President clears way for release of 'Morong 43'; orders withdrawal of charges
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said on Friday that the Department of Justice had been ordered to immediately withdraw all the charges filed against 43 health workers who were arrested in Morong, Rizal early this year, for humanitarian reasons.
The health workers, collectively called the “Morong 43,” have been under military detention since their arrest on February 6 on suspicion that they were members of the New People’s Army. Charges of illegal possession of explosives and firearms and ammunition were later filed against them with the Regional Trial Court and the Metropolitan Trial Court of Rizal.
Ochoa said a memorandum had been issued to the Department of Justice to carry out the order of President Benigno Aquino III for the “immediate withdrawal of informations against the Morong 43.”
The President’s instruction paves the way for the release of the health workers from the 10-month detention in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. The dismissal of the cases against the Morong 43 is expected with the prosecution withdrawing the informations.
“This represents the President’s commitment to respect human rights and to uphold the rule of law, a commitment that will be consistent regardless of the parties’ political affiliations,” Ochoa said.
“The quick resolution of this case is a priority of this Administration, as no one should be deprived of their liberty without sufficient basis.”
According to the Executive Secretary, Malacañang is optimistic that detainees could rejoin their loved ones in time for Christmas. (PCOO)
PCOO spearheads forum on media's role on cases involving violence against women
In commemoration of the annual 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, which runs from November 25 to December 12, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), in cooperation with the Movie and Television Ratings and Classification Board (MTRCB), Gender Equality Committee and Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), held a forum on the role of media in promoting non-discriminatory and non-derogatory portrayal of women in media, film and advertisement on Wednesday, December 8, at the Mabini Hall of Malacanang.
Following the theme Magna Carta ni PiNay Gawing Tunay: Karahasan sa Kababaihan, Wakasan! the goal of the forum is “to raise the awareness of media practitioners on how to tackle gender issues and violence against women cases in media,” Secretary Herminio B. Coloma of PCOO said.
Coloma added that “media influence has grown exponentially with the advancement of technology. It is alarming to note that negative portrayal of women and other gender issues have abounded the local media for a long time.”
PCW Executive Director Emmeline Versoza noted that “of all the media distribution channels, broadcast is the most powerful in shaping the country’s cultural, social and economic growth and development. We are saddened that reports of sexist and violence provoking remarks are aplenty.”
MTRCB Chairman Mary Grace Llamanzares vows to be one with the efforts of government, media and the women and gender advocates in ending violence against women. “Though we might not even see the full impact or effect of our projects today, but I am certain that all of us are doing our own share in this advocacy knowing and hoping that ten to twenty years from now, our children will no longer have to worry about being discriminated and portrayed negatively by media nor deal with violence against women and gender-related issues on TV, radio, film and advertisement,” Llamanzares said.
With a target end result of providing a healthy forum where media practitioners and the public can align on how media should tackle gender and violence on women issues, the panel of resource speakers included reputable personalities like TV and Radio Broadcaster Karen Davila, Directors Laurice Guillen & Joyce Bernal, Film Distributor Selina Gecolea and TV host and Artist Manager Boy Abunda.
RA 9710 or the Magna Carta of women is a comprehensive women’s human rights law that seeks to eliminate discrimination against women by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling and promoting the rights of Filipino women, especially those in the marginalized sectors.
With the passage of RA 9710 – the Magna Carta of Women, the government agencies and local government units are considered as the primary implementing sectors of the law, thus faced with the greater challenge of ensuring that the rights and opportunities of Filipino women are carried out.
Under the law, the PCOO is mandated to be the lead agency in the implementation of gender and development programs in government with respect to media. It is also required to convene the gender equality committee of all the agencies under PCOO for the implementation of gender and development programs and projects. (PCOO)
Aquino orders withdrawal of raps vs Morong 43
President Benigno S. Aquino III directed today the Department of Justice (DOJ) to withdraw the charges filed against the 43 medical personnel who were arrested on suspicion of aiding the Communist rebels in Morong, Rizal last February.
The President issued his directive to DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima during the celebration of the International Human Rights Day in Malacañang on Friday morning.
Called the “Morong 43,” the medical workers have been under military detention since their arrest last Feb. 6. Charges of illegal possession of explosives and firearms and violation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban were filed against them with the Regional Trial Court of Rizal.
