The Philippine government’s failure to investigate and prosecute extrajudicial killings fuels further military abuses, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The government should ensure that officials vigorously investigate serious human rights violations or face disciplinary action, Human Rights Watch said.

“We know this is just the beginning of the path towards justice. We would like to see Palparan behind bars.” Thus expressed victims of human rights violations and their families as they troop to the Department of Justice today, on the first hearing of the criminal case filed against Ret. Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. and other AFP officers involved in the disappearance of UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan.

In this webcast interview by Bulatlat.com and Kodao Productions, Leila de Lima, chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, talks about the dismal human-rights record of the Arroyo regime. She also talks about the death threats she said she received.

Although yet to be confirmed by President-elect Aquino, it is widely believed that de Lima will be appointed as his secretary of justice — a position, she said, that would fit in nicely in her campaign to protect and promote human rights.

MANILA — The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines) and Tanggol Magsasaka (Peasant Network for Land, Justice and Human Rights) urged incoming president Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to immediately work on and order the military to surface abducted peasant activists.
“Aquino bannered change and his parents as icons of democracy, thus, he should primarily work for …

During her stay in Belgium, Edita Burgos will attract the attention of European and Belgian politicians, human rights organisations, solidarity movements and the general public towards the human sights situation in the Philippines.

Anakpawis Rep. Joel Maglunsod strongly condemned Malacanang�s appointment of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales as the new Department of National Defense (DND) chief replacing Gilbert Teodoro Jr.
Maglunsod described Gonzales� appointment as �hell on earth� as human rights violations are expected to further escalate with Gonzales, a known militarist, at the helm of the defense department.
“Without any pretense, President …

HUMAN RIGHTS   US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should press President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines to prosecute military members responsible for politically motivated killings, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch said that the historically close relations between the US and the Philippines and the direct US support for the Philippine military, places particular responsibility on the United States to press the government to end the military�s involvement in human rights violations and to prosecute those responsible.

HUMAN RIGHTS   By Claire Delfin |  While a very well-intentioned legal remedy, it is something that the Burgos family find “elusive.” Since August last year, they have been waiting for a Supreme Court decision on their plea for the high court to reconsider the Court of Appeals ruling, which stated Mrs. Edita Burgos had failed to show the military was behind the kidnapping of her son Jonas and that her evidence was either possibly fabricated or hearsay.

HUMAN RIGHTS   By Rorie R. Fajardo / Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project |  The Congress� decision to close the coffers from CHR came at one of the most distressing times for human rights in the Philippines.