“The challenge is how to implement it. The RH Law may appear to be pro-women but the other policies of government are anti-women, such as the privatization of public hospitals, and the other policy of the Department of Health of no home-birthing,” Ilagan said.
A return to the “militarized areas” is also a violation to international human rights instruments, said Bishop Felixberto Calang, of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and chairperson of Barug Katungod Mindanao.
Human rights group Karapatan criticized government security elements for attempting to pull out and arrest its staff member during a protest caravan here on Thursday by alleging her as a New People’s Army leader.
The Ata-Manobo Lumads repeated history as they fled from heavily militarized villages on foot and upon reaching access roads, boarded trucks to seek refuge in Davao City. Along the way, a mother gave birth, while a 12-day old infant died.
Two families demanded the newly-deployed Philippine Army 9th Infantry Battalion to bring out soldiers allegedly involved in the murder of a youth and the disappearance of his friend two weeks ago in Maco, Compostela Valley.
Days before marking the 1st year death anniversary of her son, the mother of an 8-year old boy killed in a strafing incident involving state forces said that the dismissal of their case by government prosecutors was “deliberate.”
Balong can now join his batchmates after his family and child’s rights groups rescued him from state forces who presented him to the media as a “child soldier, informer and collector” for the New People’s Army.
Davao’s Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla demanded justice for the country’s extra-judicial killings that included his brother, former political detainee and fair trade advocate Romeo, who was gunned down in Oton, Iloilo last week.
Families of the nine men who were arrested in the March 10 raid of a Davao del Sur police station insisted on the innocence of the men and that they were not members of the New People’s Army.
The New People’s Army in a statement admitted fault in the wounding of four provincial rescuers in their latest offensive against military forces in Bansalan, Davao del Sur
