Extrajudicial Killings

A Mother’s Plea, a City’s Madness

By Carlos H. Conde

Clarita AliaClarita Alia lost three of her children to the Davao Death Squad. Her youngest is fighting for his life.

The voice on the other end was trembling. ?Sir, I really need your help.? The voice ? soft, slightly stuttering, but harrowingly sad ? was one of the most heart-rending I?ve ever heard. ?My son has been stabbed,? the woman said, weeping now. ?We?re now at the DMC (Davao Medical Center) and we have no money for medicine, for food. Please have mercy on us.?

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‘2006 Worst Year for Human Rights in Davao Regions’

The Southern Mindanao office of the human-rights group Karapatan released today “The 2006 Human Rights Situation of Southern Mindanao.” The report detailed abuses, mainly by state security forces in the region, against civilians, activists, peasants and workers. This year, it said, “is the worst for human rights since the toppling of the Marcos fascist dictatorship in 1986.”

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RP’s Election to UN Bodies Does Not Exonerate GMA of Abuses

When a country fails in its obligation to protect the lives of human rights defenders but is elected to such a prestigious UN body, it dishonors the UN as an institution and makes a mockery of its ability to promote and protect human rights, according to the Hongkong-based Asian Human Rights Commission.

Families of victims of forced disappearances hold a candle-lighting at the Baclaran church on All Souls' Day.
Families of victims of forced disappearances hold a candle-lighting ceremony at the Baclaran church on All Souls’ Day. (Photos courtesy of Arkibong Bayan.)
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Duterte?s Anti-Drugs Gambit

Duterte at the City Council last week. (Davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylan)Was Mayor Rodrigo Duterte?s unprecedented appearance at the City Council motivated by a serious desire to eradicate the drug problem? If so, why didn?t he or the PDEA file cases instead in court against the alleged drug dealers? Was it because of desperation and exasperation — that no matter what Duterte does, illegal drugs continue to proliferate? Or was it meant to spook councilors into giving him more ?peace and order? money in next year?s budget? Davao Today managing editor Cheryll D. Fiel tries to answer these questions.

Related story: Duterte?s Admission of Failure Proves Extrajudicial Killings Not the Answer

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Duterte?s Admission of Failure Proves Extrajudicial Killings Not the Answer

By Cheryll D. Fiel
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY ? If there?s one thing the appearance of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte at the City Council last week proved, it is that the extrajudicial killings of suspected drug dealers and addicts, something that this city has seen for quite a long time now, cannot solve the drug problem, according to human-rights advocates.

In his testimony, Duterte expressed exasperation over the continued proliferation of illegal drugs in the city, which he said are creating ?zombies? out of users.

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