In a statement released on Friday, two days before International Human Rights Day, various sectors under the coalition Movement against Tyranny decried the deterioration of the state of human rights in the Philippines as signaled by a “wider wave of killings and human rights violations.”
In a joint statement, representatives of civil society organizations, academics, lawyers and doctors, artists and media workers, even incumbent and former legislators expressed alarm at the rash of killings of civilians under the Duterte administration, particularly those linked to the campaign against illega drugs and those linked to the crackdown on suspected communist insurgents following the collapse of peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
“We are alarmed that just as ‘Oplan Tokhang’ saw thousands of alleged drug users or peddlers mowed down based on mere suspicion and spurious claims of ‘nanlaban’ [having fought back], the President’s new order can also give state forces the license to kill unarmed civilians conveniently labelled as ‘rebels’,” the joint statement read.
The statement referenced the high-profile killings of Kian delos Santos, 17, a drug suspect; Carlo Angelo Arnaiz, 19, accused by police as having held up a taxi; and Arnaiz’s last known companion, Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman, 14.
The statement also referenced the recent killings of Catholic priest Fr. Marcelito Paez in Nueva Ecija, shot dead in the wake of his helping in the facilitation of the release of a political prisioner; Pastor Lovelito Quinoñes in Mindoro Oriental, who was suspected of being a communist New People’s Army rebel; and human rights activist Elisa Badayos in Negros Oriental.
“The President’s threat to crack down on activists, critics and all those whom he imagines are conspiring to topple his government has a chilling effect on the public and impinges on our people’s exercise of their political rights and civil liberties,” the statement read.
The statement also slammed the administration for its “efforts to undermine the system of checks and balances in government,” referring to the the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, threats to impeach Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, the “bullying” of the Commission on Human Rights, the continued detention of Duterte-critic Sen. Leila de Lima, and threats and intimidation of Duterte’s supporters on the media.
“The greatest threat to human rights today is President Duterte’s moves toward authoritarian rule whether through charter change ostensibly to shift to a federal system of government, or an outright power grab through a so-called ‘revolutionary government’,” the statement read. “We call on our people to be critical and ever vigilant. Let us resist the erosion of our basic human and democratic rights. Let us unite in fighting tyranny and dictatorship.”
Among the more than 200 signatories to the statement were Sen. Francis Pangilinan and former Senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada; Reps. Edcel Lagman, Jose Christopher Belmonte, Sarah Elago, Carlos Zarate, Emi de Jesus, Antonio Tinio, France Castro, Ariel Casilao and Tom Villarin.
Also signing on to the statement were:
- former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and former Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano
- lawyers Pacifico Agabin, Ada D. Abad, Antonio La Viña, Jose Manuel Diokno, Pablito V. Sanidad, Arno V. Sanidad, Vicky Avena, Edre Olalia
- former Reps. Lorenzo Tañada, Neri Colmenares and Teddy Casiño
- Catholic bishops Broderick Pabillo, Deogracias Iñiguez, and Arturo Bastes
- Obispo Maximo Rhee Timbang of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente
- Bishop Reuel Norman O. Marigza, general secretary of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines
- Rev. Fr. Rex Reyes, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines
- Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB, vice president for external affairs of St. Scholastica’s College
- Br. Jose Mari Jimenez, vice chairman of the board of trustees of De La Salle University
- actors Mae Paner (more popularly known as Juana Change), Monique Wilson and Audie Gemora
- filmmaker Joel Lamangan
- singer Chikoy Pura
- Chancellor Mike Tan of the University of the Philippines Diliman
- activist RC Constantino
- Dr. Margarita Holmes
- former National Museum curator John Silva
- anti-crime crusader Tessy Ang See
- consumer advocate Raul Segovia
- economist Men Sta. Ana
- advertising guru Yoly Ong
- former Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Mercedes Contreras Danenberg
- retired Col. Guillermo G. Cunanan, former general manager of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport