Free the 43 Health Workers !!!

One year after their release, Morong 43 still cry for justice

2011-12-09T06:36:00.000-08:00

Today, as the world celebrates the International Day of Human Rights, members of the Morong 43 march with hundreds of others in Mendiola, Manila to amplify their call for justice.

“If there is one thing that 10 months of illegal incarceration and torture did to us, it is proving to ourselves and the people that the military under the Arroyo and Aquino governments failed to break our spirits in our quest for justice,” Nurse Gary Liberal said.

Marching alongside hundreds of others, whose economic and political rights are continued to be trampled upon, Liberal commented that the Aquino administration should work double time in building people’s confidence in the country’s justice system and not working “over-time in giving Mrs. Arroyo special treatment” by allowing her to stay in a plush presidential suite at Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC).

Liberal reminded Mr. Aquino that he should pay more attention to the inhumane conditions within regular detention facilities around the country before minding the health and comfort (including the installation of new toilets) of Mrs. Arroyo at VMMC. He added that ordinary prisoners die of curable and preventable diseases due to lack of medical attention, proper nutrition, and congestion. “He [Mr. Aquino] may be denying it, but according special treatment to Mrs. Arroyo speaks a lot about his bias for the rich and powerful.”

The spokesperson maintained that Mrs. Arroyo should be placed in a regular jail just like any regular civilian.

“It is shameful for Mr. Aquino to trumpet his parents’ legacy for being human rights defenders and staunch fighters for democracy while he continues to tolerate and encourage the culture of impunity by not doing anything to put make human rights violators accountable for their crimes. To date, not a single one of our torturers has been tried in court,” he added.

Liberal furthered that the best gift that Mr. Aquino could ever grant their families and those of other human rights victims and political prisoners is to “make Mrs. Arroyo and her cohorts pay for their crimes and grant general, omnibus, unconditional amnesty to more than 300 political prisoners in 65 jails nationwide.” This includes 2 of the Morong 43 who are still in jail.

He enjoined the Filipino people in their call to “end impunity, justice for the Morong 43, jail GMA now!”
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Giving in to constant local and international pressure on his government, Mr. Aquino declared that the charges against the 43 health workers will be dropped followed by orders to release them. On December 17, 2010, 36 of the Morong 43 walked free. Two of their colleagues are still in jail because of trumped-up charges slapped by a Metro Manila court.

Reference:

Gary Liberal, R.N.
Spokesperson, Morong 43
Mobile: (0922)575 1689
Telefax: (+632) 929 8109

'Morong 43' ask judge to speed up case vs CGMA

2011-12-09T04:04:00.001-08:00

Human rights lawyer: No House Arrest for CGMA

2011-12-09T03:52:00.000-08:00

Quezon City Hall of Justice - pictures

2011-12-02T08:56:00.001-08:00

Free the 43 Health Workers Alliance, Health Alliance for Democracy, Morong 43 and their families, human rights group KARAPATAN, End Impunity Alliance, and National Union of People's Lawyers call for an immediate resolution to the case filed by the Morong 43 against Mrs. Gloria Macpagal-Arroyo, et.al. They also called for the immediate release of 2 of the Morong 43 who are still detained.

Counsel for the Morong 43 Atty. Ephraim B. Cortez explains the resolution of the petition to issue summons for all respondents including GMA.

(L-R) Mercy Castro, Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor, and nurse Gary Liberal hold their petition for Urgent Manifestation with Motion to Resolve before filing it in the sala of Judge Ma. Luisa C. Quijano-Padilla of Branch 226 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

Arroyo asked to answer suit filed by six ‘Morong 43’ members

2011-11-28T09:04:00.000-08:00

GMA News

A Quezon City court has summoned and asked former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to answer the P15-million damage suit filed against her by six members of the so-called Morong 43.

QC Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Ma. Luisa Quijano-Padilla ordered the issuance of summons to Arroyo and several others after denying the issuance of writ of preliminary attachment sought by the plaintiffs due to lack of merit.

Padilla directed the Arroyo camp to answer the damage suit within 15 days.

Morong 43 refers to the 43 health workers arrested in Morong, Rizal in February last year on allegations that they were members of the communist New People’s Army.

Six of them — Dr. Merry Mia Clamor, Dr. Alexis Montes, Gary Liberal, nurse; Ma. Teresa Quinawayan, midwife; Reynaldo Macabenta and Mercy Castro, community health workers — filed the damage suit against Arroyo, who was president when the 43 were arrested, and other officials.

Aside from Arroyo, summonses were also issued to former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Victor Ibrado, former Army commanding general Delfin Bangit, and other military officials.

Edre Olalia and Julian Oliva Jr., legal counsels of the plaintiffs, said the court has already prepared the summons but have yet to deliver them to the defendants as they will still provide the court additional copies of the complaint.

“This afternoon, we will be providing the court the copies of the complaint that will be attached to the summons so that they will be immediately serve to the former president and the other defendants,” they said.

Last April, the plaintiffs filed the complaint for damages with writ of application for preliminary attachment asking the court to order the defendants to pay them the amount of P2.5-million each for actual, moral, exemplary damages and attorney’s fees.

The plaintiffs, together with their lawyers, trooped to Padilla’s sala Monday and filed an urgent manifestation with motion to resolve the issuance of writ of preliminary attachment. However, upon filing the motion, the court furnished them with a copy of Padilla’s order denying their appeal.

The plaintiffs sought for the issuance of the writ of preliminary attachment asking the court to freeze the properties of the former president and the other defendants.

They claimed that sufficient causes of action exist against the defendants, particularly Arroyo, now a congresswoman representing Pampanga’s second district, noting that she has the ability and resources to fly out of the country.

But in her two-page resolution, Padilla said the plaintiffs failed to convince the court that defendants are about to depart from the Philippines with intent to defraud their creditors by their mere invocation that defendants are capable of doing so since they have been in power so long.

“While this court is well-aware that plaintiffs’ burden of showing defendants’ state of mind is difficult under the circumstances, still, a mere suspicion that there is a possibility of flight by the defendants to avoid any liability without more, is not is sufficient for a writ of preliminary attachment to issue. The rules on the application of a writ of attachment must be strictly construed in favor of the defendant,” the court said. - KBK, GMA News

Don’t let GMA flee! Jail GMA! – Morong 43

2011-11-24T00:49:00.000-08:00

“We challenge the Aquino administration to do everything in its authority and influence to ensure that Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will not flee the country. She should be made accountable for all the crimes she committed against the people!”

Gary Liberal, R.N., spokesperson of the Morong 43 and one of the plaintiffs named in the civil suit filed on April 4, 2011 against GMA, et. al. at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, reminded the Aquino administration that it should not forget the victims of human rights violations such as the Morong 43 case committed under GMA’s term.

Liberal, speaking in behalf of the 36 freed health workers and said that they are enraged of Mr. Aquino’s inability to act upon the cases filed against his predecessor such as to immediately free 2 of the Morong 43 who were transferred and still illegally detained in Mindoro. “Obviously, the President took a sweet time before hastily filing an electoral fraud case against GMA. Such obvious haste was unnecessary had Mr. Aquino acted swiftly on scores of other cases such as our illegal arrest and detention, the killing of Mr. Leonard Co, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the Ampatuan massacre among others.”

Seven months since they filed a civil suit suing for damages totaling P15 million for physical and psychological torture and other forms of indignities they suffered during their illegal arrest and detention, the case has not moved beyond the first and last hearing on June 2011.

Defendants named in the suit are former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, former Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, Gen. Delfin N. Bangit, former commander of the 2nd Infantry Division (ID) Gen. Jorge Segovia, commander of the intelligence unit of the 2nd IDPA Lt. Col. Cristobal Zaragosa, 2nd IDPA Warden Major Manuel Tabion, commander of the 202nd Infantry Batallion (IB) Col. Aurelio Baladad, 16th IBPA commander Lt. Col. Jaime Abawag, and Rizal Provincial Police Office commander P/Supt. Marion Balolong.

Liberal added that while they had to go on a hunger strike, get punished in jail for holding noise barrage, and file numerous requests in court to assert hospital confinement for two of their pregnant colleagues Judilyn Oliveros and Mercy Castro in the Philippine General Hospital, GMA was graciously allowed by the court and authorities to be on “hospital arrest” without dropping a sweat.

While GMA is asserting her constitutional rights to life and travel, Liberal questioned her camp if “their boss ever thought of ‘constitutional rights’ when she had 43 health workers arbitrarily arrested, detained, and tortured under the hands of her military and police?”

“We have not forgotten. GMA and her cohorts should be made accountable for even the minutest crimes she committed against us and thousands of others like us. She should not be given special treatment by this government.”

Her aces may be well laid in the Supreme Court but we have the people’s movement behind us – the very force that make the wheels of history turn, Liberal added.#

Gary Liberal, R.N.
Spokesperson, Morong 43
Mobile: (0922)5751689
Telefax: (+632 929.8109)

Health group threatened anew

2011-07-31T05:09:00.000-07:00

www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — A day before the PNoy’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), a staff of the Community Health Education, Service and Training in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE) received a threat on her mobile number again.

At about noon on July 24, Sunday, Milagros Ao-wat received threats from cell number 09093118024 indicating close surveillance on her whereabouts and activities.

“Ingat kau, labas kau ng labas kasla kayo met gamin sigsiguro. Apay dayta trabaho yo mano ti bayad no matay kayo. Parangal laeng met.. ay ay ay. Narigat ti mabrainwash ta haan nga makita ti usto,” (Take care, you are always going out, you are very daring. Why? How much will you get from your work when you die? Only a tribute … ay ay ay. It is hard to be brainwashed because you cannot see what is right) one text message read.

This was followed by another saying, “Sinowak? Haan masapul ti nagan ko. Ammoyo met nu cno dagiti agininteresado kadakayo. Kuna yo nga iharharas mi dakayo,” (Who am I? You don’t need to know my name. You know very well who are after you. You said that we are harassing you).

“Threats continue. Nothing has changed despite Pnoy’s promise of a ‘matuwid na daan’! ,” Romella Liquigan-Rasalan, the Executive Director of CHESTCORE said. The group she said strongly condemns the continuing assault on their staff and their institution inspite of their continuing resolve to render health services.

In earlier reports, Ao-wat, a CHESTCORE staff member revealed to have received several death threats last December, 2010 and January, 2011 on her phone.

“The threats have not stopped. This is appalling because what we do is provide much-needed health services and yet, this is what we get,” Ao-wat said.

“We have already reported this to the Commission on Human Rights. They have yet to bring out their report on the past cases and now, there are new threats,” Rasalan added.

March this year, CHESTCORE launched a campaign to stop the harassment of Cordillera health workers as it exposed continuing threats that happened on staff and volunteers when in Baguio and during field work since 2007.

The campaign aimed not only to expose the threats but to help assert people’s right to health. CHESTCORE, a non-government health institution founded in 1981, has been serving far-flung Northern Luzon communities which are not reached by government health services or where these are insufficient. Unfortunately, instead of being commended for their work, CHESTCORE has been accused of being New People’s Army (NPA) supporters or their staff accused as being NPAs themselves.

“This is not really surprising even if people pinned much hope for change under this administration,” Jude Baggo, the secretary-general of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) said. PNoy he added has launched his Oplan Bayanihan last December 2010, an anti-insurgency program that includes among its features the vilification or the tagging of progressive organizations as underground organizations.

“This has replaced then president Arroyo’s Oplan Bantay Laya that accounted for the more than 1000 extra-judicial killings among militant groups” he added.

“But this has to stop!,” he stressed. Thus, he said they highlighted CHESTCORE’s case in their Assembly last July 28 & 29 in Ifugao especially in the launching of their anti-vilification campaign.

CHESTCORE and CHRA vowed to put in greater efforts in this campaign to gain broader support in these cases and to stop continuing human rights violations in the region. #

PPPs in health threaten to make health care costlier – health workers

2011-07-22T20:40:00.000-07:00

“You go to a public hospital emergency room to have your wound cleaned, you have to first buy some cotton, wound antiseptic, and dressings, before you can be treated,” said Joel Bitanga, 40, an X-ray technician in San Lazaro Hospital.

By MARYA SALAMAT
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – After one year, healthcare in the country has gone from bad to worse — this is the assessment of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) on the Aquino government’s impact on health. In a series of protests held by its member unions in different public hospitals in Metro Manila, the group aired the various shocks of Aquino’s touted PPPs (public-private partnerships) on the services of public hospitals and the working condition of health workers and professionals in the country. The group challenged Aquino to stop the privatization “in any form” of public hospitals and to bail out public health by infusing it with a P90-billion ($2.09 billion) budget at least.

UP-PGH health workers urge their hospital management to revert to giving poorest charity patients free treatment. A mother brought out a child patient. (Photos by Marya Salamat / bulatlat.com)

During Aquino’s first year, the country’s main public hospital, the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), for example, has, for the first time in its history, resorted to charging fees even from its lowest ranked charity or indigent patients. In a memo issued last month, the PGH administration reportedly directed its hospital staff to charge the previously free diagnostic and laboratory examinations of “class D” patients. These are the patients who, according to the hospital social workers, belong to the lowest earners or the poorest of the poor among the four groups who qualify for “social service.” Class D used to receive full support (or full charity), while the other classes under social service get discounts, much like the socialized tuition fees being implemented in the University of the Philippines, explained Jossel Ebesate, AHW national president.

In the Philippine Orthopedic Center, fees have been drastically increased early this year, with some increasing more than twice its old amount.

Because of the budget cutbacks implemented by the Aquino administration in the budget for maintenance and other operating expenses of public hospitals, the previous shortages in medicines, supplies and other equipment have become worse, reported the AHW. The exacerbated shortage in turn prompted the administrations of public hospitals to increase fees and to charge fees on previously free items in the hospital menu of services.

“You go to a public hospital emergency room to have your wound cleaned, you have to first buy some cotton, wound antiseptic, and dressings, before you can be treated,” said Joel Bitanga, 40, an X-ray technician in San Lazaro Hospital. He added that if you were brought to their hospital and you can’t breathe, you have to buy the hose and other paraphernalia for your oxygen.

Health workers and a child urge the Aquino government to treat healthcare not as source of profit but as public service.(Photos by Marya Salamat / bulatlat.com)

Picketing in front of San Lazaro Hospital, then at Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center and in front of the Department of Health, the health workers decried last Monday the increased fees also prevalent in the Philippine Heart Center, the Lung Center of the Philippines, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) and the East Avenue Center (EAMC). These are some of the hospitals retained by the national government after it implemented a devolution of health services in 1992.

The practice of charging and increasing fees which the majority of low-income Filipinos are already finding as tough, would likely worsen if the Aquino government pushes through with its planned PPPs targeting even government hospitals, the AHW warned.

Already, the health group noted that some private companies that were able to get concessions in public hospitals have been profiting from this public-private partnership. They cited as example Himex, which provides the radiology “services” of Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center; the Carte-blance in Lung Center which profits from its dietary services; and Fabricare for Lung Center’s laundry. In PGH, the privately-operated Faculty Medical Arts Building has begun operations this year.

In public hospitals being operated by local government units, a measure of success is the increase in hospital income, which could be had by adding “private” or “pay wards” and other services that charge fees. The biggest example, for having been the first to be declared as a corporatized hospital is the La Union Medical Center. Provincial hospitals are now trying to follow its example, after its local governments have sent their public hospitals’ directors and staff to “Lakbay Aral” (Study Travel) to learn from “successful” provincial public hospitals.

Up for starting new PPPs soon are the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC), the San Lazaro Hospital and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). While the moves are seeking to improve and upgrade the said hospitals – something which the health workers’ union said they also wish to happen – they are decrying the fact that these have to be planned under a PPP setup. They urged the government instead to fund the needed development, rather than enter into partnerships with the private sector whose motives for entering health services are mainly for profit.

Health groups blame US imperialist dictates for Aquino’s drive to privatize and commercialize healthcare.(Photo by Marya Salamat / bulatlat.com)

“What will happen to our mentally ill patients? Will they be abandoned on the streets?” asked Arman Palaganas, vice-president of the health workers’ union in National Center for Mental Health. This mental hospital and the Philippine Heart Center are up for bidding in a public auction set to be held under the Aquino administration, the AHW reported.

When all these upcoming PPPs happen, the AHW warned, health care will become even less accessible to ordinary Filipinos.

Killing you softly

Given the frequently slashed budgets, health workers’ wages and benefits have also taken a beating. In fact, the Department of Budget and Management itself has told public hospital administrators and even local government units that benefits being given to health workers are contingent on the hospital’s savings or on the availability of funds. The result, according to AHW, is either lacking or almost nil benefits especially for health workers under the local government units.

A PGH patient’s charity cards and papers attesting to her indigency could mean little now in terms of free or affordable treatment. (Photo by Marya Salamat / bulatlat.com)

For twenty years now, the country’s plantilla position for health workers and professionals have barely increased, despite the continued pressure of population increases. Worse, while the plantilla positions are being controlled, the AHW noted that the ranks of the country’s health workers are under attack and being reduced by bouts of retrenchment or streamlining through transfer, attrition and early retirement.

Instead of replacing the lost regular health workers, AHW noted that the government itself has been increasingly implementing “flexible labor arrangements,” a favorite under profit-oriented corporations. In the health sector, these arrangements range from contractualization, job-order employment (similar to project-based hiring), and the notorious “volunteerism” where the hospitals not only do not pay the health professionals who serve them but even make them pay for the “training” and “experience.”

As if to gag the health workers’ groups who have been criticizing and providing proofs of the government’s abandonment of its responsibility top ensure the people’s health, there are alleged moves from public hospital managements to bust the health workers’ unions, or else “deceive, divide and crush” the progressive unions under the Alliance of Health Workers. The AHW complained that the management of some public hospitals, such as the National Center for Mental Health, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Philippine Orthopedic Center and Philippine Children’s Medical Center, “do not recognize and even try to coerce the accredited sole bargaining unit.”

As such, judging from the way the government has been treating Filipinos as patients and as health workers, the health group charged that “the people has never been Aquino’s real ‘boss,’ as he had boasted, but the politicians, the local big landlords and the big local and foreign investors.”

The poor cannot survive under the Aquino government’s health agenda of privatization, the Health Alliance for Democracy said in a statement. The poor will get sicker and die sooner if the rate increases continued, said PGH nursing attendant Ellen Jamison in a picket protest in front of the PGH this week.

The health groups encourage health workers and the families of patients in public hospitals to join in protesting privatization and pushing for health as a human right.

Revolutionary Doctors: How Venezuela and Cuba Are Changing the World’s Conception of Health Care

2011-07-22T08:45:00.000-07:00

By Steve Brouwer - Monthly Review Press, July 21st 2011

Revolutionary Doctors, a new book by author Steve Brouwer and published by Monthly Review Press, gives readers a first-hand account of Venezuela’s innovative and inspiring program of community health care, designed to serve—and largely carried out by—the poor themselves. Drawing on long-term participant observations as well as in-depth research, author Steve Brouwer tells the story of Venezuela’s Integral Community Medicine program, in which doctor-teachers move into the countryside and poor urban areas to recruit and train doctors from among peasants and workers.

The following excerpt, also available in PDF, was made available to readers through the International Journal of Socialist Renewal.

Where Do Revolutionary Doctors Come From?

The campesinos would have run, immediately and with unreserved enthusiasm, to help their brothers.

—CHE GUEVARA, “On Revolutionary Medicine,” 1960

Even though he came to Cuba with a rifle slung over his shoulder and entered Havana in 1959 as one of the victorious commanders of the Cuban Revolution, he still continued to think of himself as a doctor. Five years earlier, the twenty-five-year-old Argentine had arrived in Guatemala and offered to put his newly earned medical degree at the service of a peaceful social transformation. Dr. Ernesto Guevara was hoping to find work in the public health services and contribute to the wide-ranging reforms being initiated by President Arbenz, but he never had much opportunity to work as a physician in Guatemala. Within months of his arrival, Arbenz’s government was brought down by the military coup d’état devised by the United Fruit Company, some Guatemalan colonels, the U.S. State Department, and the CIA.

Che never lost sight of the value of his original aspiration—combining the humanitarian mission of medicine with the creation of a just society. When he addressed the Cuban militia on August 19, 1960, a year and a half after the triumph of the revolution, he chose to speak about “Revolutionary Medicine” and the possibility of educating a new kind of doctor.

“A few months ago, here in Havana, it happened that a group of newly graduated doctors did not want to go into the country’s rural areas and demanded remuneration before they would agree to go. . . .But what would have happened if instead of these boys, whose families generally were able to pay for their years of study, others of less fortunate means had just finished their schooling and were beginning the exercise of their profession? What would have occurred if two or three hundred campesinos had emerged, let us say by magic, from the university halls? What would have happened, simply, is that the campesinos would have run, immediately and with unreserved enthusiasm, to help their brothers.”

Since then, Cuban medicine and health services have been developed in a number of unique and revolutionary ways, but only now, nearly fifty years later, has Che’s dream come to full fruition. Today it is literally true that campesinos, along with the children of impoverished working-class and indigenous communities, are becoming doctors and running, “with unreserved enthusiasm, to help their brothers.”

While this is happening on the mountainsides of Haiti, among the Garifuna people on the Caribbean coast of Honduras, in the villages of Africa and the highlands of Bolivia, it is occurring on the grandest scale in the rural towns and city barrios of Venezuela. When I was living in the mountains of western Venezuela in 2007 and 2008, I witnessed the emergence of revolutionary doctors every morning as I walked out the door of our little tin-roofed house. The scene would have delighted Che:

As the sun rises above the mountain behind the village of Monte Carmelo and the white mist begins to lift off the cloud forest, four young campesinos walk along the road in their wine-red polo shirts with their crisp, white jackets folded up under their arms to protect them from the dust. At 7 a.m. they wave goodbye to the high school students who are waiting to begin their classes in three rooms at the women’s cooperative and then hop aboard the “taxi,” a tough, thirtyyear-old Toyota pickup truck that often packs twenty or more people in the back. They travel down the winding mountain road, through the deep ravine at the bottom, and up the hill on the far side of the valley to the larger town of Sanare, where they are going to work all morning alongside Cuban doctors in neighborhood consulting offices and the modern Diagnostic Clinic.

Around 7:45, four more medical students from the village, already donning their white jackets, walk by our house, past the plaza and the little church, and gather in front of a small concrete block building called the ambulatorio. About the same time, they are joined by three more medical students who emerge from Carlos’s bright blue jeep,“the Navigator,” one of the other vehicles in the taxi cooperative that serves the village. These students from Sanare pull on their white jackets, hug their compañeros, and wait for Elsy, a health committee volunteer who is studying to be a nurse, to unlock the gate to the ambulatorio, the walk-in clinic that offers Barrio Adentro medical service.

As I stroll by, I see the prospective patients sitting on the benches of the small, covered patio in front of the entrance door. They are waiting for Dr. Tomasa, the family medical specialist. Two chirpy teenage girls sit next to Dr. Raul’s dentistry room and grin with perfect-looking smiles. “What could be wrong with your teeth?” I ask.

“Nothing,” responds one of them, “Dr. Raul is giving us another checkup.”Another checkup? Their parents never had a single checkup when they were young—consequently, there are many people over forty or fifty who have very few teeth.

By 8 a.m. one of the medical students stands behind the simple wooden counter, performing receptionist duties. Another shuttles back and forth to the file shelves, organizing and updating medical information that is kept on every family in the community. A third chats informally with the waiting patients, entertaining their small children, and informally inquiring about their families’ health. The other four students stand alongside Dr. Tomasa in the consulting office, watching her take family and individual histories and give examinations. They also fetch medicines, take temperatures, and weigh healthy children who are accompanying their mothers. Today, like every day, Dr. Tomasa says to her students, “Por favor, more questions. This is how we learn. You can never ask too many questions.”

Monte Carmelo is a small village that stretches along a single paved road on a mountain ridge in the foothills of the Andes in the state of Lara. Before Hugo Chávez assumed the presidency of Venezuela in 1999, the road was unpaved and the high school did not exist. According to the 2007 census, its population consisted of 129 families and approximately 700 individuals, nearly all of them supporting themselves by working small parcels of land by hand, or with horses and oxen. That same year nine residents of Monte Carmelo were medical students. Eight were studying Medicina Integral Comunitaria (popularly known as MIC), an intensive six-year course that in English is usually called Comprehensive Community Medicine. A ninth village resident was studying medicine in Cuba. Two more young women from a neighboring hamlet were also in medical school. They were part of a group of sixty-seven students in this agricultural region who were becoming doctors of medicine.

The students are a diverse lot: some are nineteen or twenty years old and have recently finished high school; others are closer to thirty and have young children; a few are even older. Some young mothers have recently completed their secondary education through Mission Ribas, one of the Bolivarian social missions that bring adults back to school on evenings and weekends. All of the students are enthusiastic about their role in fostering good health and introducing reliable medical care into the fabric of their community and the larger world. And many of them dream of emulating their Cuban teachers and one day serving as internationalist physicians themselves in remote and impoverished parts of the world.

This experiment in training new doctors in MIC would be worthy of international attention even if the program was limited to the 67 students in this remote coffee-growing region in the state of Lara. But in fact they represent only a tiny fraction of a gigantic effort to transform medical education and health care delivery throughout all of Venezuela. Nearly 25,000 students were enrolled in the first four years of MIC in 2007 2008, and by 2009 and 2010 they were joined by more students, swelling the ranks of students enrolled in all six years of MIC to approximately 30,000. This is almost as many as the total number of doctors who were practicing medicine in all capacities in Venezuela when Hugo Chávez was elected president in 1998.

One unique aspect of MIC is that the students in Monte Carmelo do not have to leave the campo, the countryside, nor do students in the poorest neighborhoods of Venezuelan cities have to desert their barrios in order to attend medical school. Medicina Integral Comunitaria is a “university without walls” that trains young doctors in their home environments. This is not a short-term course for health aides or “barefoot doctors,” but a rigorous program designed to produce a new kind of physician. Every morning during their years of study, the MIC students help doctors working in Barrio Adentro attend to patients’ illnesses and learn to comprehend the broad public health needs of their communities. And every afternoon, they meet with their MIC professors in a series of formal medical classes that constitute a rigorous curriculum and include all the medical sciences studied at traditional universities.

