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!
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Bishops to AFP: Respect rights of ‘Morong 43’ - Nation - GMANews.TV
In a statement signed by its president Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) branded the “illegal arrest and continued detention" of the 43 workers as a “serious threat to the civil liberties of the Filipino people."
“The CBCP follows with grave concern the shifting accusations of the military against the health workers, the conflicting positions of government authorities on the legitimacy of the arrest and detention, and the seeming lack of regard of the AFP for human rights and the rule of law," Odchimar said.
He added the CBCP is worried about the workers’ well-being, saying their detention in Camp Capinpin, a military camp in Tanay, Rizal, makes them vulnerable to abuses, torture, threats and intimidation.
“Sustained exposure to psychosomatic strains may eventually break the fortitude and resistance of the Morong 43 into admitting under duress the accusations made against them," he said.
Bishops to AFP: Respect rights of ‘Morong 43’ - Nation - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News
“The CBCP follows with grave concern the shifting accusations of the military against the health workers, the conflicting positions of government authorities on the legitimacy of the arrest and detention, and the seeming lack of regard of the AFP for human rights and the rule of law," Odchimar said.
He added the CBCP is worried about the workers’ well-being, saying their detention in Camp Capinpin, a military camp in Tanay, Rizal, makes them vulnerable to abuses, torture, threats and intimidation.
“Sustained exposure to psychosomatic strains may eventually break the fortitude and resistance of the Morong 43 into admitting under duress the accusations made against them," he said.
Bishops to AFP: Respect rights of ‘Morong 43’ - Nation - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Tuloy pa rin ang Kalbaryo sa PGH Dahil sa Pang-aabuso sa Kapangyarihan ng Administrasyong Roman
Ika-4 Abril 2010
Sa pagdiriwang natin ngayong araw ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay, nakakalungkot na tayo sa Philipppine General Hospital (PGH) at sa University of the Philippines (UP) sa pangkalahatan ay nababalot pa rin ng agam-agam at lungkot. Ang pagtanggal ng representasyon ng mga estudyante sa UP-Board of Regents, ang pagtanggal ng nakaupong PGH Director ng walang due process, ang pagpapatupad ng mga polisiya ng walang pag-uusap ng mga kinaukulan, ay ilan lamang sa mga mapang-api at pang-aabuso sa poder na isinagawa ng Administrasyong Roman na direktang sumisira sa reputasyon ng ating pamantasan at paglabag sa mga demokratikong prinsipyo na pinanday ng mga lider estudyante at mga patriyotikong kaguruan ng pamantasan may ilang henerasyon na ang nakaraan. Ang pinagpipitagang pamanang ito ay hindi natin kailan man hahayaang kalimutan at tanggalin ng isang Presidente lamang. Sa isang kumunidad, lalo pa’t pang-akademya, ang anumang tahakin nito ay naayon sa pangkalahatang pagpapasya, hindi ng iilan, at hindi ng Administrasyon lamang.
Kayat, kasabay ng mass leave ng mga PGH consultant/doktor, ang All UP Workers Union ay nanawagan ng picket-vigil ng mga kawani, kasama ang mga kaguruan at estudyante simula ng Lunes, ika-5 ng Abril 2010, sa pasukan ng PGH Main Lobby upang ipahayag at idiin ang pagkondena sa mali at abusadong pamamalakad ng Administrasyong Roman.
Mariin din nating kinukondena ang mga pananakot na ginagawa ng huwad na Direktor Domingo ng PGH tulad ng inilabas na Memorandum No. 2010-24 at ng CSC MC No. 6 s. 1987. Nais nating linawin na ang kilos protesta ng mga kawani ng UP-PGH at mga estudyante ay hindi isang strike kundi isang paggampan ng malayang pamamahayag na ginagantiya sa ilalim ng ating Saligang Batas (Sec. 4, Art. III). Wala ring mangyayaring temporary stoppage o disruption of public service dahil marami namang pasukan at labasan ang ospital.
Ang unyon ay nanawagan sa ating mga pasyente at sa publiko ng inyong pang-unawa, hindi po namin inaabandona ang aming simumpaang tungkuling maglingkod sa Sambayanan, ito ay temporaryong sagabal lamang upang idiin ang aming protesta.
