rights. ##
Dr. Julie Caguiat, Spokesperson - 0909-1133038
Philip Paraan, Media Officer – 0919-4861580
Free the 43 Health Workers Now! alliance today called for the military to follow the order issued by the Regional Trial Court of Morong, Rizal to transfer the 38 health workers to Camp Crame immediately.
“The alliance welcomes this development and look at it as a tactical victory for our campaign to free the 43. We are, however, saddened that the court ruled to retain the 5 Community Health Workers in the army’s custody,” Dr. Julie Caguiat, one of the spokespersons of the alliance said.
She maintained that the military’s claim that the 5 CHWs requested that they be retained in Camp Capinpin is preposterous. She cited their lawyers’ argument that allowing the 5 to remain in Camp Capinpin is tantamount to the idea that all detention prisoners have a right to choose their place of detention.
Dr. Caguiat argued that their group’s counsels motioned for the transfer of the 43 health workers to Camp Crame in Quezon City because of the grave human rights violations that the military continues to commit against the health workers. “Our petition for transfer is not because of the inadequate detention facilities in Camp Capinpin but because of the continued torture and threat that the military does to our colleagues. Their relatives are also made to endure different harassment and intimidation tactics. Visiting hours is limited to 10 minutes per detainee,” Dr. Caguiat said.
A detainee revealed to a relative that a soldier warned them, “mag-ipon na kayo ng tubig dahil hindi na namin kayo bibigyan,” (secure your water supply because we will not be providing you with water anymore).
Mrs. Evelyn Montes, wife of Dr. Alexis Montes said that the detainees’ families also had to endure everyday harassments from the military. “Even though they [military] see us and write to their log books every day as we come to visit our loved ones, we are repeatedly asked to identify ourselves and produce identification cards in every level of security until we reach the visiting area. One soldier even denied the voter’s ID of a relative saying that was not a valid ID. He was looking for the relative’s cedula instead!” Mrs. Montes shared in disbelief.
“We will not soften our demand that all of the 43 health workers be transferred to Camp Crame. We expect the military to heed the court order ASAP,” Dr. Caguiat added.
The group expressed hope that the detainees be immediately transferred to Camp Crame because of its proximity to the relatives and the Commission on Human Rights. ##
Monday, April 19, 2010
t r u t h o u t | Climate and Jobs: The Same Fight!
According to economist Alain Lipietz, conversion to a green economy creates more - and more stable - jobs...
In any case, today we can measure the extent to which each delay in the fight against climate change is also a choice in favor of mass unemployment ...
t r u t h o u t | Climate and Jobs: The Same Fight!
In any case, today we can measure the extent to which each delay in the fight against climate change is also a choice in favor of mass unemployment ...
t r u t h o u t | Climate and Jobs: The Same Fight!
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