The MIC education program could not exist without Barrio Adentro, the nationwide health system that first began delivering primary care in 2003 thanks to an enormous commitment of expertise from Cuba. From 2004 to 2010, Barrio Adentro continually deployed between 10,000 and 14,000 Cuban doctors and 15,000 to 20,000 other Cuban medical personnel—dentists, nurses, physical therapists, optometrists, and technicians. Their services are available to all Venezuelans for free at almost 7,000 walk-in offices and over 500 larger diagnostic clinics, and they have been very effective in meeting the needs of 80 percent of the population that had been ill-served or not served at all by the old health care system.

Obviously, Cuba cannot afford to devote so many of its medical personnel to Venezuela indefinitely, nor does the Chávez government want to depend on foreign doctors forever. So when Barrio Adentro was being launched in 2003, Cuban and Venezuelan medical experts devised a new program of medical education that will enable Venezuela to keep its universal public health program functioning permanently. Starting in 2005, the Cuban doctors were asked to perform a rigorous double duty: not only did they continue treating patients in Barrio Adentro clinics, but many of them also began teaching as professor/tutors for the MIC program in comprehensive community medicine. The goal of MIC is to integrate the training of family practitioners into the fabric of communities in a holistic effort that meets the medical needs of all citizens, makes use of local resources, and promotes preventive health care and healthy living.

The Cuban mission in Venezuela is possible because over the past half-century, Cuba has developed a vision of medical service that goes far beyond its own borders. Cuban health workers, in addition to providing free health care for all their fellow citizens, have transformed themselves into a “weapon of solidarity,” a revolutionary force that has been deployed in over 100 countries around the world. Since 2000, however, the Cuban commitment has increased substantially because the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela has contributed its own enthusiasm, volunteers, and economic resources. Through various agreements of cooperation, Cuba and Venezuela have embarked upon a number of projects in other fields such as education, agriculture, energy, and industrial development, and then have extended these cooperative ventures to other nations, particularly within ALBA, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America, which includes Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Ecuador as well as the small Caribbean island nations of Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Of all these ambitious undertakings, delivering medical services is by far the most prominent. In order to extend universal health care to the poor and working classes in way that is compatible with the new, egalitarian vision of these societies, many more physicians are needed. With this in mind, Cuba is educating more doctors at home even as it trains tens of thousands in Venezuela. In 2008 there were 29,000 Cubans enrolled in medical school, plus nearly 24,000 foreign students (including more than one hundred students from the United States) studying at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana or at the schools of the New Program for the Training of Latin American Doctors that are located in four other provinces.

An Army in White Jackets

I first became aware of the magnitude of this medical revolution in 2004 on my first trip to Venezuela. When Dr. Yonel, a young Cuban dentist working in a barrio of Caracas, informed me there were more than 10,000 doctors working in Venezuela, I exclaimed, “Un ejército de medicos! An army of doctors!”

Dr. Yonel smiled and replied, “Un ejército de paz. An army of peace.”

Clearly the collaboration of the rejuvenated Cuban Revolution and the nascent Bolivarian Revolution was yielding impressive results. And a growing number of countries in the Western Hemisphere, long under the yoke of wealthy conservative minorities or military authoritarians who were dependent on capital and political instruction from the North, were no longer willing to listen to the United States when it told them to shun Cuba and Venezuela. Since its long-standing economic blockade of Cuba was failing to deter these developments, the United States tried to launch a disruptive dissident movement in Cuba and assist a coup d’état in Venezuela. When these efforts failed, the U.S. government imposed more draconian economic and travel restrictions on Cuba in 2004 and funded various schemes to undermine both revolutionary governments. In 2006, the United States stooped to an especially low level when it attempted to directly sabotage Cuba’s humanitarian medical missions by creating the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program. This was a law specifically designed to lure Cuban doctors, nurses, and technicians away from their foreign assignments by offering them special immigration status and speedy entry into the United States.

These antagonistic efforts did not succeed in diminishing the international solidarity and prestige that Cuba and Venezuela were acquiring around the world, nor did it keep them from expanding their programs of humanitarian medical aid and international medical education. In 2007, a young Chilean, a member of the third class graduating from the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana, spoke at her commencement and told her classmates: “Today we are an army in white jackets that will bring good health and a little more dignity to our people.”

By 2010, Cuba and Venezuela further demonstrated their capabilities by being among the most prominent providers of both emergency and long-term aid to Haiti after its devastating earthquake. Brazil, the economic giant of Latin America, signaled its admiration by announcing that it would be delighted to join Cuba in a partnership to create a new public health system in Haiti. José Gomés, the Brazilian Minister of Health, explained why his country was choosing to work with the Cubans on such a significant and demanding project: “We have just signed an agreement—Cuba, Brazil, and Haiti—according to which all three countries make a commitment to unite our forces in order to reconstruct the health system in Haiti. . . . We will provide this, together with Cuba—a country with an extremely long internationalist experience, a great degree of technical ability, great determination, and an enormous amount of heart.”

For Cuba, Venezuela, and by extension their allies in ALBA alliance, these triumphs throughout the first decade of the twenty-first century were more than diplomatic coups, they were moral victories. They demonstrated the power of social solidarity and humanistic concern for other people, values in stark contrast with the materialistic, self-centered, and aggressive behavior of the advanced capitalist societies.

This book aims to acquaint the reader with the ways that revolutionary doctors and health care workers have developed into major protagonists of socialist change and are defining what that change should look like. Chapters 2 through 4 offer some glimpses of Cuba’s international medical missions, their profound impact on various parts of the world, and their relation to the overall development of Cuban health care over the past fifty years. Chapters 5 through 8 describe how a new public health system, Barrio Adentro, has been created in Venezuela, and how new Venezuelan doctors are being educated to assume responsibility for this system in the future. This description is based on my own observations of day-to-day interactions of doctors, medical students, health committees, and the members of the communities they serve. Finally, the last four chapters illustrate how capitalist cultures and imperialist forces are resisting the development of revolutionary medicine and revolutionary consciousness, while the emerging socialist cultures are pressing forward with new ideas and creating the patterns of practice and commitment in daily life that are producing the revolutionaries of the future.
Source: International Journal of Socialist Renewal

Health workers march against privatization; call for meaningful health budget

2011-07-20T18:05:00.000-07:00

Various health groups today challenged the Aquino government to be true to its word of making health care accessible to the poor. In a dialogue with leaders of the Deparment of Health, Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) and the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) led government hospital employees, doctors, nurses and other health professionals in seeking an end to privatization of health care delivery system. The group also demanded a P90B budget for health.

According to Jossel Ebesate, AHW National President, “As President Simeon Aquino prepares for his State of the Nation Address, he should remember and fulfill the promises he made as he assumed office a year ago. Foremost amongst these is to give utmost priority to the health of the people.”

The group noted that after one year, healthcare in the country has gone from bad to worse.

For instance, several state-run hospitals like the Philippine General Hospital and Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) are already charging patients various additional fees that were not done during the previous administration. In PGH, even Class D patients who used to receive full support (full charity) are now being charged various rates ranging from ₱20 to ₱340 for diagnostic and laboratory examinations, all of which were previously free. Similarly, at the POC, the new rates are more than double the previous rates.

The promise of universal health care has been reduced to expanded coverage of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), which remains a stop-gap measure. Doctors and nurses, still badly needed in the country, are not being employed properly with adequate remuneration. The RN HEALS program for nurses does not even provide nurses with the salary mandated by law and offers no real job security.

Worse, according to HEAD, the promotion of public-private partnerships by the Aquino administration has left public hospitals in a state of disrepair and neglect to justify the entry of private investments. Unfortunately, the poor and indigents patients are left to shoulder the burden.

Dr. Geneve Rivera, HEAD Secretary General, “Rather than promote the commercialization and sale of public hospitals, Aquino should stop the privatization of healthcare and provide a meaningful budget that allows public hospitals to fulfill their mandate of serving the underserved.”

“Enough of dole-outs and stopgap measures,” added Dr. Rivera. “President Aquino should stop the politics of palliatives and come up with long-term solulions that will address the roots of age-old problems in health.”###

References:

Dr. Geneve Rivera
Secretary General,
Health Alliance for Democracy
0918 927 6381

Jossel Ebesate,RN
National President
Alliance of Health Workers
0908 862 4524

Malaysia: Free Jeyakumar Devaraj, activist doctor

2011-07-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

Jeyakumar Devaraj, Sungai Siput MP, is currently detained without trial under the Emergency Ordinance, together with five other Socialist Party members, on suspicion of “causing civil unrest by any means”.

[Protest letters still are urgently needed to be sent to the Malaysian government, please visit http://www.parti-sosialis.org/en/en/articles/1585 for details of where they can be sent. See also "Malaysia: Protests demand release of democracy activists" and "Asia-Pacific socialists demand: 'Free all political prisoners! Democracy for the Malaysian people!'"]

By Khoo Boo Teik

July 14, 2011 -- Malaysiakini -- Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, or Kumar as I call him, is a public figure of enormous stature. Very much respected for his achievements and contributions to medicine and public health in Malaysia, he was the recipient of the Malaysian Medical Association’s 1999 Award for Community Service. As a government physician, Kumar served many years in hospitals in Penang, Sarawak and Perak, and chose optional retirement when he ran in the 1999 general elections. In addition, Kumar is a tireless social advocate and activist.

Kumar and I were classmates from Form 1 to upper sixth form in the Penang Free School between 1967 and 1973. In subsequent years, while we attended universities in the United States (and, for Kumar, the Universiti Malaya as well), and after we began our own careers, we maintained frequent, though irregular, contact.

Some people may think of the dispossessed and marginalised communities as simply being "unfortunate" in that they have neither benefited from booms nor been protected from slumps. Others consider them to belong to the past – to sunset sectors and redundant labour ready to be dumped by globalisation’s sunrise industries, new technologies and emerging divisions of labour.

I believe Kumar’s reply would be: the history of marginalisation covers the past, present and future. If our economic system and structures of power are not significantly changed (for the better), then we already have a very good idea of how an entire developmental process will reproduce our treatment of the marginalised of the past and present as our treatment of the dispossessed of the future.

Precisely for the above reason, one has to understand and act. Kumar’s insistence on uncovering the roots of economic deprivation and his refusal to rationalise away the causes of social injustice supply the radical edge to his activism.

Above all, it is Kumar’s willingness to do something about the injustices he encounters, and to do so here and now, that is the hallmark of his blend of personal conviction, intellectual criticism and activist intervention.

Kumar has never treated people as "topics for research". He did choose, out of a sense of professional responsibility and social concern, to be posted to Sarawak after his housemanship at the Penang General Hospital in 1983: "All my three posting options were for Sarawak."

Kumar spent seven months in Kuching, and then requested a posting to Kapit, a "more rural, more remote" location. That was in 1984, and Kumar was stationed there for the next one and a half years.

Kapit was remote -- "the last boat for Sibu left at 2 pm and you couldn’t send any patient to a bigger hospital after that" – and "challenging for someone in his third year out of medical school". The doctor in Kapit had his or her hands full since, for instance, "one had to do surgical procedures even though one wasn’t a surgeon".

But one had considerable freedom, and there was the chance of working with the Flying Doctors Service that sent doctors by helicopter to clinics in the remote interior twice a week – a service that Kumar praised.

Kumar found his posting in Kapit and his experiences with the Flying Doctors "very challenging". Besides the medical work – "immunisations, examinations, treatments" – there were opportunities to observe at first hand even more remote areas, around Belaga, for example. Kumar saw "areas that had been logged" but noted that in areas that had not been logged, the "waters were still blue" and the "rivers full of fish".

Being a doctor in those remote parts -- "a very high position" – and especially being the humble, likeable and curious individual that Kumar is – opened doors, brought invitations and eased conversations. Kumar could talk with people from all walks of life – longhouse residents, headmen and logging camp managers.

He asked questions and made comparisons: Why were there "more cases of protein malnutrition in logged areas" in contrast to unlogged districts whose rivers were "still blue" and "full of fish"?

Kumar heard stories and made connections: How could it be that "six villages unsuccessfully applied for land for 20 years, while local politicians obtained logging concessions which they passed onto businessmen, in return for royalties and payoffs?" He was shown letters by headmen, and maps and data by camp managers, and drew his own conclusions.

Towards the end of his Kapit posting, Kumar was sometimes worried, "even paranoid". The stories he had heard and the things he had learnt were politically "sensitive" and potentially damaging to people with vested interests.

Nonetheless, he wrote about the effects of the Batang Ai dam construction on longhouse residents, logging accidents ending in terrible injuries or fatalities and suspected corruption in the awards of timber concessions to the politically influential and commercially powerful.

Kumar would be the last person to romanticise the things he did while he was in Sarawak. I have related Kumar’s Kapit experience at some length because it shaped his modus operandi, which was to detect the "social dimensions of health", when other similarly conscientious and caring doctors would have contended merely with medical problems.

The privatisation of health care

Reposted from Kapit to the District Hospital in Teluk Intan, Perak, Kumar treated a number of cases of beri beri (thiamine deficiency) among migrant workers of East Timorese origin and especially among those detained in immigration detention centres.

He sent letters to the health ministry, general hospitals in Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur, and to all government clinics and hospitals located close to said detention centres to alert them and to ask for feedback. Subsequently, "sad to say, a spate of beri-beri deaths in the Semenyih Camp was exposed by Tenaganita in 1995".

In a replication of his work in Kapit, Kumar established connections between the medical and the social problems of the Orang Asli [Indigenous people]. Working in a state which has one-third of the Orang Asli population, Kumar called on health-care professionals to understand that the "health problems of the Orang Asli are but the epiphenomenon of their progressive marginalisation", and to "urge a strict prohibition of all economic ventures that impinge adversely upon Orang Asli".

As a chest physician in Ipoh Hospital, Kumar wrote of the "increased transmission of tuberculosis in Malaysia and the weakening of the existing TB control program". This was an unfortunate development because the incidence of TB in Malaysia had fallen from more than 150 cases per 100,000 people in 1960 to 61 cases per 100,000 people in the late 1990s.

The re-emergence of the dangers of TB transmission was definitely linked to the "cramped and unhygienic living conditions … malnutrition and heavy physical labour" that contributed to the "reactivation of … latent TB" in poor migrant workers.

But Kumar also traced it to the deleterious outcome of "the government’s fascination with corporatisation and privatisation" which would sacrifice "one of the few success stories of TB control in the Third World" at "the altar of market economics".

From these kinds of positions, it was a small step to critiquing the dangers privatisation posed to the state of public health services. Together with his medical colleagues in public hospitals and NGOs, Kumar organised opposition to the "corporatisation of government hospitals", "the privatisation of the Government Medical Store", "the dismemberment of the Malaysian health services", each time making linkages among health services, economic policies and political priorities.

It was not the first time that a medical doctor, with primary responsibility for the treatment of the human body, came to be just as involved with the reform of the body politic. Of course, there have been doctors before, indeed other professionals too, who, while devoted to their areas of specialisation, have found it impossible to resolve their concerns without referring to "society as a whole".

They began as technical experts and ended up as social critics. But this tradition of integrating social criticism with professional work has sharply declined.

I cannot imagine that Kumar would regard his experiences to be unique. But I think of Kumar’s approach as being different from that of the "public intellectual" who first picks a cause, an issue or a concern – human rights, the environment, consumer protection – and then adds said cause to his or her intellectual pursuits.

For Kumar, professional work, intellectual criticism and activist mobilisation were inseparable, wherever he found himself. As so often happened, such a critical and activist approach led directly to "politics", as most people would understand the term.

An outsider who wants to be a credible organiser among marginalised communities must have several virtues, among which are an ability to render needed services and a readiness to stand by people in times of trouble.

Estate communities in Sungai Siput

The story of Alaigal is a case in point. Alaigal was founded by several social activists, including Kumar and his wife, Maharani Rasiah, an activist in her own right, after they had worked with five estate [plantation] communities in Sungai Siput for several years. Alaigal is a community organisation that grew out of years of selfless, voluntary services that won the confidence of workers and their families.

Initially, the main form of service was educational in intent and approach – the activists held extra-curricular tuition classes to improve the academic performance of estate children. There was then a strong sense that educational achievement, family supported but individually attained, was the answer to the poverty prevalent in the mostly Indian estate communities.

But the workers, their families and communities also made wider connections – between, say, their children’s low educational attainments and their income levels and housing conditions. They began to understand that, if their children failed to make the cut, the failure was not theirs and theirs alone, which was what certain organisations argued.

In short, the communities discovered "structural" problems – their "unfavourable" position in the economy and society – and this realisation helped to alleviate the "blame-the-victim" syndrome under which they had laboured for generations.

Around 1993, a network of like-minded NGOs, including Alaigal, began an estate-based campaign to upgrade estate living conditions. The main demand of the campaign was that the government should categorise estate quarters as "rural" so as to bring them under the responsibility of the rural development ministry.

In this way, facilities and utilities provided to traditional kampungs could also be enjoyed by the estate population. The campaign actively sought to make these issues known to Malaysian society at large and to obtain public backing via petitions, postcards and other forms of publicity.

At the end of 1994, a second campaign was launched to ask [the ruling party] Barisan Nasional as well as opposition party candidates in the 1995 general election to include the demands of the estate communities in their election pledges.

These campaigns brought estate problems to national attention. But, apart from causing a shift of official responsibility for estates of less than 1000 acres from the labour ministry to the rural development ministry, the campaign brought no tangible benefits to the estate communities. In 1996, another campaign was initiated to demand monthly and minimum wages for estate workers across the country.

Accusations of "outside agitation" always missed the point. It was never a question of anyone brainwashing entire communities. The estate communities did not lack self-reliance or independent thinking. They organised themselves and mobilised to overcome shared obstacles. They networked with groups having similar concerns. The wage campaign networks stretched from Kedah to Negeri Sembilan and, at a critical point, sent 1000 workers to gather before parliament.

Other voluntary organisations had previously helped estate communities to articulate their grievances and problems. But powerful commercial and political interests were alarmed when the communities moved beyond a narrow focus, say, on education. And then the vulnerability of marginalised communities became evident: again and again, their activities were paralysed by overt and covert police action.

The "coalition of the marginalised", as Kumar called it, expanded: estate workers, urban pioneers, Orang Asli, displaced vegetable farmers, retrenched factory workers, van drivers facing harassment from the authorities, stall owners threatened with eviction, and others.

The point was that "our team had a lot of credibility" for being "sturdy and reliable" and "people trusted us; they knew we would not leave them when the going got tough". Soon "people stood by us" because "we had stood by them", and a very helpful network of the various groups was established.

A comradeship of humanity

One might call this approach a non-standard way of entering politics. Kumar did not become a politician by joining a party, accepting its program and obeying its leaders’ instructions.

From Kapit to Sungai Siput, Kumar was compelled to address real situations and genuine difficulties experienced by different communities of people. For a long time – and even now – his politics consisted of learning from these people, offering them a voice, solidarity and setting an example.

In the context of the 1990s, that seemed to be the most sensible way of struggling for social justice. But notwithstanding the apparent triumph of global capitalism, Kumar and his friends decided that questions of ideology could not be simply set aside. They, and Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim and friends, believed that socialism should remain the alternative to capitalism.

At the same time, the "grassroots" pushed for a party, "our party" – "instead of always supporting the opposition parties". That was how Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM, Socialist Party of Malaysia) came to be formed. For 10 years, the government refused to register it as a lawful political party. Characteristically, the PSM took the government to court.

Kumar is realistic: the PSM has "no ghost of a chance of forming a government". But the unlikelihood of a grand triumph should never stop anyone from posing alternatives to injustice.

In this case, Kumar and his friends pose socialism as a moral alternative to BN’s unfettered capitalism that has undermined what had been "an equitable health-care system", and other improvements to social services and social security that had provided significant benefits for common working people.

To me, that is a responsible assessment of current political realities in Malaysia. More than that, such an assessment affirms the core of Kumar’s politics. I am not suggesting that Kumar embarked on his activism with no more than goodwill. When he started, he already possessed more than an intelligent grasp of political economy and socialist theory.

However, his socialism was never based on doctrines, abstractions and propaganda. Today, Kumar "speaks truth to power" with the kind of courage and sincerity that Malaysian politics has rarely seen with the passing of Dr Tan Chee Khoon, himself a labourite and Christian.

At heart, Kumar’s socialism derives inspiration and sustenance from the moral principles, values and examples of "liberal Christianity" that were, to put it simply, "found at home".

These were the moral principles and ethical values of the Devaraj family – Dr T. Devaraj and his wife, Elizabeth, and their children, Kumar, Sheila, Rajen and Prema, and their spouses.

Those who know the Devaraj family are aware of how its principles and values have been expressed in a long list of social commitments: the National Cancer Society, Hospice, Children’s Protection Society, Aliran, Women’s Crisis Centre.

With his family, Kumar shares a humble yet compelling combination of moral conviction, professional dedication and social duty. The combination expresses itself now in social work, now in activism, and, when the times call for it, in politics, too.

In it, you and I will not find sectarian tendencies, or dogmatic dependence on ideological lines, or textbook fetishes. Nor will we find arrogant and easy assumptions about what to do with the lives of people with whom one finds a comradeship of humanity.

Instead, we will discover a deep and intuitive awareness that marginalised communities live in our midst, dispossessed by progress, expropriated by capital and neglected by the state.

Is that enough of a summons to a struggle for justice? For Kumar, it is. And if he calls such a struggle for justice "socialism", who are we to differ?

[Khoo Boo Teik is the author of Paradoxes of Mahathirism: An Intellectual Biography of Mahathir Mohamad and Beyond Mahathir:Malaysian Politics and its Discontents. The above is an abstract from an introduction by Khoo in Jeyakumar Devaraj's Speaking Truth to Power:A Socialist Critique of Development in Malaysia.]

Health and human rights in the Philippines ( Pod Cast )

2011-06-30T08:52:00.000-07:00

Artist: People's Health Radio
Title: Health and Justice in the Philippines
Album: People's Health Radio
Genre: Health News
Length: 59:07 minutes (54.12 MB)
Format: Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

Show Notes:

What's the state of health and human rights in the Philippines today?

We revisit the story of the Morong 43, a group of 43 community health workers detained by the Philippine government from February to December of 2010. What have been the impacts of the detainment and ongoing military harassment on the health workers, their families and communities?

Includes:

Interview with Aiyanas Ormond -- People's Health Radio co-host and local organizer who is currently in the Philippines with his partner and children on a solidarity mission. More information about their trip can be found at thistinyglobe.wordpress.com

Interview with Merry Mia-Clamor, one of the 43 health workers detained by the Philppine government.

And audio from a talk in Vancouver by Dr. Julie Caguiat, spokesperson of the Free the 43 Health Workers! Alliance.

Music by Victor Noriega, Aki Merced/Renato Reyes/Karl Ramirez, Amadou, James Caraang (Feat. Margie Banda and Sol Diana), Black Uhuru.
Check the Source

PRESIDENT NOYNOY : RELEASE NOW THE COUNTRY’S POLITICAL PRISONERS!

2011-06-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

We, the undersigned political prisoners detained in Central Visayas, will be holding another one-week fasting on June 20-26, 2011 to press the Noynoy Aquino Government to finally act on our demands, to wit :

Immediately effect the freedom of Alan Jasmines, Tirso Alcantara and thirteen other National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Consultants and JASIG-protected persons, as well as four more detainees ‘involved in the peace process’, who were mentioned and referred to in the February 21, 2011 Joint Statement of the Negotiating Panels of both the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP); and
Jumpstart the process of releasing the 320 other political prisoners in the country through the grant of a general, unconditional and omnibus amnesty, as their freedom forms part of the confidence-building measures that enhance the GPH-NDFP peace negotiations, and which release has become an obligation of the Noynoy Aquino Government when it signed the February 21, 2011 Oslo Joint Statement.

We are launching this one-week fasting at a time when the second round of the GPH-NDFP Peace Talks is supposed to be held, in the hope that President Noynoy Aquino sincerely wants to advance the cause of a just peace through the negotiating table.

SGD:

ALBERTO ACERDIN
(Danao City Jail, Danao City, Cebu)

RAMON M. PATRIARCA
(Danao City Jail, Danao City, Cebu)

FLORENCIO QUINIO
(Bohol District Jail, Tagbilaran City, Bohol,)

DANILO BADAYOS
(Dumaguete City Jail, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental)

RICKY DE LA CRUZ
(Dumaguete City Jail, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental)

Three years of Cheaper Medicine Law has not made drugs affordable

2011-06-05T21:14:00.000-07:00

Three years after the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 (Republic Act 9502) was signed, essential drugs are still neither assessable nor affordable to ordinary Filipinos.

Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) today criticized the Aquino administration for perpetuating “an anemic implementation of an already watered-down law”. Citing a 2009 study by Health Action Information Network on medicine prices and availability in the Philippines, “standard treatments with these (brand-name drugs) require several days’ up to a weeks’ worth of wages”, said Dr. Geneve E. Rivera, secretary-general of Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD).

According to the same study, “generic medicines in private facilities may be unaffordable too, requiring several days’ wages to purchase.” “Treatment courses using generic medicines in public facilities are generally affordable based on the salary of the lowest paid government worker. However, many Filipinos earn less than this wage and that managing an illness entails other costs that may eventually render even the lowest-cost treatments unaffordable.”

HEAD believes that the Aquino government has not done enough to regulate the practices of multinational drug companies. These companies have had their way in dictating drug prices, which are often three-to-four times more than prices in other countries.

“How can the Cheaper Medicine Law have any real impact when the monopoly of big transnational pharmaceutical in the drug industry continues?” said Dr. Rivera. The health group also believes that essential steps in establishing a national, a truly Filipino drug industry must be undertaken.

