The recent threats and attacks that targeted a missionary worker, a volunteer teacher, and two human rights defenders has raised a serious concern over the safety of individuals working in progressive organizations that are critical to the government.
A militant human rights group on Monday lambasted the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for allegedly detaining two women who were human rights workers in Cagayan de Oro City, in what they described as a sweeping crackdown against groups critical to the Duterte administration.
Human rights advocates are wary of a countrywide martial law if the military’s proposed amendments to the anti-terror law will be legislated.
The massive human rights violations committed against the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) or lumads and peasants are designed to silence the opposition to the continuing operations of large-scale mining and plantations in Northern Mindanao and the rest of Caraga Region.
The peace group Sowing the Seeds of Peace (SSP) said the death of National Democratic Front peace consultant was a big blow to the peace process and apparently sends a chilling effects to peace advocates.