“These are valid concerns. Nevertheless, we recognize that their right to due process was denied them. As a government that is committed to the rule of law and the rights of man, this cannot stand. Therefore, I have ordered the DOJ to withdraw the informations filed before the courts,” the President said.
He pointed out however that his directive is subject to court approval and if there are no other standing warrants against the accused.
“This will in effect be subject to court approval. Free those among them who have no other standing warrants in other courts,” the President declared.
De Lima said she already received a memorandum from Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. for the implementation of the President’s directive.
She said the motions to withdraw the informations are now being prepared and the DOJ is just awaiting the results of the verification and validation by government prosecutors on the six individuals who are part of the Morong 43 allegedly with outstanding warrants of arrest.
“Based on the information supplied to us by the AFP, there are six members with warrants of arrest in other cases,” she said.
De Lima said they will file the motion to withdraw information likely on Monday and comply with the three-day notice rule in the hope that the medical workers will be freed in time to spend Christmas with their respective families.
“So hopefully on the end of next week there will be a hearing to be set by the court,” De Lima said.
During his speech, the President said the DOJ will also create a task force which will review and recommend measures for the effective and expeditious investigation and prosecution of cases of human rights violation.
“Today Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will sign a Department Order, creating the DOJ Task Force which will review all reported and unresolved cases of extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances,” he said.
The President stressed that his administration is serious in its commitment to protect the rights of all Filipino citizens.
To further protect human rights, the President said the Philippine National Police (PNP) has crafted a Human Rights Desk operations manual, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) established a Human Rights Office under General Domingo Tutaan which is set to publish a handbook. (PCOO)
Aquino witnesses signing of IRR for Anti-Torture Law
President Benigno S. Aquino III witnessed today the signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9745 otherwise known as the Anti-Torture Law in manifestation of his administration's resolve to uphold human rights.
The President witnessed the signing of the IRR by (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales during the celebration of the International Human Rights Day and the 62nd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Malacanang on Friday.
Among those present were Cabinet officials and members of Congress and the diplomatic corps.
The IRR signing provided for the effective implementation of the Anti-torture Law which criminalizes "torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment."
The Philippines is a signatory to the UN Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, an international human rights instrument that aims to prevent torture around the world.
In his speech, the President said human rights protection has become universal since the signing of the UDHR in Paris in 1948.
“The Philippines as a signatory to most of the major international human rights treaties and instruments must live up to its commitment in contrast to the dark era that once engulfed us. We are now making certain that our commitments to those treaties do not remain paper promises because for the first time in nearly a decade we a have a government that is indeed serious about human rights,” he said.
The President stressed that his administration is serious in its commitment to protect the rights of Filipino citizens and violators held accountable for their actions.
To further protect human rights, the President said the Philippine National Police (PNP) has crafted a Human Rights Desk operations manual, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) established a Human Rights Office under General Domingo Tutaan and is set to publish a handbook.
The President said the PNP manual and the AFP handbook will both provide information and operational procedures to orient troops and policemen on human rights and international humanitarian law.
Dr. Jacqueline Badcock, Resident Coordinator of the UN in the Philippines who read the UN message for the 62nd anniversary of the UDHR, commended the human rights initiatives of the Philippines in partnership with the community, civil society and other human rights defenders in the country.
“I wish to congratulate the Philippine government for being the first and perhaps the only country in the world, to disembark on the pioneering endeavor to mainstream human rights in development planning,” Badcock said.
In partnership with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the CHR, Badcock said the UN system in the Philippines has been assisting in the capacity development of NEDA in the national and regional levels and government line agencies on how to mainstream human rights in the planning processes.
Badcock said this was recently concluded in time for the formulation of the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP).
“This is very relevant given the value and need for reintegration of the human rights perspective in the MTPDP if the country is to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015. MDG is our basic human rights entitlements to preserve and protect human dignity,” Badcock said.
Badcock cited the National Human Rights Action Plan recently drafted out of a series of consultations participated by various sectors in the country.
If adopted by the government, Badcock said this action plan will be a very good problem solving mechanism to successfully overcome human rights issues and challenges through the joint efforts of the government agencies, human rights defenders and the people as the human rights claim holders.
“I am very encouraged to see that today the IRR for the Anti-Torture Law will be signed which is a very great significance,” Badcock said.
Badcock acknowledged the efforts of the Office of the President, CHR, DOJ, civil society, and the national and local government agencies which continue to work hard to make human rights protection a reality here in the Philippines. (PCOO)