“While the immediate goal is to put an end to the monopoly pricing that has kept our people captive for decades, the more long-term goal is to institutionalize fundamental changes in the entire drug industry because this is the only way to ensure affordable and accessible medicine.” added Dr. Rivera. ###

R.A. 100069 declares May 7 as Health Worker's Day

2011-05-08T03:36:00.000-07:00

Pictures of the Health Worker's Day Protest

Imagine...a health worker

2011-04-21T05:32:00.000-07:00

CBHP national secretariat expresses support for CHESTCORE, scores gov’t for tolerating impunity in the country

2011-04-19T05:57:00.000-07:00

Council for Health and Development (CHD) today expresses firm solidarity with CHESTCORE (Community Health, Education, Services and Trainings in the Cordillera Region), a fellow community-based health program based in Baguio City on the spate of continuous threats and harassments on its staff.

Dr. Eleanor A. Jara, CHD executive director said that their group is outraged by the lack of decisive action of the Aquino government regarding the safety and well-being of Community Health Workers (CHW). “For decades, CHWs risked life and limb to serve communities deprived of public health service,” she said.

Jara added that CHWs give health skills and services such as trainings, first aid, and traditional medicine without expecting anything in return. “Our community-based health programs continue to enjoy massive support from the vulnerable communities that we serve – that is how we thrived and endured countless challenges in our programs’ 38 years of existence,” Jara explained.

The doctor is concerned about how the government tolerates the culture of impunity in the country.

By not doing anything to protect those who protect the marginalized from diseases, the government in effect “encourages perpetrators of human rights violations to continue to prey on CHWs and other health workers” such as in the cases of CHESTCORE staff Milagros Ao-wat, Germelina Cynthia Dacanay and Rosalinda Suyam.

Cases of human rights violations reached its peak during former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term. Various people’s health organizations in the country held Arroyo accountable for the illegal detention and torture of several CHWs and health professionals like the ‘Morong 43’.

CHD is challenging the current administration to order the investigation of human rights violations and reported harassments to CHWs in the Cordillera and other regions.

“Mr. Aquino’s sincerity to protect human rights and ensure people’s access to health remains to be seen. We hope to see the day when no CHW or health professional will never have to think twice in serving far-flung communities just because they fear for their lives and safety,” Jara concluded.

Reference:
Dr. Eleanor A. Jara
0917-9789297 / (+632) 929-8109

Letter to the Regional State Prosecutor, DOJ Cebu City

2011-04-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

April 12, 2011

THE REGIONAL STATE PROSECUTOR
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ)
CEBU CITY

It has been more than five months since the Aquino Government publicly announced the possibility of releasing all political prisoners by having their cases reviewed by the Department of Justice, allow us to quote relevant news accounts on the matter to wit:

“Malacanang yesterday said it is open to the idea of a General Amnesty to all political prisoners as proposed by former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., but made it clear that this would have to be subjected to a thorough review first”, (Palace may free more detainees, Coloma says thorough review needed; Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI); 2010 December 13; p.1)

“We have thought of that (review of cases of political prisoners) but we haven’t had the time to really put the mechanisms in place. But we have thought of that already”, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said in an interview last week (NPA Leader Not a Peace Talks Adviser, Insists Gov’t; Philippine Daily Inquirer; 2011 January 24; p.7)

We, therefore would like to formally ask your office for developments regarding this preview, especially since the human rights groups Karapatan had already provided the DOJ National Office an updated list of political prisoners in early March this year.

As about 80% of the 350 political prisoners in the country today were arrested, tortured and detained during Arroyo’s nine-year reign, we hope as an imperative of justice and accountability that the P-Noy Administration through the DOJ will be able to rectify the wrong done to us by the past regime’s brutal Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL) counter-insurgency campaign, as a consequence of our active role in opposing the GMA Presidency’s corrupt, murderous and immoral rule.

We believe that political prisoners deserve at least the same swift release as that so willingly given to the so-called military rebels implicated in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, 2006 Fort Bonifacio stand-off and the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege.

To dramatize our call for the review of cases of all political prisoners, we are going to hold a one week- fasting from April 17 (Palm Sunday) to 23 (Black Saturday), subsisting only on water and five biscuits daily on said rates.

Very respectfully yours,

Signed:

ALBERTO M. ACERDIN	RAMON M. PATRIARCA
DANAO CITY JAIL	DANAO CITY JAIL

Morong 43 plaintiffs unfazed by Arroyo and military reaction to civil case

2011-04-10T22:59:00.001-07:00

“Whatever it takes, we are determined to make those torturers pay for their crimes.”

With sheer determination in their faces, six of the Morong 43 who filed a civil suit against Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, et. al said that the cases they filed last April 4 is their contribution to end the culture of impunity in the country.

“My colleagues and I are utterly unfazed by what Col. Baladad and Col. Parlade are rattling in the media. They should do better than to recycle old arguments that we are members of the NPA. Our message is clear and strong, human rights violators must be made accountable for their crimes,” Gary Liberal, R.N., one of the plaintiffs said.

Liberal added that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the top military officials named in their complaint are delusional for thinking they can get away with their crimes. “We enjoin all victims of human rights violations under the Arroyo administration to file a case and pursue justice.”

He ended that Macapagal-Arroyo and her cohorts should brace themselves for more lawsuits from their victims. “This is our contribution to end impunity in this country,” Liberal said.##

Reference:
Carlos Montemayor, RN
0922 499 6237 / (+632) 929 8109

Health workers push for wage increase amidst recent price hikes

2011-04-09T06:46:00.000-07:00

Health workers from different hospitals in Metro Manila staged a lunch-picket in front of the Philippine Heart Center urging the government to implement a necessary increase in wages, this amidst the recent wave of price hikes. (Cris Balleta/Felix Latuna/Jaime de Guzman)
Repost from www.kodao.org

CHESTCORE supports Morong 43’s Filing of Civil Case against GMA for Illegal Arrest

2011-04-07T03:49:00.000-07:00

Reacting to the filing of civil cases against then Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) by former detainees and members of the Morong 43, CHESTCORE expressed full support to their fellow health workers for pursuing their fight for justice to its end by making the Commander-in-Chief at that time of their illegal arrest and detention, accountable, even if they are now released.

CHESTCORE Executive Director Mia Liquigan-Rasalan said that with the many human rights violations committed under the GMA administration, she (GMA) must not get away with it even as she now hides under the cloak of Congress as Pampanga’s 2nd District congresswoman. Liquigan-Rasalan made this statement, as she recalls that the cases CHESTCORE filed with the Commission on Human Rights and the Joint Peace Panel of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in the ongoing Peace Talks, were committed since 2007, clearly a period under GMA.

CHESTCORE, a private organization promoting community-based approaches and strategies in health care in Northern Luzon since 1981, came out last March 17 in a press conference, exposing surveillance, intimidation and harassment reaching death threats by state forces on their office, their fieldwork and individual staff in recent months.

Among the staff, there is fear that their plight can similarly end up like those of their fellow health workers in Morong 43. Worse, some of them who have received death threats may also end up like Leonard Co, a fellow CHESTCORE staff back in the 80’s who was shot in Leyte in what government troops claim to be a crossfire . “But we can draw strength when fellow victims pursue their fight”, said Rayne Suyam, one CHESTCORE staff who has been in communities where the harassment happened, in talking about the Morong 43 filed case.

As they pursue their campaign calling for a stop to the harassment of community health workers, CHESTCORE said this is their contribution in the assertion of people’s right to health as well as in bringing GMA to justice for the many grave human rights violations marked by a record-high number of extra-judicial killings committed under her term.

They also challenged Pres. Aquino, to ensure that the wheels of justice will be quick and fair for Morong 43 and that he withdraw Oplan Bayanihan, a more deceptive anti-government program that replaced the dreaded Oplan Bantay Laya of the Pres. Arroyo.

CHESTCORE, together with the UP Student Council and the UP Kasarian Gender Studies Center, will be holding a forum entitled “Stop the Harassment of Cordillera Health Workers!” as part of the continuing campaign. This forum, which will feature testimonies of community health workers from CHESTCORE, from the communities and from Morong 43, will be on April 14, 2011, 8:30 – 12:00 noon at the College of Social Science Audio Visual Room (CSS AVR) of the University of the Philippines Baguio.

Morong 43 file formal charges against GMA and military officials behind their arrest

2011-04-04T03:14:00.000-07:00

Taking their struggle to the next level, former detainees and members of the so called Morong 43 trooped to the Quezon City Hall of Justice today to formally file a civil case against top ranking government and military officials believed to be behind the gross injustices they were made to suffer in the 10 months that they were unlawfully detained.

The plaintiffs are suing for damages totaling P15 million for physical and psychological torture and other forms of indignities they suffered during their illegal arrest and detention. Defendants named in the suit are former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, former Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, Gen. Delfin N. Bangit, former commander of the 2nd Infantry Division (ID) Gen. Jorge Segovia, commander of the intelligence unit of the 2nd IDPA Lt. Col. Cristobal Zaragosa, 2nd IDPA Warden Major Manuel Tabion, commander of the 202nd Infantry Batallion (IB) Col. Aurelio Baladad, 16th IBPA commander Lt. Col. Jaime Abawag, and Rizal Provincial Police Office commander P/Supt. Marion Balolong.

The case was filed by six of the Morong 43 health workers namely, Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor, Dr. Alexis Montes, registered nurse Gary Liberal, registered midwife Ma. Teresa Quinawayan, Reynaldo Macabenta, and Mercy Castro.

With the filing of the suit, the health workers said that they are taking on a new chapter in their quest for justice. “We want to send a strong message that one cannot just get away with human rights violations. This is our contribution to efforts in making sure that human rights violators are made accountable for their actions,” Liberal, one of the plaintiffs, said. Liberal furthered that they are aware of the red-scare tactics the military is once again attempting to employ citing the AFP’s press releases that their troops identified four former Morong 43 detainees in 2 separate clashes between the New People’s Army and AFP soldiers in Luzon. “If there is one thing that the military is very good at, it is recycling terrible arguments such as the Morong 43 being members of the NPA. Their own lies further expose their institution as prime human rights violators. Nobody believes them anymore,” Liberal stressed.

He added that the Filipino people and thousands of citizens from more than 32 countries, many of them prominent in their fields of expertise, serve as their inspiration in the filing of civil case.

Free the 43 Health Workers! Alliance’s Carlos Montemayor added that their group fully support the Morong 43’s quest for justice. He said that their group will never tire of “beating the gongs of human rights issues” even if most of the Morong 43 are now free. Two of them, Rogelio Villarasis and Mario Delos Santos, are still detained at Camp Bagong Diwa because of trumped up charges against them. Their legal counsels are still working for their release.

As the new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, the alliance challenged the Aquino government to ensure that the military and police will fully cooperate in the court hearings. They also enjoined the public to keep their vigilance to avoid any whitewash.##

Reference:
Carlos Montemayor, R.N.
(+63922) 499-6237 / (+632) 929-8109

Health workers denounce harrassments

2011-03-24T21:27:00.000-07:00

By ADELA DEYAEN WAYAS
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Even community development workers are victims of human rights violations.

The Community Health Education, Services and Training in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE), in a press conference last March 17, denounced the military harassment of their community volunteers and workers in the region.

www.nordis.net

Executive director of CHESTCORE Romella Rasalan said the latest was the death threat received by Milagros Ao-wat, Health Programs Desk Coordinator and Administraive Officer of CHESTCORE. Since last year, Ao-wat received different text messages from different phone numbers telling her to watch-out for her life. Her family has also observed a taxi parked and the driver surveilling their house. Ao-wat said that the taxi driver was wearing dark glasses even at 6:30 in the evening and another male who was sitting next to the driver alighted and stared at her daughter who was walking home.

She was followed by the suspicious male observer from the road until the front of our gate and stood for 10 minutes before leaving, Ao-wat added.

“My family has noted the presence of this same taxi parked around the vicinity of our house at other times on December 24, January 4 and 26 and maybe other times which we did not note,” exclaimed Ao-wat.

She added that on December 1st when she was in a jeepney terminal in La Trinidad, two men were staring at her. “As a precaution, I changed my direction and walked away from the terminal.” Fortunately, Ao-wat said she saw a relative whom she asked to ride the jeepney with as they have the same destination. She added the two men continued to watch her closely the whole time.

Ao-wat said she was frightened after receiving those threats on her mobile phone and she has refrained from travelling alone.

Rasalan pointed out that several staff members of CHESTCORE were also followed by observers in the city.

On medical missions Rasalan said state security forces – Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Civilian Armed Forces Geographical units (CAFGU) and other paramilitary forces questioned their medical teams why they were working in far-flung barrios.

“They were accused of having ties or are members of the New Peoples Army (NPA), and that, we are teaching the community health workers how to care for the gunshot wounds of the NPA,” explained Rasalan.

“These soldiers have insisted to be present in our barrio trainings,” said the director. They arrogantly sat in some of their lectures and make snide remarks on the discussions while the lecture is going on.

When the military are around, Rasalan said “some of their community health workers and volunteers are afraid to attend. Those who attend the trainings are intimidated and can not participate freely during discussions which is important in the learning process.”

“We are just simple citizens helping the far-flung communities to build community-based health programs but why are we subjected to various forms of harassment,” Rasalan asked.

The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) through a statement denounced these actions by the state security forces against the community health workers of CHESTCORE.

Jude Baggo, secretary general of CHRA, said human rights violations under the rule of President Benigno Aquino III continue to sow fear among the people. He added that it further constricts the democratic space to a span where fundamental human rights cannot be realized.

The threatening, harassment and intimidation by the military, has been an experience under the Arroyo administration that continues today under the Aquino regime. He condemned the military for doing such actions especially against the healthworkers who provide much-needed service to the people especially in places where the services of the government cannot reached.

“The policy and treatment of the State against legal and progressive people’s organizations and institutions has not changed in essence even with the change of Operation Plans,” Baggo said. According to him, those critical of the government policies, governance and human rights records continue to be regarded as fronts of revolutionary formations and considered enemies of the State.

Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) President Ferdinand Gaite said the condition of the basic social services is very poor. In this case, community development workers fill this neglect from the government and yet they are subjected to harassment and threats.

Gaite explained that most of the volunteers and workers like CHESTCORE and the so-called Morong 43 who are helping in the health development of the communities are tagged and labeled as members of the New Peoples Army without any basis. He believes that this is a way of restricting genuine servants of the people provide basic services where the government is absent.

He also believes that this is part of the counter-insurgency program of the government. Gaite then asks the people to strenghten their unity and to continue the fight against militarization of the State. # www.nordis.net

Wipe out diseases, not medics

2011-03-24T21:23:00.000-07:00

By ADELA DEYAEN WAYAS
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — “A recurring disease is a cause for alarm. It needs urgent treatment,” a medical worker said.

It is a long established fact that the Philippine government has not given health care priority attention for decades now. The allotment for health services from the national budget says everything.

What is more alarming is that, community health workers are being subjected to threats, harassments, illegal arrest and detention and worse extrajudicial killings by those who are supposed to protect them, the elements of the state security forces.

Based on the budget allocation for health in 2010, the government spent P252.49 for every Filipino for the whole year or a staggering P0.70 for every Filipino a day. This year, the Aquino administration even cut down on the health budget from the P 398.9 billion in 2010 to P 361.1 billion.

In the Cordillera, most interior communities in the region have long been marginalized and neglected by the government. Like other basic social services the government failed to deliver basic health care services to these communities.

This situation gave birth to Cordillera Health Services Eduction and Training in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE), a non government organization promoting community based approaches and strategies to address health care problems in the region and in adjacent communities in Northern Luzon.

CHESTCORE Executive Director Romella Rasalan disclosed that they are subjected to various forms of harassment while on field work by state security forces that include soldiers belonging to Philippine Army (PA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) and other paramilitary groups deployed in the Cordillera interiors.

Rasalan explained that CHESTCORE was established primarily to address govern-ment’s failure to provide basic health care services in the far flung barrios of the region through their community based health program.

She added that this program aims to develop community health workers to respond to their basic health care needs.

“It is therefore logical that we go to the far flung barrios because these are the most neglected areas. These areas need medical services the most,” Rasalan stressed.

She explained that CHESTCORE trains community folks on basic community health care services to cover for the absence of government health workers. She said they also teach the use of medicinal plants to cover for the lack of basic medicines.

The group also conducts medical missions usually in disaster stricken, epidemic affected and militarized areas. Services include physical and dental check ups, and stress debriefing as well as provision of necessary medicines.

Rasalan further said the CHESTCORE staff are health professionals that include doctors, nurses, psychologists and others.

She pointed out that instead of seeking employment in urban areas and abroad these professionals chose to serve and work with the indigenous peoples, farmers, laborers, small scale miners and urban poor here in the region.

“It is unjust that we who volunteer to assist these communities are falsely accused, harassed and endangered. It is unjust that communities who organize and mobilize themselves for self-help are also harassed and endangered. It is even more unjust that, as a result of all these, the people’s health situation deteriorates further,” Rasalan stressed.

Despite the long list of human rights violations of state security forces the government alloted a bigger chunk of the national budget to military spending. The military budget has increased by 80%, from P96.2 billion in 2010 to P 104.7 billion in 2011.

In a glaring contrast, the budget of public hospitals decreased while the budget of military hospitals increased this 2011.

The budget of military hospitals like the AFP Medical Center and Veterans Memorial Medical Center were increased by P923 million and P130.7 million respectively.

The budget of 12 major public hospitals, such as Jose Reyes Memorial, Rizal Medical, East Avenue Medical, Quirino Memorial, Tondo Medical, Jose Fabella Memorial, among others, was reduced by P4 million and subsidies for indigent under the National Health Insurance Program would be effectively reduced by P1.67 billion this year.

As the military budget increase so does the number of victims of threat, harassment, intimidation, illegal arrest and detention, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other forms of human rights violations. In most of these cases perpetrators are identified or suspected elements of the military.

Despite the AFP’s pronouncements that the new internal peace and security plan Oplan Bayanihan which started last December, respects human rights in its “people-centered approach”, the rampage continue.

According to Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) Secretary General Jude Baggo, from January to February alone, 10 EJKs were recorded in the national level.

He added that there are already 43 documented cases of EJKs since PNoy assumed the presidency. This figure includes the latest victim Bonifacio Labasan, 61 of San Mateo, Isabela coordinator of Danggayan dagiti Mannalon iti Cagayan Valley.

“A healthy people is the wealth of a nation. We, community health workers provide alternative to the chronic insufficient health care services in far flung barrios. We do not deserve persecution. The perpetrators of human rights violations are those who deserve punishment,” Rasalan stressed.#www.nordis.net

Stop the harassment of all Cordillera Health Workers!

2011-03-24T21:22:00.001-07:00

CHESTCORE vehemently denounces the escalating harassment of its staff and volunteers in recent months. We have observed several vehicles and individuals conducting surveillance on our office. Several of our staff have also been followed while going around Baguio City. Last December 2010 and this January 2011, our staff Milagros Ao-wat received several death threats through her cell phone.

CHESTCORE responds to the historically-neglected health situation in the Cordilleras

CHESTCORE (or the Community Health Education, Services and Training in the Cordillera Region) is an NGO that has been working to build community-based health programs since 1981. The present CHESTCORE staff are health professionals coming from various fields – doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, etc. Many of us are members of the various Igorot tribes of the Cordillera Region. Despite the many job opportunities available to us abroad and in the big urban (city) centers, we have chosen to serve the marginalized sectors of Cordillera society. Just as botanist Leonard Co did when he was field staff member of CHESTCORE, we work among the indigenous farmers, laborers, small-scale miners and urban poor.

We endure long bus and jeepney rides and even longer hikes along treacherous mountain trails to reach the far-flung barrios we serve. Instead of working in big hospitals as we have been trained to do in school, we treat patients armed only with our stethoscope, BP set, meager medical supplies and our acupuncture needles and medicinal plants. Instead of conducting lectures in formal classrooms in big universities, we train peasant men and women (most of who have not finished elementary) in small barangay halls, churches and nipa huts so that they too can render service as community health workers. We have long foregone the big salary, modern luxuries and fashionable white coat that the health professions are known for. We are content to receive a living allowance equivalent to the salary of a government midwife or even less.

Our greatest reward has always been seeing the transformation of barely-literate farmers used to silently enduring poverty and exploitation into empowered leaders and members of their peoples’ organizations and Health Committees. We bear witness that it IS possible to place “health in the hands of the people” through community-based health programs.

Latest forms of harassment and Oplan Bayanihan

These latest forms of harassment we have suffered are but the tip of the iceberg. While on fieldwork, CHESTCORE staff have been subjected to various forms of harassment by state security forces (Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit and other paramilitary forces) – questioning our motives for working in far-flung barrios, implying that we have ties or are members of the New People’s Army (NPA), implying that we are teaching the health workers how to care for the gunshot wounds of the NPA.

Worse, as part of their military combat operations, they have insisted on being present during some of our barrio trainings, sitting in on some of the lectures and even commenting on the discussion while the lectures are going on. When the military are around, some of the community health workers are afraid of attending our trainings, and those who do attend are intimidated and cannot participate freely during the discussions. This is a clear violation of the community’s right to safety and security. It is a clear violation of the community’s right to go about their activities without fear or disruption. It is also a violation of our staff’s right to safety and security while doing their jobs.

With the implementation of the AFP’s Oplan Bantay Laya, many community workers like us became victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs). In most cases, the victims of EJKs were first labeled as Communists and/or NPA sympathizers and then subjected to intensifying surveillance and finally, direct threats. Even as the AFP recently announced in its new Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan that they will adhere to Human Rights/ International Humanitarian Law and the Rule of Law, we fear that there are no guarantees that this pattern of red labeling, surveillance, harassment and EJKs will stop.

We assert the people’s right to health

Igorot communities have suffered centuries of marginalization and discrimination. Even today they continue to suffer the highest poverty and malnutrition rates in the entire country. The Philippine government’s meager budget for health fails to deliver even such basic health services as immunization and antituberculosis medications to their far-flung barrios. Now the people’s health and livelihood are endangered further by the encroachment of large-scale mining operations and commercialized agricultural production.

It is unjust that we who volunteer to assist these communities are falsely accused, harassed and endangered. It is unjust that communities who organize and mobilize themselves for self-help are also harassed and endangered. It is even more unjust that, as a result of all these, the people’s health situation deteriorates further.

It is therefore our duty to expose and denounce the human rights violations we health workers and the Cordillera peoples have been subjected to. We do so in behalf of the communities we serve. We do so to assert the people’s right to health.

We stand with our fellow health workers as we appeal for your support

We stand with the many doctor-consultants and specialists who generously treat patients referred to them by the community health workers. We speak out, as well, in behalf of our network of student volunteers who accompany us on fieldwork during their semestral or summer breaks. More importantly, we speak out in behalf of the hundreds of community health workers CHESTCORE has trained and who courageously continue to render health services in their respective barrios.

We also stand with our fellow volunteer health workers all over the Philippines who do the same work and suffer the same harassment. We speak out in solidarity with the Morong 43 and Dr. Chandu Claver. We condemn the killing of Leonard Co and of Dr. Bobby de la Paz.

We are coming out in public to ask you – our families, friends, allies, support network and the general public -- to stand with us as well, to speak out vehemently against the harassment of Cordillera health workers.

ASSERT THE PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO HEALTH! ASSERT OUR HUMAN RIGHTS!
STOP THE HARASSMENT OF ALL CORDILLERA HEALTH WORKERS!
STOP THE HARASSMENT OF ALL CORDILLERA DEVELOPMENT WORKERS!
STOP THE MILITARIZATION OF CORDILLERA COMMUNITIES!
EXPOSE AND OPPOSE OPLAN BAYANIHAN!

A Year After Ordeal, Life Goes on for Freed ‘Morong 43' But Scars Remain

2011-03-15T17:35:00.000-07:00

A year ago today, the military and police illegally arrested and detained the “Morong 43? health workers. While most of them have been freed and are now trying to pick up the pieces of their lives, many still have nightmares and still feel vulnerable and exposed to danger.

By MARYA SALAMAT
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Physically they are already free, they appear fine and they are picking up the patterns of their old life, but many of the Morong 43 health workers today seem to be still struggling with the memory of their abduction exactly a year ago today, Feb. 6, and their subsequent torture and detention.

“I still can’t sleep well,” said Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor, one of the Morong 43 who was released last December. Even when she manages to sleep, it is fitful at best. She told Bulatlat.com that what she is going through is common among the Morong 43 health workers. She still has nightmares when she is alone in the dark. She dreams of soldiers seizing one of them and spiriting a detainee out of jail in the dead of the night.

While most of them have gone back to work by now and are coping well with it, Dr. Clamor says, she still feels vulnerable whenever she is out in the street. The other freed health workers interviewed by Bulatlat.com also said they feel the same, although they are also quick to reassure everybody who asks that they are fine.

Lydia Obera, the eldest female Morong 43 detainee, told Bulatlat.com that, “Personally, I feel I’m okay. Everything is as it should be, as natural as can be.” She asked other health workers to tell her if they noticed something different with her. “They said I was just like before.”

At 62, Obera is slim, sprightly and cheerful. A gentle, fun-loving Waray, Mama Del, as she is affectionately called in the health sector and by the inmates at Camp Bagong Diwa detention facility, had for some reason been accused of illegal possession of firearms and of having violated the Comelec election gun ban a year ago. Mama Del is one of the health staff of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW).

“My memory seemed to have sharpened,” Mama Del said. In fact, she said, she could now recall cellphone numbers, which she had difficulty doing before her arrest. Like the other members of the freed Morong 43, she said, she gets her strength from the warm welcome and support of friends, family, colleagues and all those organizations whose members visited them while they were in jail.

“When I visited the public hospitals where the members of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) are working, their welcome was truly heartwarming,” she said.

Mama Del no longer has nightmares; she said she only had them when she was in solitary confinement, which lasted 14 days, at Camp Capinpin. Others in her neighboring jail cell would try to wake her up when she was having those nightmares. “I was shouting in my sleep: ‘Why did you arrest us, we did nothing wrong!’”

