The number of extra-judicial killings, enforced
disappearance, torture, illegal arrest along with political, civil economic,
social and cultural violations has increased halfway into the current
administration, the group said.
“President Aquino completely missed the point with
half-hearted and ill-advised approach to human rights,” said Lawyer Edre
Olalia, spokesperson of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL).
Olalia was interviewed after the hearing of the kidnapping
case against retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan.
As a lawyer for human rights victims, he said that the
current administration has laid down an environment that emboldens
perpetrators, and allowed them to get away.
“The non-arrest of Gen. Palparan is a chilling reminder that
government security forces are still stolidly untouchable,” he said noting that
it is capped by the promotion to higher positions of military officers accused
of grave human rights violations.
Among the military officers he mentioned are Generals
Eduardo Ano, Aurelio Baladad and George Segovia.
Olalia said that promotions of said officers belie any
pretense at accountability.
With regards to the CHR, Olalia said that the creation of an
inter-agency task force through Administrative Order No 35, is a public
acknowledgement that the commission is inutile.
“The President has cleverly transformed the CHR into
practically no more than a defender of his administration and whitewasher of
even the most abominable violations in plain view,” he said.
Olalia added, “This is a time when victims and their
families are clamoring for effective investigation and proactive, speedy and
dogged prosecution, things which the President has by and large yet to
deliver.”
“Obviously, there is nothing to celebrate on the
International Human Rights Day, not while the administration continues to show
appalling lack of will, foresight, ability and sensitivity in addressing
persistent Philippine human rights concerns amid cries for justice of the
victims and their families,” Olalia said.