Nanawagan din tayo sa ating kapwa kawani, tayo ay magkaisa, huwag nating hayaang magkawatak-watak ang ating hanay dahil sa pamumulitika at pang-aabuso sa poder ng UP Board of Regents at ng Administrasyong Roman. Ang pananahimik sa mga pangyayaring ito sa ating ospital at pamantasan ay pagpapayag na rin sa kanilang pagsaula sa mga demokratikong prinsipyo, sa kasiguruhan sa trabaho at sa due process. Dapat nating isipin na kung nagagawa nilang tanggalin sa puwesto ng walang dahilan ang isang opisyal katulad ng PGH Director, mas lalo nila itong magagagawa sa mga ordinaryong kawani.
Nananawagan din tayo sa mga doktor, kaguruan at mga opisyal ng iba’t-ibang kolehiyo ng UP Manila, hindi po sapat ang mga palihim na suporta, kailangang hayagan tayong manindigan para sa katotohanan, hustisya at demokratikong prinsipyo.
Itaguyod ang mga demokratikong prinsipyo ng konsultasyon, representasyon, at pagkakapantay-pantay! Ipaglaban ang kaseguruhan sa trabaho at due process!
Ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mamamayan sa edukasyon at serbisyong pangkalusugan!
Sa Lunes, ika-5 ng Abril 2010, sumama sa Kilos-Protesta, 7:00-10:00 AM, at Picket-Vigil (buong araw), PGH Flagpole/Main Lobby.
IBALIK ANG TAMA! ANG U.P. AT P.G.H. PARA SA BAYAN!
Sa pagdiriwang natin ngayong araw ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay, nakakalungkot na tayo sa Philipppine General Hospital (PGH) at sa University of the Philippines (UP) sa pangkalahatan ay nababalot pa rin ng agam-agam at lungkot. Ang pagtanggal ng representasyon ng mga estudyante sa UP-Board of Regents, ang pagtanggal ng nakaupong PGH Director ng walang due process, ang pagpapatupad ng mga polisiya ng walang pag-uusap ng mga kinaukulan, ay ilan lamang sa mga mapang-api at pang-aabuso sa poder na isinagawa ng Administrasyong Roman na direktang sumisira sa reputasyon ng ating pamantasan at paglabag sa mga demokratikong prinsipyo na pinanday ng mga lider estudyante at mga patriyotikong kaguruan ng pamantasan may ilang henerasyon na ang nakaraan. Ang pinagpipitagang pamanang ito ay hindi natin kailan man hahayaang kalimutan at tanggalin ng isang Presidente lamang. Sa isang kumunidad, lalo pa’t pang-akademya, ang anumang tahakin nito ay naayon sa pangkalahatang pagpapasya, hindi ng iilan, at hindi ng Administrasyon lamang.
Kayat, kasabay ng mass leave ng mga PGH consultant/doktor, ang All UP Workers Union ay nanawagan ng picket-vigil ng mga kawani, kasama ang mga kaguruan at estudyante simula ng Lunes, ika-5 ng Abril 2010, sa pasukan ng PGH Main Lobby upang ipahayag at idiin ang pagkondena sa mali at abusadong pamamalakad ng Administrasyong Roman.
Mariin din nating kinukondena ang mga pananakot na ginagawa ng huwad na Direktor Domingo ng PGH tulad ng inilabas na Memorandum No. 2010-24 at ng CSC MC No. 6 s. 1987. Nais nating linawin na ang kilos protesta ng mga kawani ng UP-PGH at mga estudyante ay hindi isang strike kundi isang paggampan ng malayang pamamahayag na ginagantiya sa ilalim ng ating Saligang Batas (Sec. 4, Art. III). Wala ring mangyayaring temporary stoppage o disruption of public service dahil marami namang pasukan at labasan ang ospital.
Ang unyon ay nanawagan sa ating mga pasyente at sa publiko ng inyong pang-unawa, hindi po namin inaabandona ang aming simumpaang tungkuling maglingkod sa Sambayanan, ito ay temporaryong sagabal lamang upang idiin ang aming protesta.
Nanawagan din tayo sa ating kapwa kawani, tayo ay magkaisa, huwag nating hayaang magkawatak-watak ang ating hanay dahil sa pamumulitika at pang-aabuso sa poder ng UP Board of Regents at ng Administrasyong Roman. Ang pananahimik sa mga pangyayaring ito sa ating ospital at pamantasan ay pagpapayag na rin sa kanilang pagsaula sa mga demokratikong prinsipyo, sa kasiguruhan sa trabaho at sa due process. Dapat nating isipin na kung nagagawa nilang tanggalin sa puwesto ng walang dahilan ang isang opisyal katulad ng PGH Director, mas lalo nila itong magagagawa sa mga ordinaryong kawani.