Today, Mama Del’s eyes sparkle as usual when she animatedly tells stories about the good things that they managed to do even when they were in jail. But she apologetically admits that she still can’t shake off the feeling of vulnerability as she goes about her day-to-day activities. She said she feels that something bad might still be inflicted on her or to her loved ones, or that she might be slapped with yet another trumped-up charge by the military.

“I never cried while I was in jail, not even at Camp Capinpin,” she said. She only shed tears of happiness when they won their freedom last December. But the memory of Camp Capinpin, where “mornings are so quiet you could hear only the chirping of birds,” can spoil her mood.

“I don’t want to go back to what happened in our health training in Morong and at Camp Capinpin. It makes me furious,” Mama Del said. It seems to remind her as well why she continues to feel vulnerable.

The same feeling of vulnerability or of being exposed to danger from the military marks the trips to and from work by Gary Liberal. An operating-room nurse at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRMMC), Gary, 44, has been at JRMMC for 20 years at the time he went to Morong, Rizal, on this day last year to serve as resource person in the training.

He, too, had been warmly welcomed back in the hospital by his co-employees. “So far, there’s been nothing untoward about my going back,” Liberal said. He resumed working as head operating-room nurse at JRMMC last January 17. He also reassumed his position as president of the employees’ union in the hospital.

“The adjustment back to work had been easy – things are the same, there are the usual numerous patients to attend to, the usual SOPs (standard operating procedures). There were only slight changes in SOPs since I’d been gone, but essentially the mechanics are the same. There are now a few new colleagues here, too,” Liberal told Bulatlat.com.

Even if working in a public hospital is neither subversive nor illegal, Liberal said, he had received advice from well-meaning doctors to just go out of the country for his security. Freed along with the other Morong 43 last December, with all charges against them dropped, the concerned doctors nevertheless told him that “when the military has arrested you, it is like your head has been marked”.

Indeed, he could clearly remember how the military interrogators at Camp Capinpin had told him that “we know where you are working; where you live. When you get out, we can easily follow you. We can kill you even when you have been released.”

Today, Gary Liberal, Lydia Obera and Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor intend to resume everything they used to do as health workers before their arrest happened. Liberal said he is still willing to become a resource person in health trainings, though, jokingly, he said he prefers that it be conducted within Metro Manila. (Because their health training last year was held in Rizal, Liberal traveled to the place the night before his scheduled topic to avoid being late. The next morning the training was raided.)

They are trying to cope with insecurity when out alone by being attentive to their surroundings. Some, said Dr. Clamor, are consulting psychiatrists to help them cope with the trauma.

All of them are fervently grateful for the outpouring of support from local and international organizations. These have strengthened them in their struggle for freedom. They are also grateful for the warm welcome that greeted them.

They lost 10 months of what would have been their normal life with their family, work and organizations. During those 10 months, Liberal, for instance, did not earn anything from JRMMC, even if it was not his fault that he was prevented from reporting to work.

While the probability of receiving compensation for the lost 10 months of their lives is still far-fetched – the military has so far refused to even apologize – the released health workers have to deal every single day with the dark memories of their illegal arrest, detention and torture.

Read Source

One Week Fasting to Press for the Release of All Political Prisoners in the Country

2011-02-16T02:25:00.000-08:00

This coming February 15-21, 2011, we the undersigned political prisoners will hold another fasting to pursue our just call for the release of all political prisoners.
By subsisting on water and 5 biscuits a day for one week, we wish to call on President Noynoy Aquino to:

Order Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to immediately draft the necessary mechanisms to review all cases being faced by the 350 political prisoners still languishing in the various detention facilities all over the country. Three weeks ago, DOJ Secretary De Lima was quoted in answer to calls for the review of the cases filed againsts political prisoners as having said, “ We have thought of that but we haven’t had the time to really put mechanisms in place!” (NPA Leader not a peace talk adviser, insist Gov’t, PDI Jan 24, 2011).
Instruct the negotiating panel of the Government of the Philippines (GPH), now in Oslo Norway resuming its formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) to uphold the validity of past GPH-NDF signed agreements including those made in 2001, 2004, and 2009 urging the immediate release of scores of political prisoners based on legal grounds and humanitarian considerations.

More than one month has passed since the last day of the so-called military rebels implicated in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, 2006 Fort Bonifacio stand-off and 2007 Manila Peninsula seige was freed from detention. Yet the plight of political prisoners remain in limbo. Why is this unfairness of double standard and discrimination being done by President Aquino upon political prisoners? Must the President refuse to right the injustice inflicted to political prisoners and their families by the past Arroyo regime? As the principal beneficiary of the broad anti- Arroyo sentiment of the people which political prisoners helped form and for which they got arrested, tortured and detained, is it not incumbent upon the Aquino presidency to effect the immediate freedom of political prisoners?

As we approach the 25th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA 1 People Power uprising, we remember Ninoy as a political prisoner who staged hunger strikes to attain his freedom and resist Marcos’ tyranny, and Cory as having immediately and unconditionally released political prisoners upon assuming the presidency, must we remember Noynoy as the son with an unjustly different legacy?

Signed:

ALBERTO M. ACERDIN
Danao City(JailCebu)

RAMON M. PATRIARCA
Danao City(JailCebu)

FLORENCIO QUINIO
Tagbilaran District Jail (Bohol)

Road to recovery: The Morong 43 outside detention

2011-02-05T07:48:00.000-08:00

by Mila Polinar
This article was first published in print in issue 23 of the Philippine Collegian on 24 January 2011.)

The Morong 43, however, were not criminals but were merely victims of flawed military operations. Upon their capture, the Morong 43 were deprived of sleep for 36 hours. They were interrogated continuously and were coerced to admit that they were members of the armed group waging agrarian struggle in the countryside, the New People’s Army (NPA).

Reynaldo “Rey” Macabenta, another member of the Morong 43 and an administrative staff at CHD, remembers hearing screams, gunshots, and other threats of violence. “Parang katayan ng tao,” he describes.

“Grabe ang psychological torture,” says Tere, adding that she copes from the traumatic experience by continually talking about it and making herself busy. Meanwhile, Rey, dubbed as the Mr. Kutingting of the CHD had alluded himself to fixing broken equipment in their office.

After the incident, Tere and Rey returned to the CHD come January and resumed their jobs. “Nagiikot-ikot na kami at nagstart na rin sa health training. Noong nakaraan, nakapagbigay na ulit ako ng vital signs, kumuha ng blood pressure [at] temperature,” narrates Tere.

“Despite what we have gone through, we are resolute in our commitment to serve the poor and lay the foundations of a people-managed health care system,” says Dr. Merry Clamor of CHD’s Health Education, Training and Services Department.

Moving on

On January 24, four members of the Morong 43, including Tere, Rey and Dr. Merry held a medical mission at Lupang Pangako, Urban, Payatas B. They were joined by another member of Morong 43 Delia Ocasla, a volunteer community health worker from Barangay Fairview, Quezon City.

With their return to the communities, Tere shares that her parents fear that she might once again be harassed by the military. “[Ngunit], kung magpapadala kami sa takot, sino yung kawawa, sino yung lugi? Ang magiging lugi doon, yung mga komunidad na sineserbisyohan namin,” reasons Tere.

In her years as a community health worker, the February 6 incident was not the first time she was harassed by soldiers. For instance, soldiers interrupted a health seminar she and co-workers conducted in Dumallan, Pagadian about two years ago, and even took pictures of her and her fellow workers. We were being watched for any activities which may link us with the NPA, says Tere.

Even then, it was through such experiences in far-flung communities that Tere had seen the true state of the health sector in the Philippines. “May mga health center na may sira-sirang bubong, gawa lang sa dikit-dikit na kawayan at walang mga gamit. Hindi napupuntahan ng mga nurse o midwife,” shares Tere.

Beyond freedom

Even as the members of the Morong 43 have now returned to the communities, their issue, it seems, does not stop with their freedom but with the pursuit of justice. The Morong 43 have already filed a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) regarding the torture and military harassment they experienced. The CHR is yet to release the results of the complaint.

We are also calling for the freedom of the Morong 43 members who are still detained, says Rey. As of now, three members of the Morong 43 are still in Camp Bagong Diwa while five are still held by the military in Camp Capinpin. The five allegedly confessed that they were in fact members of the NPA.

Even as members of the 43 claimed to be health workers, the military has continually referred to them as members of the NPA in their website and in various news reports. Meanwhile, the three who are still held in Camp Bagong Diwa are charged with petty crimes such as violating the anti-bouncing check law, among others.

With their experiences in detention, the Morong 43 have come to know the plight of other political prisoners. As such, when the female members of the Morong 43 marched out of Camp Bagong Diwa, they held their fists in the air and together, shouted “Palayain, bilanggong pulitikal.”

“May usaping politikal din sa pagkakadakip sa amin,” says Tere. Rey shares that beyond their freedom, they are also pushing that other political prisoners be freed as well. Indeed, the illegal arrest of the Morong 43 is an assault to the community health workers who only opted to address government negligence in the health sector.

For 2011, the Department of Health was granted a budget of P31.8 billion. While the health budget indeed rose from last year’s P25.65 billion, the 2011 allocation still falls short of the P38.6 billion budget proposed by DOH for this year.

“Napakahalaga ng serbisyong pangkalusugan. [Kung hindi ito mabibigay], mas mararaming nagkakasakit, hindi sila makakapagtrabaho, apektado ang pamilya. Sobrang hirap ang mararanasan ng mamamayan,” says Delia.

In far-flung communities where health services are continually deprived, where the right to a better quality of life is neglected, the need for community health workers cannot be denied. It is for this cause that the Morong 43 steadfastly return to the communities, in hopes of healing others and themselves.

San Francisco Committee for Human Rights' Message to the Newly Freed Morong 43

2011-02-04T19:01:00.000-08:00

San Francisco Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines extends its warmest congratulations to the Morong 43 health workers on their release from political imprisonment. Their release after 10 months of illegal detention is truly a people’s victory. We will continue to clamor and fight for the release of the remaining 10 of the Morong 43 still in detainment and all political prisoners in the Philippines. Mabuhay ang Morong 43!
View Source

Morong 43 back at giving health services to the people

2011-01-24T06:36:00.000-08:00

Over a month after they were released from the confines of a civilian detention, members of the Morong 43 are back doing what they have committed themselves to – serving the marginalized sectors of society by providing much-needed health services. Four of the Morong 43 serving as staffs of a health NGO which sponsored the First Responder’s Health Skills Training last February 2010 participated in Medical and Dental Mission today in Ina ng Lupang Pangako, Urban, Payatas B, Quezon City. Sponsored by the Filipino Ministry of San Bernardino California, Kilos Bayan para sa Kalusugan (KBK), Samahang Pangkalusugan ng Payatas (SaPaPa), Ina ng Lupang Pangako Parish – Parish Pastoral Council, and Council for Health and Development (CHD), the medical and dental mission is expected to benefit more than 600 patients today. Medical doctors, dentists, nurses, community health workers and health science students who actively supported the campaign to release the 43 health workers last year also join the activity.

“Despite what we have gone through in the hands of state forces, we are resolute in our commitment to serve the poor and lay the foundations of a people-managed health care,” said Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor, among the previously detained health workers and current Director of CHD’s Health Education, Training and Services Department. Meanwhile, Dr. Eleanor A. Jara, Executive Director of CHD related that “this is a landmark medical and dental mission” for their organization because they are now joined by Dr. Mia-Clamor, CBHP doctor; Ma. Teresa Quinawayan, midwife and Field Assistance Unit staff; Ms. Delia Ocasla, community health worker and Reynaldo Macabenta, administrative staff.

She added that the “continued support of local and international groups and individuals in community based health care” play a major role in the continuing struggle for access to public health care in the Philippines.

Payatas, tragically famous for the trashslide that buried hundreds of persons in 2000, remains one of the poorest population in the city. Many residents, surviving on a hand to mouth existence largely depend on scavenging Payatas’ “mountains” for food and recyclable materials. The mountain’s height is fast becoming an issue of concern among residents as history might be reprised.

The medical and dental mission is done in cooperation with different organizations and volunteer dentists and physicians. “For as long as there is inequality and oppression in the Philippine society, CHD together with its 60 member programs will continue to work with the people for their right to health and struggle for social change,” Dr. Jara ended.##

Reference: Eleanor A. Jara, M.D.
Executive Director, Council for Health and Development
(+63) 0917-9789297 / (+632) 929-8109

Read Source or visit us for additional pictures

Cal-Nevada's Philippines Solidarity Task Force Celebrates Release of 'Morong 43'

2011-01-12T14:24:00.000-08:00

"The Philippines Solidarity Task Force celebrates with the people of the California-Nevada Annual Conference for a great work done," exults the Rev. Felicisimo ("Fel") Cao.

The community health workers known as "Morong 43," whose arrest and detention by the Philippines military was widely condemned, have been released.

In June, 2010 the Cal-Nevada Annual Conference Session approved a recommendation submitted by the Philippines Solidarity Task Force to support actions by the General Board of Global Ministries, World Council of Churches, and National Councils of Churches in both the U.S. and the Philippines, in protesting the arrests. The Secretary of the Annual Conference was directed to send a letter demanding release of the Morong 43 to the newly elected Philippines President, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino, III.

On Human Rights Day, President Aquino ordered the Philippines Department of Justice to withdraw the charges against the health workers – abducted while undergoing training for their health work in the remote and poor areas of the Philippines, under claims that they were suspected of being members of the New People's Army, the armed wing of the Communist party of the Philippines.

"The Morong 43 health workers suffered from illegal arrest, detention, torture, and were denied proper health care intervention – as two women gave birth in detention," Rev. Cao states.

The release of the Morong 43 follows pressure from the Philippines Solidarity Task Force and the California-Nevada Annual Conference Session, along with other Philippines and international human rights groups and churches, for the Philippines government "to do the right and just thing," says Cao.

Task force member the Rev. Ruth Cortez (retired) wrote, "Every step in response to our claims and petitions is a point of thanksgiving and celebration. Yet it is an opening for us to pursue the other issues – and the bigger and more fundamental and historical struggles – that the PDO (poor, deprived and oppressed) Filipinos continue to wage. But again, an auspicious opening like this is something that we are grateful for."

A Philippines Solidarity Task Force delegation left for the Philippines on January 4th. The delegation, headed by task force member Jeanelle Ablola, Minister of Youth and Outreach at Buena Vista UMC in Alameda, will work in partnership with the Manila Area of the UMC and National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and is expected to have an opportunity to visit and have a dialogue with the released health workers.

Read Source

Morong 43 Release in Pictures

2010-12-18T23:13:00.000-08:00

Council for Health and Development, Inc.

Freedom of the Morong 43 is fruit of the people's struggle

2010-12-18T22:18:00.000-08:00

They braved indefinable forms of human rights violations so that they may live to see the day when they will finally be reunited with their families and people they serve.? The Morong 43 are finally free!

Today, ten months of roaring cries for freedom and justice voiced in different languages from all over the world bears fruit.Judge Gina Cenit Escoto, presiding judge of the Morong Regional Trial Court Branch 78 has finally released a decision late in the afternoon today to withdraw all cases filed against all of the 43 health workers.

Thirty-eight of the health workers were detained at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City since May 1 while five others remained in military custody since their illegal arrest at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.

Relatives and supporters have been waiting anxiously outside the Morong RTC since Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima filed for a motion to withdraw the cases Monday this week. They peacefully 'picketed outside' the court building since Wednesday.

After the judge released the official decision, court staffs followed by the Morong 43 relatives and supporters proceeded to Camp Bagong Diwa, a civilian detention facility, to deliver the hard copy of the order which will facilitate the release of the detained health workers.

Registered nurse and alliance spokesperson Carlos Montemayor said that the health workers underwent a mandatory physical check-up by prison doctors for clearance, a requirement before a detainee is released from the prison camp's custody.

Nursing mothers Judielyn Oliveros and Mercy Castro were transported from the Philippine General Hospital to Camp Bagong Diwa with their newborns to undergo prison protocols before they too are finally released.

From Taguig, the health workers will proceed to Quezon City for a press conference to thank all the people, including the media for keeping the faith and not giving up on their case. Montemayor said that the Morong 43 took strength and refuge in the massive local and international support this campaign gained since day one adding the struggle to free the 43 is within the overall struggle to free all political prisoners.

"Definitely, this is not the end of their story. The international movement on the campaign for health and human rights welcomes the additional 43 people with burning fervor and inspiration," Montemayor added. ##

Reference:
Carlos Montemayor, RN
0922 499 6237 / (+632) 929 8109

‘Morong 43’ women first to walk out of detention

2010-12-18T13:37:00.000-08:00

By Kristine L. Alave
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Six hours after their lawyers received the courts' orders to discharge them, the female members of the so-called "Morong 43," the group of health workers arrested 10 months ago in Morong, Rizal, on suspicion of being communist rebels, were the first to be released from detention late Friday night.

Delia Ocasla was greeted with cheers from relatives and supporters when she emerged from the gates of the BJMP jail at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City at 11 p.m.

She was the first detainee to be freed among the 23 women detainees after 10 months and 7 days in detention.

Shortly after Ocasla, the other women detainees stepped out of the gates with wide smiles and clenched left fists raised.

The women carried their belongings in plastic bags. One detainee carried a sign that said "Maraming salamat po sa mga sumuporta sa Morong 43 (Many thanks to all supporters of Morong 43)."

Lawyers of the group said the release of the 15 male detainees will be delayed as they were still being processed.

Morong 43 released from Camp Bagong Diwa

(Photo by Mike Alquinto/NPPA Images)

Finally, most of the 43 Philippine health workers are free

2010-12-18T07:30:00.000-08:00

Intal salutes the newly released health workers and thanks those who helped to get them free.

It is with great joy that we learned about the release of most of the Morong 43 in the evening of December 17. It is a moment we have been looking forward to since they were arrested in Morong, Rizal province, on February 6. We were confident that they had to be released sooner or later because we knew for a fact that the charges against the 43 didn't hold water. It is a shame that it took more than ten months before 33 of them were released and that 10 of them are still in jail.

Intal has been involved in solidarity work with community based health programs in the Philippines for many years and some of us know some of the 43 personally. Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor was a doctor of the Council for Health and Development, one of our partner organizations. The arrest of the 43 health workers was nothing less than an attack against the movement for health rights. It shows that the struggle for health is a struggle for social justice.

We thank everyone who joined us in the campaign for their release, particularly our partner organizations in Palestine, the DR Congo, Latin America and the global People's Health Movement. We also thank our friends from the Stop the Killings platform in Belgium and the hundreds that joined our campaign activities including pickets, petition signing and a paid advertisement in a Philippine newspaper. We are proud that we have been able to contribute to the groundswell of protest because the release of the health workers is the fruit of the people's struggle in the Philippines and internationally.

After ten months in detention they had this to say: “We're happy to be free, and excited to help provide healthcare to communities. Excited to again be able to serve the people!” These words inspire us and give us courage. The struggle for health is far from easy but, indeed, there's nothing more rewarding than serving the people. While we're hoping that the remaining ten Philippine health workers will be released soon, we salute the newly released health workers and wish them good luck as they take up their tasks again in the people's movement.

Relatives and supporters vow to keep vigil until judge issues decision on Morong 43

2010-12-17T18:06:00.000-08:00

Their relatives as well as thousands of people from the world over await in anticipation the 43 health workers as they are expected to be released from Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City today.

Seven days after Philippine President Benigno Aquino III first publicly declared the withdrawal of all cases against the health workers, relatives are still uncertain whether or not the detained health workers shall finally “be reunited with their families” and “the people they so lovingly serve” after spending more than ten months behind bars, registered nurse and Free the 43 Health Workers! Alliance spokesperson Carlos Montemayor said.

Dr. Alex Montes’ wife, Evelyn, said she could not wait to “make up for lost time” and do “some family bonding activities” but worried about groups who are “doing everything they can to block the Department of Justice’s motion to withdraw the cases and facilitate the release of the health workers.”

Other detainees’ wives, husbands, children, and relatives shared the same plight. They said the military and groups such as Rep. Louis V. Alcover’s ANAD Party list are consciously “doing rounds” to intimidate or attempt to influence legislators and independent personalities to withdraw their support to the Morong 43 campaign.

Alcover submitted an opposition to withdraw the cases filed against the Morong 43 Wednesday this week but Judge Gina Cenit-Escoto, presiding judge of the Morong Regional Trial Court Branch 78 dismissed his motion saying there is no basis since he is not a party to the case.

The judge declared she will not entertain any more opposition and will be arriving with a decision until today.

Montemayor said that while it is very obvious that the military is the perfect example of not doing what it preaches, such as claiming it respects the commander-in-chief’s order to withdraw all cases but doing everything it can to covertly and overtly block the release of the health workers, their group is reassured of the massive support that local and international groups express adding that “fear and anxiety is replaced by fervor and conviction to pursue what is just for the 43 and the rest of political prisoners nationwide.”

“We are confident that Judge Gina Cenit-Escoto will not allow herself to be influenced by anybody, regardless of their power and position, in immediately executing the orders of the President,” he added.

Reference:
Carlos Montemayor, R.N.
0922 499 6237 / (+632) 929 8109

Courts order release 43 health workers freed

2010-12-17T03:06:00.001-08:00

By Niña Calleja, Tetch Torres
Agence France-Presse, INQUIRER.net, Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 2) Both the Morong Regional Trial Court and the Municipal Trial Court ordered the release on Friday afternoon of 43 health workers arrested by the military last February on suspicion they were communist rebels learning how to make bombs.

Judge Gina Cenit-Escoto of the Morong RTC" Branch 78 dismissed the charges of illegal possession of explosives against 40 of the 43 detainees collectively referred to as the "Morong 43."

Municipal Trial Court Judge Rodrigo Posadas also threw out the case against three others charged with violations of the election gun ban.

The rulings came after the Department of Justice dropped the charges against all 43 on President Aquino's order last Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day.

The court orders were to be taken to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, which would process the release papers.

"The jail wardens of Camp Bagong Diwa and Camp Capinpin are directed to release the accused from their custody immediately upon receipt of this order," Cyrus Jurado, lawyer of five of the detained health workers, quoted Escoto in her order.

Other lawyers were still awaiting their copies of the court decision.

Relatives and supporters cried and shrieked with joy upon learning of the decision.

"Ang iyak ko ay kasihayan na malaman ng mundo na walang kasalanan si Dr. Montes (I cry for joy that the world will know Dr. Montes is innocent)," Evelyn Montes, wife of detained surgeon Alexis Montes, told the Inquirer.

"Siya ang pinakamagandang regalo sa aming pasko (His release is our best Christmas present)," Montes said.

The military and police have insisted that the 43, arrested in Morong, allegedly in possession of firearms and explosives, were rebels undergoing a training session.

However, the detainees insisted they were just health workers undergoing medical training.

Pagsaludo sa "Morong 43" [ Salute to the Morong 43! ]

2010-12-14T06:38:00.000-08:00

Check Tambalan Online

US-backed P-Noy is No Champion of Human Rights-- BAYAN USA

2010-12-11T18:36:00.000-08:00

Aquino's Non-Resolution of Philippines' Human Rights Crisis Serves US Foreign Policy

In commemoration of the 62nd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Filipino-Americans under the banner of BAYAN USA would like to call international attention to their disappointment in Philippine President Benigno "P-Noy" Simeon Aquino III for his failure to act decisively towards resolving the ongoing human rights crisis in the Philippines. Rather than working to fulfill his campaign promises to the Filipino people, Aquino has spent the past 5 months prioritizing the fulfillment of his promises made to the US government and to multi-national corporate investors to further liberalize the Philippine national economy and territory to accommodate their interests.

If the first 160 days of the Aquino administration are any indicator, the Filipino people can be certain the campaign of unabated extra-judicial killings, abductions, illegal detentions, and torture of civilians throughout the country by its security forces unleashed by the previous Arroyo administration will continue under the current presidency.

Like Barack Obama, the romanticized hype over Aquino's candidacy and electoral win are slowly being replaced by a steady flow of political doublespeak on critical issues. One of the vilest examples of this can be seen with the case of the Morong 43 healthworkers, who are now in their 10th month of illegal detention under the Philippine military's custody. After publicly acknowledging irregularities with the raid, arrest warrant, and even so-called "evidence" gathered against the 43 last February by the Philippine National Police and Philippine military, Aquino not only essentially washed his hands of the case by leaving it to the courts to decide on their fate, he beefed up the country's military budget by an unprecedented 81%.

Unprecedented Military Spending for Counter-Insurgency Operations

The P1.64 trillion military budget proposal of the Aquino government for 2011 is a staggeringly massive amount inclusive of $434 million granted by the US State Department via the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Per the US military's new Counter-Insurgency (COIN) guide, this amount will be dedicated to strengthening the very structural framework responsible for country's continuing human right crisis-- the national counter-insurgency plan known as Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL).

Though touted as a campaign to end the armed rebellion in the countryside, OBL has earned the scrutiny of international human rights monitoring groups for its baseless directive of targeting progressive and outspoken people's organizations, party-lists, advocates, institutions and even social service providers such as the Morong 43 for being so-called "communist fronts."

Under Aquino, 22 assassinations of civilians have been added to the piling list of extra-judicial killings and there remains 393 political prisoners throughout the country. Over 300 days have passed since Aquino promised to redistribute his family's Hacienda Luisita to its tillers. Not a single arrest has been made to answer for the thousands of documented cases of killings and abductions under the Arroyo government, including Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself, the perpetrators of the Maguindanao massacre, as well as the abduction and torture of Filipina-American human rights advocate Melissa Roxas by military elements.

Aquino's decision to extend and enforce OBL, despite its many critics, aims to choke off the strong nationalist movement in the Philippines that frustrates US foreign policy interests in the region. With Aquino's help, the US government is working towards an official re-establishment of a permanent US military presence in the country. Like Arroyo, Aquino is committed to ensuring the terrorizing Bush Doctrine principles are applied to the Philippines in order to advance US geopolitical interests in the Asia-Pacific region, key to which is an all-out war campaign to bail-out the world's wealthiest countries and financial oligarchs from the worst economic crisis in history.

