Human Rights

Human-Rights Lawyer Target of State Surveillance

By Cheryll D. Fiel
davaotoday.com

Atty. Musni at a recent rally in Manila. (photo courtesy of Arkibong Bayan)DAVAO CITY — A human-rights lawyer in Cagayan de Oro has allegedly been the subject of surveillance by men believed to be agents of the Philippine military, raising fears about her safety.

Two unidentified men were seen casing the office of Beverly Selim-Musni, one of the more prominent human-rights lawyer in Mindanao who is also the chairperson of the group Karapatan in Cagayan de Oro City, since June 27, according to the Initiatives for Peace in Mindanao (InPeace), a nongovernment peace advocacy group where Musni is also one of the convenors.

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Church Groups to Hold Rally Vs GMA, Killings

By Cheryll D. Fiel
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY — As President Gloria Arroyo met with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican today, several members of the religious sector in this city were busy preparing for a prayer rally tomorrow, Tuesday, to demand justice for the victims of the continuing killings, particularly of church workers.

The Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR), the ecumenical political organization, organized the activity, which will be held tomorrow at 2:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon at the Centennial Park, in front of the San Pedro Church.

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NPA Denies Killing Kidapawan Couple; Pi?ol Disagrees with ?All-Out War?

By Cheryll D. Fiel
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY — The New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Mindanao has denied the accusation made by the police that it was behind the murders this week of George and Maricel Vigo, development workers and former journalists in Kidapawan City.

Instead, the NPA pointed to North Cotabato governor Emmanuel Pi?ol and officials of the military as the perpetrators.

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Southern Mindanao Cited as Nation?s Safest Region

By Grace S. Uddin
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY ? This city?s notoriety as the ?salvage? capital of the Philippines did not prevent the Southern Mindanao region, where other cities also emulate Davao in dealing with suspected criminals, from getting the award for the ?Best in Regional Peace and Order Council? for the year 2004.

?Salvage? is a term widely used by Filipinos to refer to a summary execution, often by people suspected to be authorities, mainly the police. ?Salvaging,? in fact, has been widely supported and endorsed by Davao City officials, among them Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC).

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