Nananawagan din tayo sa mga doktor, kaguruan at mga opisyal ng iba’t-ibang kolehiyo ng UP Manila, hindi po sapat ang mga palihim na suporta, kailangang hayagan tayong manindigan para sa katotohanan, hustisya at demokratikong prinsipyo.
Itaguyod ang mga demokratikong prinsipyo ng konsultasyon, representasyon, at pagkakapantay-pantay! Ipaglaban ang kaseguruhan sa trabaho at due process!
Ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mamamayan sa edukasyon at serbisyong pangkalusugan!
Sa Lunes, ika-5 ng Abril 2010, sumama sa Kilos-Protesta, 7:00-10:00 AM, at Picket-Vigil (buong araw), PGH Flagpole/Main Lobby.
IBALIK ANG TAMA! ANG U.P. AT P.G.H. PARA SA BAYAN!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
PGH doctors go on mass leave - INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – Around 60 doctors of Philippine General Hospital (PGH), the teaching hospital of the University of the Philippines’ College of Medicine (UPCM), went on mass leave starting Monday to protest the removal of Dr. Jose Gonzales as PGH director.
Dr. Edelina dela Paz, who was among the doctors who went on mass leave, told the Inquirer that the hospital administration seemed to be in denial that there was a problem at the government facility.
“We want to show that all of the people here at PGH are disgruntled … There is something going on here,” she said.
The controversy at the hospital started in December when Gonzales was elected PGH director by the 11-member UP Board of Regents by a vote of 6-5.
The board, however, nullified the results after it voided the pro-Gonzales vote cast by student regent Charisse Bañez on the ground that she was not enrolled at UP at the time the election was conducted.
On February 25, the board held another election which led to Domingo being named as PGH director.
In a statement, the 60 doctors said they decided to take a mass leave of absence starting yesterday “to express our anger and dismay over the oppression and dubious removal from office of one of our own PGH doctors and to strongly protest the lack of democratic process in selecting our director.”
PGH doctors go on mass leave - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
Dr. Edelina dela Paz, who was among the doctors who went on mass leave, told the Inquirer that the hospital administration seemed to be in denial that there was a problem at the government facility.
“We want to show that all of the people here at PGH are disgruntled … There is something going on here,” she said.
The controversy at the hospital started in December when Gonzales was elected PGH director by the 11-member UP Board of Regents by a vote of 6-5.
The board, however, nullified the results after it voided the pro-Gonzales vote cast by student regent Charisse Bañez on the ground that she was not enrolled at UP at the time the election was conducted.
On February 25, the board held another election which led to Domingo being named as PGH director.
In a statement, the 60 doctors said they decided to take a mass leave of absence starting yesterday “to express our anger and dismay over the oppression and dubious removal from office of one of our own PGH doctors and to strongly protest the lack of democratic process in selecting our director.”
PGH doctors go on mass leave - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
Monday, March 29, 2010
UP-PGH doctors announce mass leave in protest of new chief - INQUIRER.net
By Jeannette Andrade
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 10:04:00 03/29/2010
MANILA, Philippines—Doctors, health workers, and students of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital staged a protest action during the flag-raising ceremony on Monday.
They also announced a doctors' mass leave to protest the removal of the hospital head and the installation of the new PGH chief.
The move is to protest the ouster of Dr. Jose Gonzales as PGH director.
The protesters covered the Oblation statue with a black cloth to condemn the administration's "blatant disregard of the democratic processes" at the UP-PGH.
UP-PGH doctors announce mass leave in protest of new chief - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 10:04:00 03/29/2010
MANILA, Philippines—Doctors, health workers, and students of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital staged a protest action during the flag-raising ceremony on Monday.
They also announced a doctors' mass leave to protest the removal of the hospital head and the installation of the new PGH chief.
The move is to protest the ouster of Dr. Jose Gonzales as PGH director.
The protesters covered the Oblation statue with a black cloth to condemn the administration's "blatant disregard of the democratic processes" at the UP-PGH.
UP-PGH doctors announce mass leave in protest of new chief - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
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