Already the US government's hand in the military provocation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and rivaling superpower China spells plans for a US war offensive in the region that would not only bully and advance US trade interests in the region, but necessitate a large, permanent and reliable US military station in the Philippines.

Human Rights & People's Solidarity

With the burden of the global economic crisis breaking the backs of people both in the US and the Philippines, international solidarity between movements to hold governments accountable for increased public spending towards war and human rights violations rather than for jobs, education, healthcare, and other social services must be forged.

Since 2005, BAYAN USA has been campaigning with allies in the US to cut US military spending in the Philippines and for the withdrawal of US troops in from the region. These efforts in the US are in solidarity with those in the Philippines risking their lives everyday at the frontlines of a growing democratic movement to alleviate the Filipino people from their daily agony of poverty, landlessness, joblessness, and hunger amidst US-funded counter-insurgency and political repression.

BAYAN USA firmly believes that communities in the US play a role in the struggle for human rights in the Philippines by holding the Obama administration accountable for its actions in the Philippines, just as the Filipino people must hold the Aquino administration accountable for its broken promises and subservience to foreign dictates. The ongoing culture of impunity in the Philippines beckons the international community to support the Filipino people's fight for justice for the victims of human rights abuses and the punishment of human rights violators unleashed by the state.

Free the Morong 43 & all Political Prisoners!
Scrap Oplan Bantay Laya!
End Impunity, Prosecute Arroyo!
US Out of the Philippines!

Full text of the Memorandum on the immediate withdrawal of the information filed against the "Morong 43"

2010-12-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

MEMORANDUM FROM THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

TO : SECRETARY LEILA M. DE LIMA
Department of Justice (DOJ)

SUBJECT : IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF INFORMATIONS AGAINST THE "MORONG 43"

DATE : December 8, 2010

This refers to the forty three individuals arrested in Morong, Rizal on February 6, 2010, collectively known as the "Morong 43." There is an urgent need to address their plight even solely on humanitarian grounds. Furthermore, it is consistent with the spirit of the season that the "Morong 43" be freed from detention and spend Christmas with their families. More importantly, questions raised on the legality of their arrest justify their release.

Pursuant thereto, and upon instructions of the President, you are hereby ordered to cause the withdrawal of the following Complaints against the aforesaid individuals, to wit:

Criminal Case No. 10-9079-M, People vs. Gary Liberal et al. pending before the Regional Trial Court of Rizal, Branch 78;
Criminal Case No. 10-9078-M, People vs. Reynaldo Macabenta; Municipal Trial Court, Morong, Rizal;
Criminal Case No. 10-9080-M, People vs. Del Ayo Avera, Municipal Trial Court, Morong, Rizal;
Criminal Case No. 10-9081-M, People vs. Romeo de la Cruz; Municipal Trial Court, Morong, Rizal,
Criminal Case Nos. 7082 , 7083 and 7084, People vs. Delayo Avera et al., for Violation of COMELEC Resolution No. 87134 in relation to Article 261 (Q) of the Election Code, Municipal Trial Court, Morong, Rizal, and
Criminal Case No. 7130, People vs. Delayo Avera for violation of PD 1866, Municipal Trial Court, Morong, Rizal.

For your immediate and strict compliance.

PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.

Related News

A Call for Freedom on Human Rights Day

2010-12-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

By the Morong 43
Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan

The International Human Rights Week is supposed to be a celebration of our enjoyment of rights as people, regardless of age, race, color or social status. But rampant violation of human rights across the nation could never give us the reason to celebrate.

As we continue our hunger strike, we express our solidarity with all the victims of human rights violations in their pursuit of justice. We also share the sentiments of other political detainees who suffer because of the slow course of justice. We condemn the killing of activists and journalists who have exposed realities of society. As health workers, we lament and strongly condemn the perpetrators who raped “Florence”, a nurse, and the senseless killing of botanist Leonard Co who contributed largely to the industry of herbal medicine.

These are only some of the numerous people who became targets of state agents for the mere reason that they serve poor communities. As health workers still detained for ten months, we share their plight and their families’ struggle. It is unfortunate that the price we have to pay to render service to far-flung communities is as expensive as our own life. Our experiences tell us the irony of being harassed, tortured, jailed or killed in a so-called “democratic” society. While our constitution and international declarations all pertain to protection of human rights, we couldn’t but question the administration’s seeming indifference to us who are victims of state brutality and acts of torture.

Morong 43’s illegal detention for barely a year now should be more than enough time for justice to be rendered in our case. In spite of gross constitutional and human rights violations since the day were arrested, we patiently waited for the President’s “righteous path” to happen. Even our families and supporters have always been present in all our hardships, lobbying for our freedom and giving us the courage. Though they shed tears each day that passed that we’re still in jail, they were still hopeful, believing that our call to be free has not fallen of deaf ears.

We know that our hunger strike signifies a legitimate call, giving us the strength to continue our struggle until we are heard and freed. We therefore call on President Noynoy Aquino to rectify the errors done against us, especially the blatant HRV’s of the past regime. He should end this culture of impunity, heed the call of our people and show sincerity through concrete actions.

As we commemorate Human Rights Week, we call on the Filipino to continue the fight of those who have been killed or disappeared, and for those who still suffer because of injustice. Together, let us stand up and act for what is just and right.

Free the 43 health workers now!
Free all political prisoners!
Justice for all victims of human rights violations!

Don’t be onion-skinned on Morong 43 issue, Aquino told

2010-12-09T23:50:00.000-08:00

http://www.inquirer.net/mindandbody/healthbeat/view.php?db=1&article=20101209-307884

MANILA, Philippines—A lawyer for the Morong 43 Wednesday appealed to President Benigno Aquino III not to be “onion-skinned” on an issue that will continue to fester for as long as it is not properly resolved.

“He becomes irritated when he is asked about the [Morong 43] but that should not be the case. He should not get tired of answering the issue until it is resolved. It is a legitimate issue until it is resolved. He cannot just brush it aside,” said Edre Olalia, who is secretary general of the National Union of People’s Lawyers.

And if Mr. Aquino is becoming irritated about the issue, lawyers for the detained health workers are “frustrated, disappointed and outraged” over his latest pronouncements, Olalia said.

The President on Tuesday said that he would let the courts decide the fate of the Morong 43.

Olalia stressed that the “lives and freedom” of the detained health workers remain in Mr. Aquino's hands.

The Morong 43 refers to a group of health workers who were arrested earlier this year in a Morong, Rizal resthouse on suspicion that they were communist rebels. They are being held on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives and violation of the gun ban.

WE SUPPORT THE HUNGER STRIKE OF THE MORONG 43

2010-12-09T18:38:00.001-08:00

British Columbia, Canada -- Iron bars and high walls will not stop the detained health workers, also known as the Morong 43, from asserting the just and legitimate demand for their immediate and unconditional release.

The Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights, Migrante B.C. and the Victoria-Philippines Solidarity Group, based in British Columbia, Canada respect and support the hunger strike of the detained health workers, which began on Dec 3rd, exactly 300 days from their arrest on February 6, 2010.

It has been ten long months for the 43 detainees, time made so much more difficult because they continue to be held illegally and under false charges. The defective search warrant, the tainted “evidence,” the forced confessions, the violations of the detainees’ constitutional and human rights continue to be ignored by President and Commander-in-Chief Aquino and the military that he commands. President Aquino seems to have forgotten that as the top official of the land, he takes his mandate from the people who elected him into office, from the people he swore to serve, and not from the military.

President Aquino continues to turn a deaf ear to the appeals and demands for the release of the Morong 43 – these have come from groups like the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, several former secretaries of the Department of Health; the Dean and professors of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine; the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges; the Philippine Medical Association; the Philippine Nurses Association; and several lawmakers in the Philippine House of Representatives and Senate. National and overseas groups of women, students, churches, overseas Filipino workers, human rights advocates, lawyers’ groups, health workers and other sectors who have rallied behind the Morong 43 have also been ignored.

President Aquino washes his hands off the case and declares that it is up to the courts – what he does not say is that it is up to the military. After all, did not former President Gloria Arroyo, under whose term the group was arrested, award bronze medals to the two military officers involved in the 43’s arrest and detention? Did not the military brag that this “accomplishment was the biggest victory of the government’s counter-insurgency campaign in recent years?” This is the same counter-insurgency operation Bantay Laya, then embraced by Arroyo and now continued by Aquino, which aim to eliminate any form of critical dissent through any means, from extrajudicial killings, disappearances, illegal arrests and other forms of human rights violations.

Edre Olalia, Secretary General of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), describes the President as “either confused, legally ignorant, or being fed with inaccurate information on his persistence that he cannot do something about the release of the group.” The solution is simple; the President can always withdraw the false charges against the Morong 43, leaving the courts with no logical and legal option but to release them. However, in the Philippines, political prisoners are deemed guilty and face indefinite detention until proven innocent and President Aquino proves this every day that the Morong 43 continue to stay behind bars.

When will President Aquino muster the will to take the correct legal step, the morally right step and release the Morong 43? The detainees have taken the task of struggling for their release with the weapon of the hunger strike. The ball, so to speak, is inside President Aquino’s court.

We wish the detainees strength at this crucial time as they pursue their right to be free!

We hope that the 43 detained health workers will be able to go home to their families and return to their work of caring for the people's health very soon, maybe before Christmas.

Withdraw all charges against the Morong 43! Free the Morong 43!
Free all political prisoners!
End impunity!

Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPS-HR)
Migrante B.C.
Victoria-Philippines Solidarity Group (VPSG)
British Columbia, Canada

Chiz: Free Morong 43

2010-12-09T01:05:00.001-08:00

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/national/23819-chiz-free-morong-43.html

THE Morong 43 should be released “not through an amnesty program” but by virtue of technicalities surrounding their arrest, Sen. Francis Escudero said yesterday.

Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, supports calls for the release of 43 health workers who were arrested 10 months ago on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives and violation of the gun ban.

“The Morong 43 may be freed without availing of the amnesty program extended by the administration. There is no admittance from the health workers that they are indeed members of the New People’s Army as alleged by the military. They cannot therefore avail of the program because of the imposed impossible condition: admittance of guilt,” he said.

Citing an opinion rendered by Justice Secretary Leila De Lima that the arrest warrant against the group seemed to be defective, Escudero said there were three options that could be explored to free the detained health workers.

He said the DoJ may file a motion in court withdrawing information on the ground of technicalities on the arrest to release the Morong 43. The defense team may file a motion for reinvestigation and the release on bail and recognizance pending reinvestigation without the need for technicalities.

The DoJ and the defense team may also jointly file a motion for judicial determination of probable cause to resolve the issue once and for all, Escudero said.Bernadette E. Tamayo

Ralated News

Escudero lists 3 options for Morong 43’s release

Statement of the People's Health Movement-Southeast Asia on the Morong 43

2010-12-08T17:07:00.000-08:00

Manila, Philippines -- The People’s Health Movement (PHM), a global network bringing together grassroots activists, civil society organizations, academics and health workers from around the world, reiterates our strong condemnation of the illegal arrest and continued detention of 43 community health workers and doctors in the Philippines who continue to unjustly languish in jail since February 6, 2010.

The health workers who were conducting health skills training to enhance their health interventions in poorly resourced rural areas, but were illegally arrested, detained, and tortured continue to be victims of human rights violations. Their arrest is not just an attack on their persons but more so, is an attack on the right to health of the poor. Their continued unjust detention has deprived millions of poor people the health services that these health workers have long been giving them.

To call the attention of President Noynoy Aquino to their innocence vis a vis the charges levied against them and the urgent need for their release, these so called Morong 43 Health workers have staged a hunger strike in pursuit of justice.

The PHM supports the hunger strike of the Morong 43 and is in solidarity with them in their continuing fight for justice! We call on justice, freedom and peace loving citizens of the Philippines to do the same.

The PHM calls on the Philippine President Benigno C. Aquino III to immediately and unconditionally release the Morong 43 and dismiss all charges filed against them NOW! Just as he supported the call for Burmese Aung San Suu Kyii’s immediate release as well as amnesty for the soldiers who were involved in coup d’etat attempts in the Philippines, we urge him to order the immediate and unconditional release of the Morong 43.

Indeed, justice delayed is justice denied!

Dr. Edelina P. Dela Paz
Coordinator, PHM Southeast Asia
Member, Global Steering Council
People’s Health Movement

Group hits P-noy annoyance on Morong 43 questions...

2010-12-08T03:50:00.001-08:00

Group hits P-noy annoyance on Morong 43 questions, says continued detention of illegal detention of health workers and bias towards military show signs of unhealthy democracy.

Health groups gather today to call for the release of the Morong 43. They ask President Aquino to finally stop evading the initiative which has long been asked from Malacanang and this is to withdraw the cases against the Morong 43.

In his latest pronouncement over a press conference in Alaminos, Pangasinan, President Aquino said the government cannot just release the health workers without the court’s sanctions and is not even considering the withdrawal of the cases against them.

Dr. Julie Caguiat, spokesperson of the FREE THE 43 HEALTH WORKERS ALLIANCE said, “we are not asking president to order the release of the Morong 43 thru Malacanang and not thru the courts, for it will not happen, it is the withdrawal of the cases is what we have been expecting the executive branch to do.”

The group said that President Aquino seems to be having confused statements now. P-noy complains of something executive branch cannot do which is the immediate release of the Morong 43 but it would not heed to something it can do to help the court decide in the dismissal of the case which is thru withdrawal of charges.

“If Aquino complains of having to repeatedly answer to questions on the issue of the Morong 43 as “parang sirang plaka” (like playing a broken record), then this is something we will never be tired of doing if it would mean the release of the Morong 43.”

Caguiat said “we feel sorry that the president feels exasperated over the repeated plea for him to intervene and address the issue of the Morong 43, yet we are also dismayed on the President’s irascible response. He should be reminded that the illegally detained health workers and their relatives too have long been suffering, anxious and impatient in more ways he could only imagine. After all his father was once a political detainee too, he should be the first to know.”

However, the group said the Aquino should not complain because but it his moral and political obligation to see to it that justice is extended to every citizen of this land. It is the lives and personal freedom of innocent civilians that are at stake in this case.

According to the medical professionals, continued detention of the 43 health workers is also reflective of our government’s human rights agenda. Caguiat said, if the Morong 43 would be a gauge of this government’s political integrity, then we can say that the government is showing signs of an unhealthy democracy.

Caguiat explains that Aquino’s seeming evasion of a decisive order on the issue of Morong 43 is indeed a sign of a frail administration -- a government that slowly exposes itself as subservient to military influence rather than the rule of law and civilian authority.

The group criticized Aquino for obstinately insisting on a trial while the 43’s arrest is a product of a grossly unconstitutional arrest and detention.

Ironically, while giving into the whims of the military, the President virtually persecutes innocent civilians who are involved in health services in the community.

She added that such pronouncements all the more reinforce a general public sentiment that Mr. Aquino is extra cautious of the military officials’ opinion regarding the Morong 43. If there is somebody’s opinion that the President should be wary of, it should be the Filipino people’s and not that of the military’s, the spokesperson said.

The groups continue to challenge P-noy to heed to his tireless campaign slogan which is the straight and correct or the daang matuwid . The group reminded the President, “your strength lies on the people you are suppose to serve and lead”

Groups like Alliance of All Health Organizations of the Nation (AAHON), Ang Nars, Health Action Information Network, Peoples Health Movement –Asia Pacific among other health groups joined Morong 43 s relatives and supporters in a a short program at the Solidarity Fasting Center for the Morong 43 at the Iglesia Filipina Independiente along Taft Manila in support for the 43 detained health workers who are now staging a hunger strike.

Reference:
Dr. Julie Caguiat Spokesperson, Free the 43 Health Workers Alliance
Mobile: 0909 113 3038 / 0919 486 1580 / 881-0910

Release them

2010-12-07T20:37:00.000-08:00

"There's The Rub"
By Conrado de Quiros
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BE ASSURED, says presidential deputy spokesperson, Abigail Valte, that Malacañang is studying the case of the Morong 43. It cannot as yet release them because their case is different from that of the military mutineers.

But of course their case is different from that of the military mutineers. They have more right to be released than the military mutineers. Unlike the military mutineers, the Morong 43 are innocent. They are innocent because the law must find them innocent. They were arrested on the strength of a warrant against someone who has no fixed address and who is nowhere to be found—very likely a fictitious person. They were given no legal recourse, prevented not just from seeking any legal counsel but also from seeing relatives and friends, and thrown in the dark for months. Some of them were probably tortured; at least they have claimed so. No group of persons have been so systematically denied their basic rights since 1986 other than those who have been summarily fed to the worms by their captors.

Whatever has been found in their possession or extracted from them by way of confession is the “fruit of the poisoned tree,” as lawyers put it, which is inadmissible evidence. And in any case, they have resolutely stood by their word that the arms and explosives that materialized in their persons were planted, and confessed only to being so dedicated to their calling they were holding a medical seminar when swooped down upon by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s stormtroopers.

What is there to study? If only by the circumstances of their arrest, Malacañang should have thrown their case out the window as soon as it welcomed a new tenant. If only by the ordeal they have endured—10 months and counting—Malacañang should have offered them its deepest apologies and vowed to bring the tyrant who brought them to that pass to justice.

Even if they are NPA sympathizers, or NPA themselves, what of it? At the very least, the mutineers themselves took up arms against government, even if as in the case of Danny Lim that lay more in the threat and the execution, and they have been freed, to much rejoicing by the military. Even Tony Trillanes, who quite literally took up arms against GMA while she was still legitimate, has been freed, to much rejoicing by his family and friends. Why can’t the Morong 43, who haven’t even been proven to have taken up arms, be so? The selectiveness is patent and should be a source of shame for government. At the very most, whose case is really thornier and requires interminable study?

Military officers are there to defend the citizens, for which they get benefits and privileges and guns for the role they play. When they turn those guns against government, they do not just commit rebellion, they commit treason. They betray the very thing they are sworn to uphold. The only compelling justification in the case of Lim and company is that they did so against a government that had no right to exist, that did not represent the citizens. They did so against a usurper, one who made fighting back a matter of self-preservation. The presidential amnesty given them naturally implies that justification, specifically the part about GMA’s illegitimacy. Otherwise, nothing justifies it. Treason is unjustifiable.

You grant that the Morong 43 are NPA sympathizers, or NPA themselves, then their case is far simpler and more forthright. They are rebels, they exist to fight government, they enjoy no pay or privileges in doing so. On the contrary they suffer privations and are hunted down as outlaws. Their added justification for fighting government over the last six years is that it is a coup regime, wrought by ballot if not by bullet. For which they have paid the gravest price: Hundreds of their fellows have been killed or made to disappear; many, like Jonas Burgos, judged, juried and executed without proof of their being NPA.

Between those two groups of political prisoners, the second is far more easily pardonable. That is tacitly implied by the peace talks with the NDF. You do not negotiate with bandits, you negotiate with rebels, or with people you consider to have principles. Yet the military mutineers have been released and the Morong 43 not so. Why so?

The only reason I can think of is that government doesn’t want to piss off the military. That’s what P-Noy’s own mother, Cory, did after 1986, and succeeded only in emboldening them to mount one coup after another. Led by Juan Ponce Enrile who, in one of life’s sublime ironies, or in one of this magic realist country’s not so magical twists, is now a staunch P-Noy ally. There’s no other explanation for it, certainly nothing approaching legal or moral. It’s just plain double standards.

It’s also just plain injustice. Government has no business appeasing the military, it has every business punishing the military. Or those of them that helped GMA mount a rule so vicious it made rebellion an act of grace. Or those of them that helped GMA steal the vote in Muslim Mindanao and propped up the even more vicious rule of the Ampatuans in Maguindanao to accomplish it. Or those of them that helped GMA stamp out any and all resistance against her, scuttling rallies, arresting protesters, mounting a cynical war against enemies of the State—State defined as the state of health of GMA and her husband, which buried hundreds of political activists, many of them in the flush of youth, in shallow graves. Or those of them that should even now be facing the Truth Commission to tell the truth about how they made the truth, quite apart from people like Jonas Burgos, disappear from the face of the earth.

What’s to study? The matuwid na landas is clear enough: Release the Morong 43.

And jail those that put them in jail.

MAKABAYAN demands the release of Morong 43

2010-12-07T00:31:00.000-08:00

MAKABAYAN demands the immediate and unconditional release of the 43 volunteer doctors, midwives and community health workers now in the 3rd day of hunger strike to protest their unjust arrest and detention.

“Why does President Aquino refuse to intervene for the release of the 43 health workers when he himself acknowledged that the search warrant was defective and the evidence thus produced was illegally obtained? Isn’t this silently condoning the abuse of human rights?” says Satur Ocampo, MAKABAYAN President, on the 10th month of the Morong 43’s detention.

The Morong 43's continued detention based on a defective search warrant is an injustice not only to them and their families, more so to the communities which rely on their services as health workers. Liza Maza, MAKABAYAN vice-president, added, “How many indigent pregnant women and children have been endangered since the Morong 43’s arrest? How many ailing farmers have not been been given a check up since the AFP and PNP forcibly took the volunteers while they were on a medical training?”

Apart from the human rights abuses, the great injustice which the detention is highlighting to the world is the gross negligence of the administration in providing basic services to its people. These doctors and community health workers are serving far flung communities for the simple reason that the government is not there to do its duties. Denying these communities health care is another crime to which this administration must answer to.

The Morong 43’s only fault is being acutely aware of the people’s suffering, their only “crime” is providing free health care services to the needy, and their only “violation” is making sure that medical help is given to the poor. The people have had enough of this administration’s silence, we demand the immediate and unconditional release of the Morong 43.

Free the Morong 43!

Free all political prisoners!

SET THEM FREE: A Candlelight Vigil at the Philippine Consulate General for the Detained Health Workers (Morong 43) -On Their First Day of Hunger Strik

2010-12-06T20:18:00.000-08:00

Vancouver, B.C. – Around 78 people came out in the rain and the cold to support the early evening vigil for the release of the Filipino detained health workers, or the Morong 43 last December 2nd. It started off with rousing songs of freedom and hope. The Solidarity Notes Labour Choir, composed of activists led by choir director Earle Peach, came to sing for the release of the 43. Yvon Raoul played the bagpipes, music which drowned the sound of traffic from cars and buses. Jim Edmondson from the Vancouver-Kensington Community Singers played his guitar and sang the songs for the Morong 43, including one that he had memorized, “Bayan Ko.”

The crowd at the Philippine Consulate General in downtown Vancouver included members, friends and supporters of the Vancouver Free the 43 Committee, the Alliance for People’s Health, Migrante B.C., the Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights, the Social Justice Class contingent of the Lord Byng Secondary and other human rights advocates. Candles were lit, “Free the 43” signs held onto and the photos of the detained health workers held high or taped on the glass panels of the building.

Friends of the Morong 43 spoke to the crowd, the pedestrians and people waiting for their buses on why the Morong 43 must be released immediately and unconditionally. They spoke of the illegality of their arrest and detention, the defective search warrant used by the military, the torture and other human rights violations committed on the detainees. Valerie and Yvon Raoul who went to observe the last Philippine elections told their personal stories of meeting the detainees and their families. Aiyanas Ormond and Martha Roberts spoke of the great work done by community health workers in the poor and rural communities, and the personal friendships they made with Rey Macabenta and Dr. Clamor who they met in the Philippines. A Lord Byng Secondary student spoke on behalf of her Social Justice class and was later joined by her teacher, Alain Raoul, who then described the “Write-a-thon” his students would be doing on December 10th. A young student from Tupper Secondary led the crowd into another round of chanting “Free, free, free the 43!”

Aiyanas Ormond from the Alliance of People’s Health broke the news to everyone that the Morong 43 had just declared that they were on hunger strike – the hunger strike started at 6:30 a.m., December 3, Philippine time. That day would have marked their 300 days in detention since their arrest last February. December 3 also marks the International Day in Solidarity with Political Prisoners.

The Morong 43 is made up of 2 doctors, 2 midwives, 1 nurse and 38 community health workers. They are two nursing mothers, Judilyn Oliveros and Mercy Castro; both delivered their babies in detention. There are the sick. Dr. Merry Clamor suffers from uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension and infected skin wounds aggravated by poor jail conditions. Jane Balleta is epileptic and has had seizures in prison. Both have been taken to the hospital by the military in the recent past. There are the elderly. Dr. Alex Montes and community health worker Lydia Obera are both in their sixties.

Free the 43 Committee members Valerie Raoul delivered a letter for Philippine President Aquino to the staff of the Philippine Consulate General.

Reference:
Valerie Raoul
Free the 43 Committee (B.C. Canada)
1230 East 13th Avenue, Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604.224.3723

Photo: JR Guerrero

Enough of Presidential Word Play! Effect the Immediate Release of the Morong 43!

2010-12-06T15:40:00.001-08:00

Since December 3, the 43 health workers have been on an indefinite hunger strike. Our four-day fasting starting today until December 9 (Thursday) is in support of the protest action, as well as in solidarity with similar activities from December 3-10 by more than 300 of our fellow political prisoners all over the country.

Through this protest, we convey this message to President Noynoy Aquino: Effect the soonest possible release of the Morong 43 health workers by withdrawing now the baseless and unjust illegal possession of firearms charge, through the government prosecutors who haphazardly filed it in early February this year.

Two weeks ago, President Aquino was quoted having said, referring to the bogus evidence being used against the Morong 43: “I understand there’s a concept in law called fruits of the poisonous tree - - it can’t be used against the defendants.” (PDI, 10 Nov 27 p3) It was a virtual repetition of what he also said in mid-October: “It is a generally accepted principle that what lawyers call the fruit of the poison tree, or evidence wrongly gotten, cannot be used”. (PDI, 10 Oct 15 p3) Yet, on both occasions, President Aquino said the executive’s hands are tied since the case against the 43 health workers is already with the court.

This is an acceptable word-play by the president. Everybody knows it was the government prosecutors who filed the baseless illegal possessions of firearms charge against the Morong 43 health workers. And these are the same people who can withdraw the same either MotuPropio, or upon the President’s order as chief executive of the land.

We are aware that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, who illegally arrested and tortured the Morong 43 health workesr under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Oplan Bantay Laya counter insurgency program, has consistently stated that the release of the 43 health workers would negatively impact upon its troops’ morale.

But must President Aquino allow himself to be held hostage by the AFP’s veiled threats? Must he turn his back on his political obligation to right the wrong of the AFP, of which he is the commander in-chief? Or has he slowly but surely learned the cunning and brutal ways of his predecessor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo?

After this four-day fasting, we are ready anytime to resume and heighten our protest, should President Noynoy Aquino continue to ignore the ever growing domestic and international call for the immediate and unconditional release of the Morong 43.

As we celebrate International Human Rights Week, we demand no less than justice for the Morong 43 health workers and all political prisoners in the country.

SGD. ALBERTO ACERDIN
Political Detainee
Danao City Jail
Cebu Province

SGD. RAMON PATRIARCA
Political Detainee
Danao City Jail
Cebu Province

DOJ Picket

2010-12-06T15:40:00.000-08:00

'Morong 43' lawyer: Aquino has wrong info

2010-12-06T13:35:00.000-08:00

Sunstar.com.ph

AFTER President Benigno Aquino III said he would let the courts decide the fate of the “Morong 43”, one of the group’s counsels said he may already be “succumbing to the military”.

National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) secretary general Edre Olalia said the President “is either confused, legally ignorant, or being fed with inaccurate information on his persistence that he cannot do something about the release of the group”.

Olalia added the executive can always withdraw the false charges against the group, leaving the courts with no logical and legal option but to release them.

The Morong 43 is a group of health workers who were alleged members of the New People’s Army.

Gabriela Representative Luzviminda Ilagan, like other legislators, insisted that President Aquino has the power to withdraw the case.

“It is within his (Aquino) powers to instruct the Department of Justice to withdraw the case. Why the delay? His words are not translated into the appropriate action,” Ilagan said.

The Morong 43 face charges of illegal possession of explosives before the Morong Regional Trial Court and illegal possession of firearms before the Morong Municipal Trial Court.

They also have a pending appeal before the Supreme Court on their habeas corpus petition questioning the validity of their arrest.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) pressed the Aquino government to make a clear and categorical statement on their plans to resolve the Morong 43 case.

“It’s been 10 months, two DOJ memoranda, two babies born in detention and countless appeals from the day the Morong 43 were illegally arrested, tortured, denied counsel and detained. It’s not enough that the Aquino government to say that the case is up to the courts” said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes.

“Of course it will be the courts who will order the release. But what will Malacanang do to enable the courts to make such a decision? What are the concrete steps Malacanang will undertake to secure the release of the 43?” Reyes asked.

Aquino defended

On persistent calls for Aquino to meddle the case, a Palace official insisted that "the ball is with the court”.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Jose Amor Amorado said President Aquino’s stand is the prudent thing to do as of the moment.

“Once the case is filed in court, it’s with the courts. Even if the prosecutor will file the motion, that is nothing if the court will not approve that,” Amorado said.

While the families of the Morong 43 appealed help from the administration, Amorado said they would want to see a move from the group first.

“Why is it that their lawyers have not filed anything to quash the search warrant which was issued in Cavite? Because that will trigger whether the government will oppose the motion,” the Palace official said.

“If you feel that the warrant is invalidly issued, your first move should have been to move to quash it because any evidence that were gathered by virtue of a void warrant is the fruit of the poisonous tree and cannot be used in court,” he added.

He meanwhile dismissed that Aquino is “succumbing to the military” for letting the courts decide on the fate of the suspects. (Kathrina Alvarez/Jill Beltran/AMN/Sunnex)

Palace should make categorical statement on Morong 43-- Bayan

2010-12-06T05:54:00.001-08:00

Believing that it’s not enough to simply say that the case is up to the courts, umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan again pressed the Aquino government to make a clear and categorical statement on their plans to resolve the issue of the detention of the Morong 43.

“It’s been ten months, two DOJ memoranda, two babies born in detention and countless appeals from the day the Morong 43 were illegally arrested, tortured, denied counsel and detained. It’s not enough that the Aquino government to say that the case is up to the courts. What the people want to know and what the detainees want to know, is what exactly will Malacanang do to rectify the situation?” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.

“Of course it will be the courts who will order the release. But what will Malacanang do to enable the courts to make such a decision? What are the concrete steps Malacanang will undertake to secure the release of the 43?” Reyes asked.

Over the weekend, President Benigno Aquino III was quoted as saying that the case is up to the courts to decide. It is the third time he has commented on the case of the Morong 43, and the first time after the detainees launched their hunger strike last December 3.

Bayan said that the 43 remain in high spirits during their hunger strike, even if, according to their doctors, some are experiencing hyperacidity, dizziness, nausea and hypertension. Other BJMP detainees have also fasted to show support for the Morong 43.

The umbrella group also slammed the Armed Forces of the Philippines for statements it made over the weekend, saying that NDFP Chief Negotiator Luis Jalandoni’s call to free the 43 health workers is proof that the detainees are members of the NPA

“That statement is non-sequitur inasmuch as Deputy Speaker Erin Tanada’s call to free the 43 does not mean the detainees are members of the Liberal Party. The statements made by the AFP show that up to now, they are still unrepentant over the illegal arrest, detention and torture of the 43. They are, quite possibly, the force that is trying to stop the release of the health workers, despite the DOJ review,” Reyes said

“We challenge Malacanang to make a clear and categorical statement within this week, when the world observes Human Rights Week.

Two detainees have already given birth while in detention. Judilyn Oliveros and Mercy Castro are now both at the Philippine General Hospital as they are allowed to breastfeed their babies.

The Morong 43 face charges of illegal possession of explosives before the Morong Regional Trial Court and illegal possession of firearms before the Morong Municipal Trial Court. They have a pending appeal before the Supreme Court on their habeas corpus petition questioning the validity of their arrest.

“Government must take responsibility for rectifying the situation of the Morong 43. The courts can only act if the DOJ withdraws the cases filed against the 43. If there’s no action from the executive, what do they expect the courts will do?” Reyes asked. ###

Abby Valenzuela
Public Information Officer
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
(+63)915 763 9619

43 for the 43

2010-12-06T05:26:00.000-08:00

Forty-three HK OFWs stand up to free Morong 43

In a show of support, 43 OFWs in Hong Kong wearing placards saying “Support the hunger strike! Free the Morong 43 Now!” stood at Chater Road in Hong Kong and held a 43-minute program urging Filipino migrants in Hong Kong to back the call for the immediate release of the jailed health workers collectively known as Morong 43.

“Like our brothers and sisters, we too are hungry for justice. Their arrest was illegal and the charges were obviously trumped up. President Aquino should order the prosecution to drop the case, let go of the Morong 43 and take to justice those who perpetrated this condemnable human rights violation,” said Dolores Balladares, chairperson of the militant United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK).

The action, Balladares said, was conducted to show support to the Morong 43 who started a hunger strike last Friday, December 3. The strike is being supported by relatives of the jailed health workers and advocates for human rights.

“They have been tortured and the past 10 months have surely traumatized them. Even the Department of Justice and the President himself have admitted the irregularities of the arrest. The injustice against the Morong 43 must end,” she added.

BAYAN-HK spokesperson Norman Uy Carnay, meanwhile, reported that the action was the first in a series of protests they will conduct on the human rights situation in the Philippines. The actions, he said, will be held together with local organizations in Hong Kong under the banner of the Hong Kong Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines or HKCAHRPP.

“On December 9, local people in Hong Kong from different professions and affiliations will hold actions that will highlight the various human rights problems in the Philippines such as extrajudicial killings, lack of justice for the victims of the Maguindanao Massacre, refusal to release political prisoners, the penchant of the military to file trumped up charges against activists like what they did to the Morong 43, enforced disappearance, and the blatant disrespect to life such as the indiscriminate firing that killed renowned environmentalist Leonard Co,” Carnay relayed

Carnay said that President Aquino’s human rights record does not indicate significant improvements from the past administration’s “criminal regime”

“The case of the Morong 43 shows that the Aquino government is not being decisive in turning the tide for human rights in the country. In fact, KARAPATAN’s report of a rise in number of victims of extrajudicial killings since Aquino assumed the presidency is a cause for serious alarm,” Carnay stated

Finally, Balladares concluded that they will encourage more OFWs and their families to support the hunger strike of the Morong 43

“Their release is one positive step for human rights that the Aquino government should take. He must act now or his administration will be known the same way as its predecessor – a murderer of people’s rights,” she said.

Reference:
Dolores Balladares
UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK Chairperson
Tel: 974 72986

Norman Uy Carnay
BAYAN-HK Spokesperson
Tel: 964 72567

The Secretariat
United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK)
2/F., New Hall, St. John's Cathedral,
4 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong SAR
Tel. (852) 3156-2447 Fax. (852) 2526-2894
E-mail: secretariat@unifil.org.hk
Website: http://www.unifil.org.hk
Blog: compatriots.blogspot.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/unifilhk

Photo: UNIFIL-MIGRANTE_HK

Ten months is enough, withdraw all cases against the Morong 43 now

2010-12-06T00:43:00.001-08:00

Four days prior to the observance of the International Human Rights Day, relatives and supporters of the Morong 43 renewed their call for the immediate withdrawal of all cases filed against the incarcerated health workers in Camp Bagong Diwa. By joining the 43 health workers' hunger strike, they took their campaign for freedom and justice to a higher level. They declared their all-out support for the Morong 43's hunger strike which began Friday last week.

Carlos Montemayor, a registered nurse and spokesperson of the Free the Morong 43 Health Workers! Alliance revealed that relatives and supporters will also hold a hunger strike beginning today at the Philippine Independent Church along Taft Avenue in solidarity with the health workers.

The hunger strike will continue until their demand for the Morong 43's unconditional release is realized, the group said.

Meanwhile, the group expressed optimism on Department of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima's pronouncement that she has submitted another memorandum to Malacañang on December 3 addressing in part the plight of the Morong 43. “We hope that Sec. De Lima will do everything in her authority to make the President realize that rectification of errors in this case means the withdrawal of all charges filed to facilitate the immediate and unconditional release of the health workers,” Montemayor added.

Montemayor furthered that the DOJ executive's hope of finding closure to the case is shared by their group. However, closure can only be achieved when the Morong 43 are unconditionally released and the people behind the case are punished – regardless of their position and influence in the government, he added.

The group said that they are aware that the perpetrators of this gross human rights violation are doing everything it takes to block the executive and judiciary branch from releasing the 43. “The health workers were stripped of their basic political and democratic rights ten months ago today. They are on a hunger strike because they are fighting for a just and principled demand,” Montemayor said.

The group pinned hopes that Sec. De Lima will not succumb to pressures from the military and other government officials behind the Morong 43's detention.

Montemayor vowed that different groups and supporters of the Morong 43 here and abroad will be holding protest activities in similar forms if the Philippine government will continue to detain the health workers.##

Reference:
Carlos Montemayor, RN
0922 499 6237 / (+632) 929 8109

PNOY SHOULD END HIS TIRED REFRAIN AND RELEASE THE MORONG 43 -- Karapatan

2010-12-06T00:40:00.000-08:00

On the 10th month of detention of the Morong 43, the human rights alliance Karapatan called on President Noynoy Aquino to end his tired refrain of “leave it to the courts”.

“It’s the state authorities who issued a faulty warrant, performed an unlawful search, made a preposterous claim of bomb-making, planted pieces of evidence, inflicted torture, denied counsel for and illegally detained the health workers. The government human rights commission, the Justice Department, and other civilian and civil society groups have all reviewed the case, and are one in declaring the travesty of the courts and gross violation of their rights,” Karapatan acting secretary general Jigs Clamor said.

“The National Democratic Front of the Philippines and some senators have been more compassionate to the plight of the Morong 43 asking for their release. PNoy just looks dumb with his repetitive, incoherent, empty, baseless, and contradictory statements,” Karapatan said.

"President Aquino said that he is all for upholding the rights of the people and yet he does not act to do so. He should stop washing his hands off the case of the Morong 43, other political prisoners and all human rights violations victims and take decisive action." Enriquez added.

Thirty-six of the Morong 43 detainees at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig went on hunger strike since Friday.

Karapatan also scored the Armed Forces of the Philippines for “it’s twisted logic” after Army spokesperson Col. Antonio Parlade Jr. said that the NDFP’s call for the Morong 43’s release is an “affirmation that they are NPA”.

“That doesn’t justify the legal, civil, political and moral wrongdoings of the military especially against the Morong 43 and other unarmed civilians. The NDFP has been known to take up cases of human rights violations since its inception during martial law, and together with the Philippine government, signed an agreement to respect human rights and international humanitarial law. The AFP can only show its rabid pro-US war-mongering, ” Karapatan said.

“Pnoy should release the Morong 43 and all political prisoners. That is not a precondition for peace talks but is a positive step towards achieving peace based on justice,” said Karapatan. ###

PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org

‘Morong 43’ detainees getting sick due to hunger strike - doctor

2010-12-05T16:10:00.000-08:00

JERRIE M. ABELLA, GMANews.TV

Volunteer doctors on Sunday were finally allowed to check the condition of female “Morong 43" detainees who are on their third day of hunger strike to pressure the government to expedite their release.

In an interview, Dr. Geneve Rivera of the Free the 43 Health Workers Alliance said jail warden Senior Inspector Mary Jane Clemente had earlier refused to allow volunteer doctors and medical personnel to check on the female detainees.

On Sunday afternoon, however, Rivera and her medical team were finally allowed to enter the Camp Bagong Diwa jail facility in Taguig City.

“We were able to visit them (today), but it’s lamentable that it had to take a lawyer to pressure the jail warden to allow us to visit the detainees," she said.

The Morong 43 detainees are health workers arrested last February in Morong, Rizal, on suspicion that they are members and supporters of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels. They are facing charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

According to Rivera, some of the detainees now need medical attention, citing the case of Jane Balleta who suffered an epileptic seizure Saturday night. Dr. Merry Mia Clamor, one of the detainees, reported to Rivera that there were no available medical personnel from the jail management to attend to Balleta.

Rivera said other health workers on hunger strike are also experiencing dizziness and headache.

“Both male and female Morong detainees are determined to go on hunger strike and we respect that. We hope that Warden Clemente would be responsible enough and accept that we are willing enough to provide medical services we know their facility may not be able to provide," Rivera said.

‘BJMP has doctors, nurse’

In a separate interview, Clemente said the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has nurses and doctors who monitor the conditions of the workers. She, however, said they respect the right of the detainees to be checked by a doctor of their choice.

Clemente denied that she did not allow the medical volunteers to enter the jail facility, saying they only have procedures that must be observed regarding the medical checkup of the detainees. She did not elaborate.

“Hindi naman sila pinababayaan, kasi kung anuman ang mangyari sa kanila, kami ang mananagot (We are not taking them for granted because we will be placed in bad light if something bad happens to them)," Clemente told GMANews.TV.

She neither confirmed nor denied, however, if Balleta had a seizure and if there was indeed no medical personnel from the facility to attend to her condition.

“Dati na siyang maysakit, so ‘pag may change ng weather or stressed siya, nagkaka-seizure siya (She has a lingering illness so a change in the weather or stress can lead to her seizure)," Clemente said.

Five of the 43 remain detained at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, while the rest are detained at Camp Bagong Diwa except for two, Mercy Castro and Judilyn Oliveros, who are confined at the Philippine General Hospital after giving birth while in detention.

Various local and international groups of health workers, human rights advocates, church leaders and lawyers have been calling for the release of the 43 detainees.

Malacañang review ongoing

As this developed, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte reiterated that the case of the Morong 43 is under review and that actions are being undertaken to “rectify" whatever mistake was committed.

"I am not at liberty to discuss the details of this at the time but what we can say is something is being done to rectify the situation within the bounds of the law. [Justice] Secretary [Leila] De Lima, I believe, has already submitted another recommendation to the President, so hintayin na lang natin ‘yung magiging action ni President Aquino tungkol sa bagay na ito (so let’s just wait for President Aquino’s action on this issue)," she said in an interview over government-run radio dzRB.

She also expressed concern over the hunger strike being staged by the detainees.

"Ayaw naman nating malagay sa peligro ang buhay ng mga detainees (We don’t want something bad to happen to them), but it's in their discretion at may ginagawa na tayo (and we’re doing something) within the bounds of law," Valte said.

Valte meanwhile expressed hopes the case of the Morong 43 will not derail the government’s peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

NDFP peace panel chair Luis Jalandoni, upon his arrival in the country on Saturday, urged the government to release the 43 health workers, as well as the other political prisoners, as "goodwill and confidence-building measures" for the resumption of the peace talks.

"Wala naman sigurong magiging epekto ito dahil sa nakita natin sa mga nakaraang linggo hindi lang naman ang CPP at ang NDF ang nagtatawag para sa release ng Morong 43. But again, ang ating masasabi sa panahong ito ay something is being done to rectify the situation within the bounds of law," Valte said.

(I don’t think this will have an effect on the peace talks because as we can see not only the Communist Party of the Philippines and the NDF are calling for the release of the Morong 43.)

Valte clarified that the 43 could not be granted amnesty as President Benigno Aquino III’s Proclamation No. 75 covers only the soldiers and policemen who allegedly participated in attempts to bring down the Arroyo administration.

Senator Joker Arroyo earlier suggested to Aquino to grant amnesty to the 43 detainees. - KBK, GMANews.TV

GABRIELA-USA Calls for Solidarity as the 43 Health Workers Begin Hunger Strike

2010-12-04T07:18:00.001-08:00

Day 8 of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

Contact: Terrie Cervas,
Vice Chair of Finance – GABRIELA USA
Coordinator for Mass Campaigns - Sisters of GABRIELA, Awaken!(SiGAw!)
(213) 537-8278
sigaw.la@gmail.com

December 3rd, 2010 marks the first day that the 43 health workers, also referred to as the Morong 43, embark on a hunger strike in protest of their unlawful detention. Today also marks the 8th day of GABRIELA-USA’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign, on which we highlight the struggle and bravery of the Morong 43.

Nearly 10 months ago, the lives of the Morong 43 (which includes doctors, midwives, and community health workers) were violently disrupted when they were arrested based on false allegations that they are members and supporters of the New People’s Army. While under detention, the 43 have endured physical and psychological torture. Catherine Traywick, journalist and member of Sisters of GABRIELA, Awaken (SiGAw), traveled to the Philippines and personally visited the Morong 43 in the summer of 2010. The visit to the detention center and the specific experiences of the female detainees of the Morong 43 can be found in the article Traywick wrote for Ms. magazine, entitled “Defending the Rights of Detained Filipina Health Workers” (see below full article).

The families of the 43, along with community members from various local and international groups, such as nurses organizations, church groups, human rights advocates, and countless others, have worked tirelessly to demand the release of the 43. Philippine President Benigno Aquino has the ability to have all charges against the 43 health workers withdrawn, but he has not done so, despite his earlier admission that their arrest was based on a defective warrant.

In light of the fact that the Morong 43 remain unlawfully imprisoned under cruel conditions, they have decided to take on a hunger strike at the risk of their own health. The Morong 43’s statement notes, “This is the only course of action left us to end our continued illegal detention, there being no clear action by the government for our unconditional release.”

GABRIELA-USA calls on all concerned community members to stand in solidarity with the 43 and demand their immediate and unconditional release. The campaign calls on all international networks to support the Morong 43 and all political prisoners in the following ways:

Join the hunger strike on December 6, their ten month anniversary in jail, and issue a statement of support;
Organize a sympathy fast or a hunger strike;
Picket the Philippine Embassy and demand freedom for the Morong 43 and other political prisoners especially Angie Ipong, Eduardo Serrano, Eduardo Sarmiento and Sandino Esguerra;
Highlight the hunger strike in your commemoration of human rights week and December 10th - International HR Day;
Lobby your congress representatives;
Write your ambassadors stationed in the Philippines;
Encourage international organizations/institutions and those in your network to send support statements to the hunger strike (addressed to Malacanang cc Philippine Embassy in your country, Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima and Karapatan);

H.E. Benigno C. Aquino III
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila, Philippines
Voice: +63(2) 564 1451
Fax: +63(2) 742 1641 ; +63(2) 929 3968
E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph
Atty. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila, Philippines
Direct Line: +63(2) 521 8344 ; +63(2) 521 3721
Trunkline: +63(2) 523 8481 loc.214
Fax: +63(2) 521-1614
Email: soj@doj.gov.ph

Send postcards;
Circulate this and further announcements plus the hunger strike bulletins (visit freethehealthworkers.blogspot.com) which will be issued from time to time;
Solicit financial and material support for the Morong 43, other political prisoners and their families; and
Share your ideas with others so there can be a variety of support actions.

Free the Morong 43!
Release Angie Ipong, Eduardo Serrano, Eduardo Sarmiento and Sandino Esguerra!
Free all political prisoners!
###

Defending the Rights of Detained Filipina Health Workers

In an unlawful and unjustified sweep, 43 health workers--including two pregnant women--were detained nine months ago in Morong, Philippines. The women and men were separated and sent to prison camps without explanation. Three women have since "disappeared." Find out more in this exclusive interview with the women workers from inside the detention center.

By CATHERINE A. TRAYWICK

When we enter the women's ward of the sprawling, open-air prison complex, we are greeted by a flurry of yellow behind a thin wall of bars. The 23 women we have come to visit are already waiting, buzzing around a wooden table just outside of the cell they share, eager to embrace those among us whom they knew in their former lives.

Each is wearing a brightly-colored t-shirt that reads "Free the 43 Health Workers" and, as the barred gate closes behind the last of us, the crowd bursts into song--a hymn about the strength of women--and some begin to cry.

At the time of our visit, the women (who range in age from early-20s to early-60s) had been imprisoned at this facility for nearly two months and, prior to that, were detained at a high-security military camp for three months. As I write this months later, they are still behind bars. By now, they’ve been locked up for nearly nine months—long enough for two of them, pregnant at the time of their arrests, to give birth in jail.

Within the crowd of 23, one woman is a doctor. Two are midwives. The rest are volunteer community health workers. They are happy to share their stories.

One by one, on the day of our visit, they recount the day of their arrest: That morning, they had been participating in a first-responder health training at a local doctor’s house, sponsored by Community Medicine Development Foundation. In the middle of their workshop, they found themselves surrounded by armed Philippines military and provincial police.

They were all, indiscriminatingly, bound, blind-folded and brought to an undisclosed location where they were interrogated for 36 hours and, some say, tortured. They were 43 when they were arrested in Morong, Rizal. Now they are fractured into three groups: 23 women are housed here, at Bagong Diwa Prison; 15 men are housed in the same prison's high-security ward; and five women and men remain isolated at the military camp.

The arresting officers claim that the health workers are members of the New People's Army (NPA), the armed wing of the insurgent Communist Party of the Philippines. They also claim that the health workers were making bombs at the doctor's home. Recently, they started claiming that the health workers were medics of the NPA.

The accusations are ever-changing and outlandish, even in a country as deeply divided as the Philippines. When I ask them, the women vehemently deny all accusations. Numerous local human rights, health and women's organizations have similarly rejected the allegations, in support of the health workers. The national ire sparked by their continued imprisonment has since fomented into international outrage. Amnesty International has called for a prompt and independent investigation into the legality of the arrest and detention of the health workers, as well as into allegations of torture, and the president of the Philippines has even spoken out (albeit cautiously) about the illegality of the arrests. But as yet all 43 remain in custody.

Sitting amidst the women, whose stories evoke both tears and laughter, it would be difficult to believe that they are terrorists, as the military claims. It's much easier to believe that they are victims, caught up in the government's controversial counter-insurgency campaign before anyone knew what was happening. For hours, they talk about the indignities they suffered at the military camp where, for five days, they were denied their right to counsel.

One of them explains that they were diapered during the first 36 hours of their detention, after which they were only allowed to use the toilet with the assistance of guards, who removed and replaced their underwear each time. An older woman tells us that she was isolated from the other women and that the interrogating officer repeatedly called her "mother" in between accusations. Another young woman recalls the day that three women were removed from the cell they shared, the guards muffling screams with heavy palms. They never saw those women again. They have since been told that the missing women, along with two of the men, are still at the military camp and that they are "cooperating" with officials.

While the health workers maintain that they are not affiliated with the NPA, they are honest about being community activists. "It's hard to be a community health worker and not become an activist," explains Merry Clamor, a 33-year-old doctor. When one sees the poor conditions of the people, she adds, one is compelled to advocate in their interests.

The contributions of health workers are profoundly felt by Philippines communities, which is, in part, why so many are outraged by the ongoing detention of the Morong 43. Following implementation of socially retrogressive programs imposed by the World Bank and the IMF in the 1980s and 1990s, the nation privatized its health-care system, effectively rendering it economically prohibitive and thus inaccessible to most Filipinos.

According to Ibon International, privatization has lowered government spending on health care to a mere 1.7 percent of total national expenditures over the last decade. For many Filipinos, the care offered by all-volunteer community health teams is the only care they are likely to ever receive.

"We are doing the work that the government refuses to do," Clamor says, "and this is how they repay us."

The Morong 43 are not the first community health workers to be accused of being NPA members and summarily arrested. At least 8 others have been detained or killed prior to their arrest. The human rights organization Karapatan, which keeps a running record of detentions, disappearances and deaths associated with the government's counter-insurgency program, calculates that 59 women (of 317 people in total) have been taken into custody as political prisoners under the current administration--among them community organizers, health workers and environmental activists.

Nevertheless, the women remain optimistic. While their families, lawyers, and organizations try to secure their release, they are putting their skills to use in the women's ward--they've started performing health check-ups on other inmates and, in their spare time, they make colorful beaded necklaces that read "Free 43."

Before we leave, they insist on singing us another song.

CATHERINE A. TRAYWICK is an immigration blogger for The Media Consortium, and a staff writer for Campus Progress. She interned at Ms. in the spring of 2010. She has a B.A. in English and a minor in Women & Gender Studies from Arizona State University.
http://www.msmagazine.com/Fall2010/FilipinaWorkers.asp

Medical team was not allowed to conduct a medical check -up female Morong 43 detainees

2010-12-04T05:45:00.000-08:00

On the first day of the Morong 43’s hunger strike, a volunteer medical team was denied to conduct medical check-up on female Morong detainees.

Warden Mary Jane Clemente who is in-charge of the female detention center inside the Camp Bagong Diwa did not allow the volunteer medical team to check on the female Morong 43 detainees.

According to the medical team led by Dr. Geneve Rivera from the FREE 43 HEALTH WORKERS ALLIANCE , “after much waiting, the warden gave no assurance as to when the necessary preliminary medical examination will be done if it was to be done at all. “ This was despite the effort of the female detainees to inform the warden that they want to be examined by doctors and medics of their choice.

“The Free the 43 Health Workers Alliance many of whom are doctors and medical professionals is willing to provide necessary medical assistance to the Morong 43 in this hunger strike, and the Morong 43 have accepted and designated our volunteers to do this very important task. “ said Rivera.

Rivera told BJMP officials that the Morong 43’s decision to stage a hunger strike is right that should be respected. They should be prepared for medical services to be warranted in any case of emergency. They should also respect that the detainees want doctors of their choice to monitor their medical status during the strike.

The volunteer medical team arrived at noon and went to check on the male detainees first. The result of their medical examination on the male detainees resulted in three having high blood pressure and one being underweight.

They also went to check on the jail’s preparations for the hunger strike. The infirmary has beds with new sheets but there was lack of some medical equipment and supplies and some equipment need repair. The detention’s medical personnel in charge of the infirmary also expressed that they will appreciate help from the volunteer medical team in any medical emergency that will result from the hunger strike.###

Reference:
Dr. Geneve Rivera
Mobile: 0920 460 3712 / 545 0746

Free 'Morong 43' alliance hits BJMP

Morong 43’s Hunger Strike is not only legitimate, it is most just; Free all political prisoners – SELDA

2010-12-04T05:34:00.000-08:00

The Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA), an organization of former political prisoners in the Philippines, is one with the Morong 43 and all 371 political prisoners in the country in calling for their immediate and unconditional release from detention. As human rights organizations and peoples all over the world commemorate on December 3 the International Day of Solidarity for Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War of the International League of Peoples’ Struggles, we are one in condemning the continuing policies and practice of torture, criminalization of the exercise of political beliefs and arbitrary detention of political prisoners and prisoners of war all over the world.

We salute the Morong 43 and all political prisoners in the Philippines in their hunger strike which started on December 3, 2010. The hunger strike is a strong political statement of strength and unity amid efforts of the Aquino government to impede the release of the Morong 43 and all political prisoners in the country. There were 2, 059 victims of illegal arrest under the Arroyo government, 579 of them are human rights defenders. 333 of them are women and 112 of them are minors at the time of their arrest. Among these victims are the Morong 43, the forty health workers who are on their 10th month of detention. While Pres. Aquino has called their arrest and the warrant used for their arrest as “fruits of the poisonous tree,” he has not pursued the withdrawal of charges against them and their unconditional release because of his apparent amiable relations with the so-called “security sector” of the state, which includes the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Security Council. Thus, the hunger strike of the Morong 43 is not only legitimate, it is most just. We likewise call for the immediate release of political prisoners such as peace advocate Angelina Ipong, National Democratic Front consultants Ed Sarmiento and Ed Serrano, and Sandino Esguerra, all have languished in jails for more than five years now.

In the first four months of the new Aquino government, there are already thirteen (13) political prisoners, among the 23 victims of illegal arrest and detention. Sixteen out of the 23 were victims of torture. SELDA attributes this directly to Aquino’s continued implementation of the Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL), Arroyo’s former counter-insurgency policy which has spawned the extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, illegal arrests and trumped up charges against activists and supporters. While Aquino’s new counter-insurgency program will still be enforced the next year, we see this as the same terror blueprint, with loads of deceptive programs included. A counter-insurgency policy patterned after the United States Counter Insurgency Guide of 2009 can only result to more victims of illegal arrests and arbitrary detention, EJKs, enforced disappearances and thousands of more human rights violations. It is thus no wonder that the climate of impunity continues.

The US counter-insurgency policies have been consistently drafted and implemented by puppet states of the US all over the world to crush legitimate political dissent in their countries, especially those that seek the halt of US plunder and intervention on its neocolonial states. These have been consistently implemented to promote aggression against national liberation movements of peoples all over the world. These have been consistently implemented to silence and put behind bars those who strive to work for genuine peace, social justice and freedom.

Reference:
FR. DIONITO CABILLAS
Secretary General, SELDA

SELDA stands in solidarity with the political prisoners, their families and supporters and peoples of the world against these forms of political repression, fascism and aggression. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of the Morong 43 and all political prisoners in the Philippines and the world. We call for justice for all victims of human rights violations and state impunity.

INTERNATIONAL CHURCH LEADERS/REPRESENTATIVES DELEGATION CALLS FOR RELEASE OF MORONG 43, LAND AND JUSTICE TO HACIENDA LUISITA WORKERS

2010-12-04T05:27:00.000-08:00

An international delegation of church leaders/representatives from the World Council of Churches' “Living Letters” arrived in the country December 1, to look into the human rights situation under the present dispensation. A team visited the Morong 43 and had a dialogue with Sec. Leila de Lima of the Department of Justice while another team visited the workers of Hacienda Luisita. Before that, they had conversations with families of victims of human rights violations under both the Arroyo and Aquino presidencies. They released a statement about their concern on the human rights situation in the country and their solidarity “to the people of the Philippines with gratitude and admiration for your courage and your hope for just and lasting peace”.

On the issue of the Morong 43, who are currently on hunger strike, they questioned “the legality of their arrest and continued detention, as do some officials of the country including the President”. “We strongly urge their immediate and unconditional release”, they stated.

They appreciated their dialogue with Sec. De Lima, saying that “we saw, heard and rejoice in the resolve of... (Sec. de Lima) to have the charges against the 43 health workers withdrawn by December 10th, United Nations International Human Rights Day and if not by then, at least before Christmas”. They also appreciated Sec. De Lima’s “recognition of the existence of a culture of impunity that has resulted in extra-judicial killings and massive human rights violations, and her resolve to put an end to it”. They stated that “we affirm her belief that there is no inconsistency between human rights and justice; when you serve one, you serve the other”.

On the issue of Hacienda Luisita Workers, they called “for the immediate implementation of the decisions of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council to distribute the land to the farmers”. They also noted that they “saw and heard about the presence of local and foreign military personnel in Hacienda Luisita and in other parts of the country, posing a threat to the local communities”. On this matter, they called upon the Philippine Government “to repeal the Visiting Forces Agreement and withdraw all military presence from civilian communities”.

The delegation also said that they “saw and heard deep hopes that the President will keep his electoral promises to put an end to impunity with regard to extrajudicial killings, disappearances and abductions, implement genuine land reform, work toward reconciliation with justice and peace, and live up to his expressed commitment to give top priority to the peace negotiations.”

Lastly, they called on people of other nations “to express solidarity with the Filipino people and express their concerns to the international bodies, the Philippine President, the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs”.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a worldwide fellowship of 349 churches, denominations and church fellowships in more than 110 countries and territories representing 560 million Christians. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland and has a Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. The “Living Letters” was organized by the WCC, where representatives from other countries make an organized visit to a given host country for a particular compelling reason. It is WCC’s way of expressing solidarity to the sisters and brothers in the host country. They are being hosted by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).

The “Living Letters” process includes listening to the stories of human misery in the host country and providing necessary encouragement. The objectives of their visit are: to listen to the victims or the relatives of human rights violations in the Philippines; to have a first-hand knowledge of the state of human rights in the Philippines; to recommend ways and means for the international ecumenical community to support the active defense of human rights and civil liberties in the Philippines.

The delegation is composed of Rev. Tara Jewel Curlewis, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Australia; Moderator Mardi Anette Tindal of the United Church of Canada; Rev. Dr. Dan Sandu of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Mr. Tony Waworuntu, former staff of the Christian Conference of Asia; Ms. Vijula Aralanantham, Board Chairperson of Prison Fellowship International; Ms. Carmencita Karagdag, member of the WCC Central Committee. They are accompanied by WCC staff, Segmenish Asfaw, Anastasia Dragan and Aneth Lwakatare. ###

References:
Rev. Fr. Rex RB. Reyes, Jr.
General Secretary, NCCP
09267048249

Ms. Biyaya Quizon
Media Liaison, NCCP
09397751650
Living Letters Visit to the Philippines

(Statement of the World Council of Churches Delegation to the Philippines)

“Living letters” (2 Corinthians 3:3) is a symbol of the living Church which we represent by coming together under the auspices of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and at the kind invitation of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).

When asked by the disciples where He lived, Jesus answered, “Come and see” (John 1:39), then He commanded John, “write down what you see and send a letter to the churches” (Revelations 1:12). Every visit is a revelation when the knower and the known become one.

This visit has been an opportunity for us to come and see: to see a culture, to see a people, to see a church, to see concerns, turmoil and hopes. First we were warmly welcomed by the General Secretary of the NCCP, Rev. Rex Reyes. With hospitality and assistance from him and his colleagues:

We saw and heard the heart-breaking stories of victims of human rights abuses and their family members. We saw and felt the pain of those who have lost loved ones by extra-judicial killings, arbitrary detentions, torture and enforced disappearances.

We saw, heard and felt the pain of the farmers in Hacienda Luisita in their struggle for just labour conditions and decent livelihoods, which have been denied to them as a result of land grabbing and unfair labour practices. We call for the immediate implementation of the decisions of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council to distribute the land to the farmers.

We saw and heard about the presence of local and foreign military personnel in Hacienda Luisita and in other parts of the country, posing a threat to the local communities. We call upon the Philippine Government to repeal the Visiting Forces Agreement and withdraw all military presence from civilian communities.

We particularly saw and heard the pain, spirit and courage of the 43 health workers and their families. We question the legality of their arrest and continued detention, as do some officials of the country including the President. We strongly urge their immediate and unconditional release.

We saw, heard and rejoice in the resolve of the Secretary of the Department of Justice to have the charges against the 43 health workers withdrawn by December 10th, United Nations International Human Rights Day and if not by then, at least before Christmas. We also rejoice in her recognition of the existence of a culture of impunity that has resulted in extra-judicial killings and massive human rights violations, and her resolve to put an end to it. We affirm her belief that there is no inconsistency between human rights and justice; when you serve one, you serve the other.

We saw and heard the desire of all Christian denominations, faith communities, social movements and all people of good will to unite together to recognise and promote the inherent value of life and human dignity.

We saw and heard deep hopes that the President will keep his electoral promises to put an end to impunity with regard to extrajudicial killings, disappearances and abductions, implement genuine land reform, work toward reconciliation with justice and peace, and live up to his expressed commitment to give top priority to the peace negotiations.

We write to the people of other nations to express solidarity with the Filipino people and express their concerns to the international bodies, the Philippine President, the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs. We write to the people of the Philippines with gratitude and admiration for your courage and your hope for just and lasting peace.

May the Baby Jesus make us all Living Letters to prepare His Way by committing ourselves to prayer and action.

Glory to God and Peace on Earth (Luke 2:14).

PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK

Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign. It was established in 1995.

Hunger Strike Day 1

2010-12-03T22:44:00.000-08:00

Related News

Statement of the Morong 43 on Day 1 of their Hunger Strike

2010-12-03T16:19:00.000-08:00

Today we begin our hunger strike. This is the only course of action left us to end our continued illegal detention, there being no clear action by the government for our unconditional release.

On December 6, we will be on our 10th month in detention. We were arrested last February 6 by a joint AFP-PNP operation based on a defective warrant. We were tortured physically and psychologically, deprived of sleep, subjected to various indignities, threatened with harm, denied legal counsel for several days and illegally detained until now. Planted evidence was used and false charges were filed against us. Our human rights continue to be violated. Every day in jail is an injustice to us.

For the last 10 months, our families and friends from different sectors have never stopped working for our release. Even the international community was alarmed over our illegal arrest and continued detention. Various human rights advocates here and abroad have been unceasing in staging activities and protest actions calling on the President Benigno Aquino III to withdraw the charges against us.

The Department of Justice has conducted a review of our case. The findings have been submitted to President Aquino. The president himself has admitted that our arrest was based on a defective warrant and that “evidence wrongly gotten cannot be used.” Yet despite these findings, there are no clear indications that the charges against us will be withdrawn anytime soon.

Our action today and in the succeeding days is a call to President Aquino to simply order the withdrawal of the case against us forthwith so that we may be immediately and unconditionally released. We believe it is only fitting that we stage this hunger strike as the world observes Human Rights Week. We fight not only for our freedom but for the freedom of all political prisoners nationwide.

FREE THE MORONG 43!

FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!

This page requires a higher version browserGMA News.tv

Call to International Networks in Support of Morong 43 and All Political prisoners

2010-12-03T05:54:00.000-08:00

Today, December 3, the Morong 43 started their hunger strike for freedom. December 6 would be the 10th month of their illegal arrest and detention.

We demand their immediate and unconditional release. The 43 health workers, who were attending a grassroots medical training, are victims of illegal search, arrest, detention and torture. They are ridiculously charged with illegal possession of explosives. The pieces of evidence against them are either planted or inadmissible since these are, in legal jurisprudence, "fruits of the poisonous tree".

Charges against them can be withdrawn if only President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III will heed the advice of respected legal minds including the Secretary of Justice. That he continues to pass the burden to courts can either mean ignorance of the legal process or propensity for sticking his head in the sand.

Aside from the main venue of the hunger strike at Camp Bagong Diwa, a Support the M43 Hunger Strike Center has been set up in Manila for the families, other relatives, friends and multi-sectoral networks and individuals who will be on sympathy hunger strike or fasting. Cultural groups plan to perform at the center.

Political prisoners in various detention centers and prisons in different provinces will hold their own fasting and/or sympathy act such as noise barrage and others. Their actions aim to cap the year's campaign to free all political prisoners especially those who have long been deprived of their liberty like Angie Ipong in Misamis Occidental, Eduardo Serrano and Eduardo Sarmiento in Camp Crame and Sandino Esguerra in Camp Bagong Diwa.

Let us drum up international support for the Morong 43 and all political prisoners. You may:

Join the hunger strike on December 6, their 10th month anniversary in jail, and issue a statement of support;
Organize sympathy fasting or a few-day hunger strike;
Picket the Philippine Embassy and demand freedom for the Morong 43 and other political prisoners especially Ipong, Serrano, Sarmiento and Esguerra;
Highlight the hunger strike in your commemoration of human rights week and December 10 International HR Day;
Lobby with your parliament, congress and/or senate;
Write your ambassadors stationed in the Philippines;
Encourage international organizations/institutions and those in your network to send support statements to the hunger strike (addressed to Malacanang cc Philippine Embassy in your country, Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima and Karapatan);
Keep those postcards coming, we want them by the thousands;
Circulate this and further announcements plus the hunger strike bulletins which we will issue from time to time;
Solicit financial and material support for the Morong 43, other political prisoners and their families; and
Share your ideas with us and others so we can have a variety of support actions.

Free the Morong 43!
Release Angie Ipong, Eduardo Serrano, Eduardo Sarmiento and Sandino Esguerra!
Free all political prisoners!

Lawyers, doctors, nurses, and health workers march for Morong 43 freedom

2010-12-03T05:42:00.000-08:00

Nearly ten months into unjust incarceration, lawyers, health professionals and health workers march to highlight their call to free the 43 health workers. From the illegal arrest and continued detention of the Morong 43, the medical and legal professions have been at the helm of the efforts to free the 43 health workers.

“The medical and legal community calls for the withdrawal of all cases filed against the health workers,” Dr. Julie Caguiat, spokesperson of the alliance said.

While President Aquino keeps on claiming a commitment on human rights and moves away from the dark shadows of the Arroyo regime, since it assumed office, it has only resorted up to this to sheer sloganeering on human rights and an evasive stance on the Morong 43. According to Dr. Caguiat, “how can President Aquino be so callous by insisting on a trial of the health workers and still has not moved to withdraw the charges against the health workers when he himself already confirmed the blatant defects of the arrest which by principle should not merit a judicial review.”

By these pronouncements of the Aquino administration, it virtually sanctions the military’s sinister and illegal behavior within its counter-insurgency program.

“We believe that it is among the salient duties of the government to protect its citizens from injustices especially from the abuses of the state. However, Aquino is making himself complicit of the past administration’s atrocities by refusing to perform his moral obligations to uphold human rights and enforce the rule of law and heeding only to the arbitrary ways of the military.”

The alliance also said that it is unfortunate that Aquino has the mettle to call for the release of Aung Sang Su Kyi while the rest of the world still has to remind the Philippine government of the urgency of addressing the injustices here in the country.

The group underscored that the continued detention of the Morong 43 portends more days of injustices and violations of human rights and affronts of civil liberties. Caguiat said “we fear that there will be more similar cases of illegal arrest and detention if the government will not make the correct political stand.”

Among the medical and legal groups who participated in the march included the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, National Union of Peoples Lawyers, International Association of Progressive Lawyers, International Association of Democratic Lawyers, Philippine Nurses Association, Free the 43 Health Workers! Alliance and representatives from various medical and legal schools.##

Reference:
Julie P. Caguiat, M.D.
0909 113 3038 / (+632) 929 8109

JOINT STATEMENT ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY FOR THE POLITICAL PRISONERS

2010-12-03T05:41:00.000-08:00

We, families, friends & comrades of political prisoners in the Philippines and Turkey join our hands today, December 3, 2010 – the International Day of Solidarity for the Political Prisoners, in calling for the immediate release of All the Political Prisoners in Turkey and the Philippines.

We strongly urge the Turkish and Philippine government to stop all forms of torture and isolation to the prisoners in the country.

We believe that the 6000 political prisoners in Turkey and the 375 political prisoners in the Philippines should be released immediately without preconditions.

These political prisoners are not criminals and should be freed immediately to continue their invaluable service to the people of Turkey and Philippines in working for class and national struggles.

We likewise join the international community of people's movement in calling for the immediate release of the Morong 43, the forty three health workers who are were illegally arrested, tortured and detained, and all political prisoners in the world who are languishing in various jails and detention centres.

Axel Pinpin, Genel Sekreter, KASAMA-TK (Güney Tagalog Köylü Hareketi Federasyonu –Filipinler)
SELDA – Organization of Former Prisoners Against Detention and Arrest in the Philippines
Alinteri (Toil)
Demokratik Haklar Federasyonu (Federation for Democratic Rights)
Halk Cephesi (People’s Front)
Partizan (Partisan)
Partizan Sehit ve Tutsak Aileleri (Families of Partisan’s Martyrs and Prisoners)
Tutuklu Gazetecilerle Dayanisma Platformu (The Platform of Solidarity With Detained Journailsts)

Morong 43 release now DoJ’s call

2010-11-29T16:50:00.000-08:00

Letter to the Editor
Philippine Daily Inquirer

I WRITE in reference to the letter of Rosauro B. Canlas. (“Morong 43 case for court to decide,” Inquirer, 11/15/10) If indeed Canlas is a health worker as she claims to be, it makes us very sad to read a fellow colleague parroting the blatant lies and contentions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines regarding the issue of the Morong 43. Canlas should be enlightened on the truth behind the Morong 43’s arrest.

For the record, the health workers were training in a farmhouse owned by a renowned infectious disease specialist and professor emeritus of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. The training facility is well-known among health professionals and medical students as it has been used for significant functions of the medical community—contrary to Canlas’ claim that the place was “undisclosed.” Moreover, the explosives and subversive documents that Canlas alleged to have been found in the possession of the 43 health workers are exactly what President Benigno Aquino III himself refers to as “fruits of the poisoned tree.” Because the “pieces of evidence” were wrongfully gotten by virtue of a defective search warrant, the case cannot prosper in court.

By sheer logic and jurisprudence, a person must be assumed innocent until proven guilty. Disappointingly, present realities and rising statistics of brazen human rights violations prove otherwise.

To say that the court now has exclusive jurisdiction over the case is preposterous. In truth, by President Aquino’s affirmation that the arrest and detention of the 43 were illegal and baseless in the first place, the Department of Justice can now motu proprio withdraw the information or cases filed against them and should desist from initiating any further actions against them.

The 43 do not deserve another day in prison. Free the 43 health workers, free all political prisoners now!

ELEANOR A. JARA, M.D.,
Executive Director,
Council for Health and Development,
chdmancom@gmail.com

‘Morong 43’ taking care of health needs of fellow inmates

2010-11-29T15:40:00.000-08:00

AMITA O. LEGASPI, GMANews.TV

The 43 health workers arrested early this year in Morong town in Rizal for allegedly being members and supporters of communist rebels continue to provide health care assistance to the needy even while detained.

Senior Inspector Mary Jane Clemente of the Metro Manila District Jail said they were taking advantage of the skills of the health workers – dubbed as the Morong 43 – especially during emergency situations inside the detention facility.

“Nagagamit namin sila dito lalo na si Dr. [Merry Mia] Clamor, lalo na sa mga check-up at emergency cases pag may inaatake ng hypertension or asthma (They are useful, especially Dr. Merry Mia Clamor, during emergency cases like hypertension and asthma attacks) ," she told reporters.

Clamor, a graduate of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, is the director of the Health Education, Training and Services of the Council of Health and Education, a non-government organization involved in community health work.

Clemente said the presence of the health workers is a big help to them since the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) only has one roving doctor servicing all the 37 jail facilities in the National Capital Region.

“Isipin mo yun isang araw, isang jail. Isang beses isang buwan lang kami halos napupuntahan (We are visited by the roving doctor only once a month)," she said.

Visit from a congressman

The Morong 43, who were arrested in February this year, was visited by House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada in their detention center at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

Tañada first went to the female cell where he was greeted by 21 of the 23 health workers detained there. The other two—Mercy Castro and Judilyn Oliveros—have been confined at the Philippine General Hospital after giving birth while in detention.

Tañada also went to the male detention cell where the other health workers were jailed.

The health workers were wearing yellow t-shirts with words “Free Morong 43" printed on them when they met with Tañada. They were not allowed to talk to the journalists who covered the visit.

Tañada said the health workers informed him they were helping their co-inmates with their health needs.

“They've been taking care of themselves and as a matter of fact I asked them if they've also been looking into the other inmates and they said they do, they coordinate with the BJMP and try to offer their services to the inmates here," he said.

The detained health workers gave the lawmaker a beaded bracelet that they made as a token of appreciation.

Free before Christmas?

“Hopefully something may happen before December or hopefully before Christmas. It would be a nice gift for the Morong 43 to spend Christmas at home," he said.

He expressed hopes that President Benigno Aquino III would not put the issue in the back burner considering the attention it is getting in the country and abroad.

“Parating pinag-uusapan ito dahil maraming repercussions itong kasong ito dahil maraming human rights organizations not only here but abroad who have been raising this issue, so I'm sure a lot of organizations are concerned," he said.

“We will be celebrating the International Human Rights Day (on December 10) and again we would like to reiterate our appeal that the Morong 43 be released from their captivity and if possible, appeal to the President and Secretary De Lima to withdraw the cases filed against them," he said.

Tañada cited the earlier pronouncement of De Lima that the evidence collected against health workers were illegally retrieved and would not be used or would not be admissible in court.

“The ball is in the hands of the executive if they want to proceed or withdraw the case," he said.

Human Rights

He said the release of Morong 43 would show that the Aquino administration respects human rights.

“The International Human Rights Day is just around the corner, it's 11 days from now and it may be one of the messages that the administration might want to make - to show that they respect human rights and one showcase is the release of the Morong 43," Tañada said.

The 43 health workers were detained on charges of illegal possession of explosives and firearms, under Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by Republic Act No. 9516.

“It has been more than nine months since these 43 health workers were arrested and detained using a defective search warrant. They were also interrogated without the assistance of a lawyer. On those counts alone, their case should be withdrawn," said Tañada.

Last week, he filed House Resolution 703 directing the Committee on Human Rights to exercise its oversight function and inquire into how two recently enacted laws -- RA 9851 otherwise known as the International Humanitarian Law, and RA 9745 or the Anti-Torture Law -- are being observed and adhered to by the concerned institutions.

Tortured

He cited reports that the some of the 43 detainees were tortured into admitting that they were members of the New People’s Army.

The admission of five of the members of Morong 43 that they are NPA rebels was the reason why they were left in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal and not brought to Camp Bagong Diwa.

Oscar Yaun, brother of registered midwife Yolanda Yaun, one of the Morong 43, agreed that the detained health workers received better treatment in Camp Bagong Diwa than in Camp Capinpin.

“Sa Capinpin daw kahit alas dos ng madaling araw ginigising sila paisa-isa, kinukuha, ini-interrogate, tatanungin ng paulit-ulit, paaaminin na NPA sila (In Capinpin they were interrogated even at 2 in the morning)," he told reporters.

He said in Camp Capinpin, visitors are allowed to see the detainees for only five minutes, but in Camp Bagong Diwa, the visiting time is longer.

Visitors

For instance, Yaun’s mother, Consolatres, was allowed to see and greet her daughter, who will be celebrating her birthday Tuesday, even though Monday is a no-visitors day.

Clemente said they always try to treat the inmates well.

“Ang problema lang dito hindi maganda yung facilities namin, masikip pero nakakalabas naman sila para magpaaraw, meron din silang mga activities gaya ng badminton at volleyball. Magkakaroon din kami ng Christmas party," she said.

(Our only problem here is our decrepit facilities and cramped space. But the inmates have a lot of activities to enjoy here like badminton and volleyball. We’ll even have a Christmas party.)

She admitted that the security imposed on Morong 43 is tight because they are considered high risk or high profile inmates, which she said is the same classification of drug lords. - KBK, GMANews.TV

Related News

PLM medical community joins call to release of Morong 43

2010-11-24T06:10:00.000-08:00

Pamantasang Lungsod ng Maynila(PLM) community led by medical students join calls to free the Morong 43. Dr. Merry Mia Clamor, a medical graduate of PLM is among the 43 health workers or the Morong 43 who were arrested last Feb 6 and are still detained at Camp Bagong Diwa based on trumped up charges.

On Tuesday, Aug. 23, coinciding with the launch of the Free the Dr. Merry Mia Clamor – Free the Morong 43 Movement a university wide forum held at Justo Albert Hall values of community health practice and to recognize the contributions of Dr. Clamor as one of those rarefied physicians involved in this field.

Philomedica Scientia, a medical sorority where Dr. Clamor is also a member sponsored the event and was co-sponsored by the PLM College of Medicine Student Council, Brotherhood of Medical Scholars and PLM Medical Alumni Association.

Clamor finished her BS Botany at the Pamantasan in 1997 and later her medical degree in 2001. Immediately after medical school she has been committedly involved in community health work. She is the director of the Health Education, Training and Services of the Council of Health and Development(CHD), the NGO which sponsored the training when they were arrested.

According to Dr. Julie Caguiat, spokesperson of the FREE THE 43 HEALTH WORKERS ALLIANCE this event is part of the growing clamor and various efforts calling for justice and the immediate, unconditional release of the Morong 43.

It’s also a stand to raise issues and protection of those in the practice of community medicine and those who work for the benefit of marginalized people and the communities which barely have access to health services.

Doctors and medical professionals like Dr. Mia- Clamor who, in lieu of choosing financially rewarding careers must be recognized and be given protection. “We hope that thru this effort we could also encourage more students to follow Dr. Merry’s selfless example.”

Reference:
Dr. Julie Caguiat
Spokesperson, FREE THE 43 HEALTH WORKERS ALLIANCE
0909 113 3038 / 0919 486 0580

To P-noy, please don’t wash hands on Morong 43

2010-11-21T06:28:00.000-08:00

The relatives and the colleagues of the Morong 43 are deeply frustrated by President Aquino’s reprisal of his earlier statement insisting that it is up to the court to decide on the Morong 43.

They still ask the Presidents not to wash his hands on Morong 43 and exercise political will based on truth and a fair sense of justice. The group laments that it’s unfortunate that it seems the President has started to turn a blind eye on the blatant injustices committed against the 43 health workers. According to Carlos Montemayor, spokesperson of the group, “we thoroughly understand that Malacanang as being argued cannot unilaterally decide on the case, but it should not complicate the matter into ‘turf issues’ between executive department and the judiciary. It is a fact that the Palace and the courts are separate institutions and we are not asking them to usurp the courts’ functions.”

However, according to the group, there is something that the Aquino administration can and should do to put an end to the injustice against the Morong 43 on the basis of the President’s affirmation that the arrest and detention of the 43 health workers was illegal and baseless in the first place. The DOJ must now in motu propio withdraw the information or cases filed against the 43 and they should desist in initiating any further actions against them.

The group insisted that there can be no trial if the process of arrest was illegal and so with the evidences being charged to have been in the health workers’ possession were planted. In fact, the local court has not even started with the hearings after in consideration of question of the arrest raised before the Supreme Court.

Montemayor asked, “what was the point of the reviews from the DOJ and Malacanang legal team when P-noy only would only come up with a diffused pronouncement and a repeat of his statement last October 14. It is also strange that President Aquino decided to politically distance himself from the issue after making an official declaration of the lapses and now would leave out his pledge to rectify the matter. ” The alliance hopes that P-noy is not disengaging with his moral duty just to appease the military which had earlier made subtle remarks of not being happy if the president favorably decides in favor of the Morong 43.

“We cannot fathom that a government claiming to hinge its mandate on peoples’ will, democracy and justice will turn a blind eye on a blatant case of injustice for the sake of political expediency,” ended Montemayor.

Reference:
Carlos Montemayor, RN
Mobile : 09224996237

Gone too soon

2010-11-20T07:08:00.001-08:00

He did not chase fame or glory for his works so that he could cut a name above the rest. His ardor for studying plants was fueled by a burning passion to contribute to the conservation of the environment. He is Leonard Co, a people’s scientist whose life was cut short in an alleged "crossfire" between the military and NPA on November 15, 2010.

Leonard’s legacy to us is his passion and dedication for his work with which he authored books on indigenous plants in the Cordilleras. The book “Common Medicinal Plants in the Cordillera Region: A Trainor’s Manual for Community-Based Health Programs” served as an invaluable reference to Community Health Workers not only in the Cordillera but to more than 50 community-based health programs (CBHP) across the country. His works paved the way for the documentation of medicinal plants in areas where CBHPs are present. Despite his many commitments, he agreed to be a consultant on a medicinal plants documentation project with the Council for Health and Development (CHD) and a UP-based research group in 2008 -- proof that community-based health programs always have a special place in his heart.

We are saddened and angered by this loss. The entire community-based health programs in the Philippines vow to keep vigil until justice is served for Leonard. An impartial and independent investigation of this case must be undertaken to shed light on the truth and answer many questions. We will not rest until the perpetrators of this crime are punished. We call on President Aquino to ensure that no whitewash of the case shall ever happen and that justice be served the soonest. We challenge the new administration to put an end to the culture of impunity.

Eleanor A. Jara, M.D.
Executive Director
Council for Health and Development
chdmancom@gmail.com

A Resolution Calling for the Immediate Release Of the 43 Community Health Workers in the Philippines

2010-11-18T06:02:00.000-08:00

by Raymund B Villanueva on Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 5:14am

(Proposed by Raymund B. Villanueva, Kodao Productions, Philippines)

In February 6, 2010, soldiers and police arrested 43 community health workers in the Philippines on the basis of a faulty warrant. The community health practitioners were blindfolded, taken to a military camp, held incommunicado and severely tortured by the Philippine Army. In the past nine months, two of the victims have already given birth under detention.

AMARC hereby expresses its solidarity to our fellow community development workers. Like community broadcasters community health workers provide for a basic human right, particularly in poor, marginalized, disaster-prone areas and areas of conflict.

The new Philippine government has recognized that the arrest was highly irregular. This admission of irregularity was made by no less than Philippine President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III following a thorough investigation by the Philippine Department of Justice and global condemnation.

Under humanitarian, if not legal and moral considerations, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters strongly supports the global campaign for the immediate release of our fellow community development workers, the Morong 43 health workers.

(Passed unanimously as the third resolution of AMARC 10 General Assembly, La Plata, Argentina, 13 November 2010.)

= = = = = = = = =

About AMARC:

AMARC is an international non-governmental organization serving the community radio movement in over 110 countries, and advocating for the right to communicate at the international, national, local and neighbourhood levels. AMARC has an International Secretariat in Montreal. It has regional sections in Africa, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, North America and Asia Pacific and offices in Johannesburg, Buenos Aires, Brussels, and Kathmandu. For more information, please contact Suman Basnet, Regional Coordinator for Asia-Pacific, suman_basnet@asiapacific.amarc.org or visit www.asiapacific.amarc.org.

Nine months more than enough time to realize the arrest of Morong 43 was illegal

2010-11-18T06:01:00.001-08:00

“Ten months is more than enough time to point out the Morong 43 arrest was illegal. Release the health workers, now!” said the relatives and supporters of the Morong 43.

This was the reaction of the relatives to last Monday’s meeting (Nov.15) with Malacanang officials. During the meeting with Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Jose Amorado and Atty. Ronaldo Geron, it was revealed that a final review of the report by Secretary De Lima was just concluded and is ready for President Aquino’s perusal in the coming days.

While P-noy is yet to make to make his comments on these layers of reviews, the group said there is nothing that should keep him from calling the release of the Morong 43, especially when he himself declared the illegalities of the arrest.

After more than 10 grueling months of illegal detention and various levels investigations and reviews of various agencies, including that of Commission of Human Rights, DOJ and now lawyers of the President himself, the time has come to set the health workers free.

According to the FREE THE 43 HEALTH WORKERS ALLIANCE, while they welcome the much belated steps of the Aquino administration, they called on Aquino to “stop belaboring the obvious.”

“We are not begging for Malacanang’s mercy to release the Morong 43, we were there to signify and reiterate what a just government should do to the case of the wronged health workers” said Carlos Montemayor, spokesperson of the group.

The group firmly insists that it is just that the Aquino administration to recommend the release of the Morong thru a withdrawal of charges filed by the DOJ under the previous administration.

According to Montemayor, “the continued absence of a concrete and immediate action from the government would be now contemptible if the government continues to talk of justice .” “If this administration indeed seriously adheres to its moral pledge of adherence to human rights especially when something sacred as liberty of persons are in peril” he added.

According to Montemayor, the Aquino administration would also be wrong to circumvent the illegalities and offer other legal remedies which only blur the real and illegal circumstances of their arrest.

The group is wary that the military is being considerably sought on the issue of the Morong 43. Justice should be of foremost consideration in decision-making and not to favor those behind the health workers’ illegal arrest and detention. ##

Reference :
Carlos Montemayor, RN
Spokesperson
FREE THE 43 HEALTH WORKERS ALLIANCE

Morong 43 Alliance Press Conference, Nov. 17 "Reaction to Malacañang Dialogue"

2010-11-16T01:20:00.000-08:00

The Free the 43 Health Workers Alliance composed of relatives of the detained health workers and various individuals and organizations supporting the call for release of the 43 illegally health workers will be having a press conference, tomorrow, November 17, 9: 30am at Greenhouse, Matalino St. Quezon City.

The relatives and the colleagues of the Morong 43 will share their views and reactions on the recent dialogue in Malacanang with Senior Deputy Executive Secretay Amorado regarding the recently completed review and recommendations on the Morong 43 to be presented soon to President Aquino. The said Malacanang review was the result of the DOJ review prepared by Secretary Leila De Lima.

Please cover.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GET IN TOUCH WITH PHILIP PARAAN, 0919 486 1580 or CARLOS MONTEMAYOR - 0922 499 6327.

Aquino to receive review of Morong 43 case this week

2010-11-15T01:33:00.000-08:00

JAM L. SISANTE, GMANews.TV

President Benigno Aquino III will receive this week his legal team's review of the Department of Justice’s memorandum on the case of the 43 health workers arrested early this year for allegedly being part of the communist movement.

The report could pave the way for the release of the so-called Morong 43, whom human rights groups said are innocent of the charges being leveled against them by government security forces.

In a phone interview, senior deputy executive secretary Jose Amor Amorado said the submission of the legal review this week was the only commitment he made during his dialogue with colleagues and relatives of the detained health workers on Monday morning.

“I told them that we are currently reviewing the memo of Secretary [Leila] De Lima and within the week we will be sending it to the President," he told GMANews.TV.

Amorado said he cannot disclose De Lima’s recommendations as the memo is confidential. The memo is being reviewed by the Office of the Executive Secretary and by Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Eduardo de Mesa.

Meeting

Amorado met with around 30 members of the Free the 43 Health Workers Alliance in Malacanang earlier in the day.

He said he asked the group to present to the government the relatives of five members of the Morong 43 so they can give a “categorical answer" that the five have agreed to become state witnesses.

The health workers are facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Five of them have been placed under separate military custody at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, after they allegedly admitted that they were New People's Army supporters, while the remaining 38 were transferred last May to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Free the 43 Health Workers Alliance spokesperson Carlos Montemayor told GMANews.TV over the phone that they are asking Aquino to free the workers by ordering the DOJ to withdraw the cases against them.

Hope springs eternal

“Hopeful pa rin kami siyempre (We are still hopeful)," Montemayor said.

Aquino had earlier hinted that the DOJ review of the case indicated that the warrant of arrest did not give the government security forces the authority to arrest the health workers.

“The review basically stated that there was a person that they (authorities) were going to serve a warrant against. That person was not in the resort that was raided. The firearms, in particular, will fall only in a general classification. [The] explosives were not part of the warrant," said Aquino.

Aquino, however, said the fate of the detained health workers ultimately depend on the courts handling their cases.

“The matter is before the courts. Again, [it’s in their] jurisdiction… So [those] courses of action, we would want to rectify that situation. But that would have to undergo sanction by the courts that have already taken cognizance of the case," he said.

“Hindi naman puwede iutos ng executive na lumaya sila without the court’s sanction (The executive cannot just order their release without the court's sanction)," he added.

Suu Kyi

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares, meanwhile, urged President Aquino to release the 43 health workers and other political prisoners in the country, and show them the same compassion he showed Aung San Suu Kyi, the Myanmar opposition leader who was freed over the weekend after seven and a half years.

Suu Kyi, 65, has been jailed or under house arrest for more than 15 of the last 21 years.

“P-Noy has openly called for the release of Aung Suu Kyi, and has given amnesty to rebel soldiers. Moreover his father was one of the longest detained political prisoners during Martial rule. We expect him therefore to be more sympathetic to the plight of our country’s own political prisoners and order their immediate release," Colmenares said in a statement.

The country has almost 400 political prisoners, according to Colmenares.

He said the government’s immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners would be a gesture of justice and goodwill in the interest of attaining an atmosphere conducive to the peace process as well as a confidence-building measure for the resumption of peace talks.

Last month, Bayan Muna party-list filed House Resolution No. 555 calling for the “immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners," including the Morong 43 who were arrested in a resort compound in Morong, Rizal on February 6. - with Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMANews.TV

‘Morong 43’ sees hope in Monday meet with Malacañang

2010-11-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

GMA News.tv

At last, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for relatives and loved ones of the “Morong 43."

Nine months after their arrest, and five appeal letters later, relatives of the 43 health workers arrested on suspicions of being rebel trainees early this year are set to hold a dialogue with Malacañang on Monday morning.

After sending five letters to the President, the Morong 43 relatives will finally meet with Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Jose Amorado at 10 a.m. on Monday at the Malacañang social hall.

“At least 36 relatives of the ‘Morong 43’ remain hopeful that President [Benigno] Aquino [III] will finally heed their plea to immediately release their loved ones," said Free the 43 Health Workers Alliance spokesman Carlos Montemayor in a phone interview with GMANews.TV.

He said relatives and loved ones of the health workers are hopeful that the President will recommend the withdrawal of the case against them, following a statement he made on Oct. 14 noting that the arrest of the 43 was illegal and that “evidence wrongly gotten cannot be used" and therefore the case “cannot prosper."

Relatives of the 43 are particularly hoping that Aquino will step in, especially since Judge Amorfina Cerrado-Cesar of Regional Trial Court Branch 78 recently deferred the arraignment of the health workers to Feb. 28, 2011.

In the interview, Montemayor again questioned the delivery of justice, noting that the Court of Appeals in March junked the workers’ petition for a writ of habeas corpus.

“We hope that the meeting will lead to the release of the 43 as soon as possible — or at least before Christmas, or even before their illegal arrest marks a year," he said.

On Feb. 6, about 300 operatives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police raided a farm house in Morong, Rizal and arrested 43 health professionals and workers on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Five of them have been placed under separate military custody at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal after they allegedly admitted that they were New People’s Army supporters, while the remaining 38 were transferred last May to the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The Morong 43 said they were conducting a health training seminar, but the military has disputed this, reporting the discovery and seizure from the premises of weapons and explosive devices, including two pieces of improvised claymore landmines.

The military insisted that the discovery of explosives indicated that the activities of the 43 were not limited to health trainings alone.

Various rights groups have, however, pointed out that the arrests were based on a warrant for a certain “Mario Conde," who, in subsequent hearings by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), was never brought out or identified.

None of the 43 detainees is named “Mario Conde."

Health groups and human rights organizations who support the Morong 43 have maintained that the evidence was planted.

In a press briefing on Oct. 14, Aquino declared that based on the review by the Department of Justice, “the review basically stated that there was a person that they (authorities) were going to serve a warrant against."

“That person was not in the resort that was raided. The firearms, in particular, will fall only in a general classification. [The] explosives were not part of the warrant," the President said.

Aquino said that in a talk with PNP Director General Raul Bacalzo, AFP chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo David and a defense undersecretary, he emphasized that the government must be “upholders of the law" and that “evidence wrongly gotten cannot be used, therefore [cases] cannot prosper."

However, he still maintained that he would leave the fate of the 43 to the courts.

Free the Morong 43

In the nine months since the Morong 43 were arrested, there has been a growing clamor of support for the detainees, calling on the authorities to release them immediately, especially following the President’s grant of amnesty to about 300 soldiers charged in court mutiny and other rebellious acts.

The groups who have publicly condemned the arrest and continued detention of the 43 health workers include:

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines;
Several former secretaries of the Department of Health, deans and professors from some of country’s premier medical schools, and other prominent personalities;
Several lawmakers in the House of Representatives;
International rights-oriented organizations

The military has vowed to respect any decision from President Aquino or the courts regarding the possible release of the Morong 43. - DM, GMANews.TV

Illegal arrest, torture is what AFP defines as ‘decisive tactical gain’- Morong 43 kin and supporters

2010-11-12T07:39:00.001-08:00

In its recent spin, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said thru its spokesman, Col. Antonio Parlade said that the Morong 43 arrest could have been “a major tactical gain had it not been hurled with malicious allegations..”

Dr. Julie Caguait, spokesperson of the FREE THE 43 HEALTHWORKERS ALLIANCE said that this again shows the intransigence and impunity of the AFP. She said that this is a weak and desperate attempt to deflect the issue, a ploy to digress from the serious violations they have committed.

“If illegal arrest and detention along with torture and denial of human rights are what the military counts as tactical victory, then the public must be warned of more atrocities from the armed forces to come. “ Caguiat said.

Relatives and supporters of the Morong 43 said that military is again harping a laundry list of repeated lies. The group also hits the army’s desperate spin by playing up the army’s professionalism to hide its violations on the Morong 43.

The doctor made the statement after the military recently released an open letter to the public claiming that current armed forces are no long relics of the Martial Law years and that they do conscientiously adhere to professionalism making all the allegations against them as untrue and malicious.

Caguiat said that public cannot be charmed by the AFP’s perversion of professional character. “I don’t think that (professionalism) and atrocities against the 43 health workers can be equated because this is not at all an issue. While the group recognizes that there are principled men in uniform and respectable sections of the armed forces, they said that torture and illegalities are not correct measures of professionalism.”

Moreover, the group said that the military if it is so inclined to call it a propaganda war, anyhow will never win. It has lost credibility as evidenced by the Morong 43’s broad support. The army and the police since day 1 have lied about the health workers’ arrest.

These sentiments against the AFP are not merely allegations but are facts, which the Commission of Human Rights, the Department of Justice and even president himself recognized in his last declaration of the illegalities and by recognizing the arrest and everything about it are considered "fruit of the poisonous tree".

Caguiat said the military will never gain public sympathy and credibility and by so doing neither could they be spared from legal accountabilities in the future. She also said that the AFP cannot be one with the public in its quest for peace, truth and as long as they continue to disrespect human rights.

Reference:
Dr. Julie Caguiat
Spokesperson, FREE THE 43 HEALTH WORKERS ALLIANCE
Mobile: 0909 113 3038 / 0919 486 1580
Telephone: 929 8109 / 881 0910

Bayan Canada Staged Rally infront of the Philippine Embassy

2010-11-11T05:35:00.000-08:00

Bayan Canada and supporters of the 43 illegally detained health workers held a rally in front of the Philippine Embassy on November 5, in Canada’s capital, as part of the international day of action. Representatives from the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW), Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Ontario Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (OCHRP), and the Centre d'appui aux Philippines - Centre for Philippine Concerns (CAP-CPC) were also present to join in the world-wide demand for the immediate release for the Morong 43. Building security and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP – or Canada’s federal police force) tried to prevent the rally from happening directly in front of the embassy building but the demonstrators insisted on their right to hold the peaceful protest in front of the building. A delegation was also prevented by the RCMP and building security from going up to the offices of the Philippine Embassy to submit a petition signed by 145 health professionals so the groups insisted that embassy officials come out to meet the demonstrators. Finally the embassy’s Public Relations Officer came down and the petition was submitted.

BAYAN Canada
Press Statement
November 5, 2010

Reference:

Joey Calugay
514-947-3662
jcalugay2@yahoo.ca

Yasmeen Khan
613-558-1625
yazmaryam@hotmail.com

END THE INJUSTICE! FREE THE MORONG 43 NOW!

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Canada [BAYAN Canada] today joins Bayan in the Philippines, people’s organizations and advocates of the Morong 43 in different corners of the globe in calling on President Benigno Aquino III to order the immediate and unconditional release of these health workers who are now in their ninth month of detention. The 43 - that include two doctors, two midwives and a nurse - were arrested on February 6, 2010, on the basis of a defective search warrant issued and on evidence planted by state forces. They were charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Early on in those nine months, some of them were subjected to grueling physical and psychological torture, and various forms of indignity. They were denied legal counsel and family visits in Camp Capinpin, a military prison camp in Tanay, Rizal.

Today, women detainees Judilyn Oliveros and Mercy Castro have already given birth while in detention. Both are under hospital arrest at the Philippine General Hospital. Both mothers have fought for their right to breastfeed their babies. The other health workers are still detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

There is no reason why Aquino cannot direct the justice department to file a motion withdrawing the criminal charges against the 43 before the Morong Regional Trial Court and the Metropolitan Trial Court. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has indicated that her recommendations to President Aquino should lead to the release of the detainees. The President himself has admitted that the search warrant was defective. The courts would then have no choice but to release the 43. And with this simple act, Aquino would have been able to end the injustice done to these community health workers.

Furthermore, the Aquino government granted amnesty to 300 rebel soldiers detained by the Arroyo regime for staging three coup attempts, even before a Makati Trial Court could even decide on the case of one of the rebel officers. Why then can it not order the release of the innocent 43 health workers who want nothing more than bring medical services to the poor?

The Aquino government has always been saying they want to rectify the injustices committed by the Arroyo regime. It is time to right these wrongs. And President Aquino can start by freeing the Morong 43, releasing all political prisoners and addressing all cases of human rights violations committed by state forces.

Free the Morong 43!
Release all political prisoners!
Justice to all victims of state repression!

Preparation for the rally

Downtowm Ottawa

Bayan Orgs from Ottawa and Montreal

Representatives from the Canadian Unions

Doug, of OCHRP

Petition Letter signed by 145 Health Professionals

Ottawa Rally

Police prevents the group from entering the building

Embassy Representative Accepts Petition Letter

The Free the 43 Committee Visits the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver

2010-11-11T05:18:00.000-08:00

Vancouver. -- The Free the 43 Committee (B.C. Canada) personally delivered its letter of concern to the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver early this afternoon, November 8, 2010. The Free the 43 Committee was represented by Yvon and Valerie Raoul, both members of the 2010 International Observers Mission to the Philippines, Atty. Gail Davidson, Founder and Executive Director of Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, Aiyanas Ormond of the Alliance for People's Health and Erie Maestro of the Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights. Vice-Consul Melanie Balisi Diano invited the group to her office, received the letters from the Committee and from Lawyers Rights Watch Canada and promised that the letters would be forwarded to President Aquino.

Aiyanas Ormond said that he and his family personally know Dr. Merry Clamor and Reynaldo Macabenta when they stayed in the Philippines in 2005 and know of the good community and medical service that they do. Valerie and Yvon Raoul shared that they visited the detainees when they went to the Philippines as independent observers of the 2010 National Elections. Atty. Gail Davidson who attended the Conference of Lawyers in the Asia Pacific in September went with other lawyers to visit the Morong 43 and met and talked with the detained health workers. All have been closely monitoring the developments (or lack of progress) in the case of the Morong 43. Lawyers Rights Watch Canada is still waiting for a response from the Philippine Government for the two letters that it had sent out.[ http://www.lrwc.org/letters2.php?aid=335]

"We want the Philippine government to know that the detained health workers have friends in Vancouver who are concerned about their situation and who are committed to helping secure their release," said Yvon Raoul, a retired school teacher and a human rights advocate.

The group specifically made mention of the two nursing mothers, Carina Oliveros and Mercy Castro, and their two new babies who were both born in detention-- and are still waiting for their release.

The Free the 43 Committee's letter comes in the wake of the recent Presidential order of release for some 300 soldiers and officers who were involved in uprisings against the former President Gloria Arroyo.

Vice Consul Deano promised to get back to the group on any feedback on their letter. The group responded in turn that they are willing to meet again with the Consulate General's office to discuss the case of the detained health workers. -30-

8 November 2010

H.E. Benigno C. Aquino III
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila, Philippines

Cc:
Atty. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila

Dear Mr. President,

We, the Free the 43 Committee (B.C. Canada), are concerned about the continued detention of the detained 43 health workers who were arrested nine months ago, on February 6, 2010. We are especially worried about the situation of the two nursing mothers, Carina Oliveros and Mercy Castro, and their babies who were born in detention.

As President and as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, you have commented that the search warrant used by the arresting military officers and soldiers was defective. The tainted evidence as a result of this defective search warrant and the questionable search process that happened, on which basis the 43 health workers have been charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives surely cannot be used in any court of law. Likewise, the forced confessions obtained by the military from the detainees by the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and other violations of their constitutional, civil and political rights surely cannot be used in any court of law.

We urge your Excellency to take the decisive step and order the Department of Justice, who has already made recommendations on the case of the “Morong 43,” to file a motion before the courts to withdraw these charges. We also ask that the military officers and soldiers responsible for the torture and other violations of human rights of the detainees be held accountable for what they did and are duly punished.

We are aware of your order for the immediate release of some 300 soldiers and officers involved in military uprisings against your predecessor. Can we expect the same decisiveness and the same compassion for the detained health workers, most especially the nursing mothers and their new babies?

We ask that the charges against the “Morong 43” be withdrawn. We ask that the “Morong 43” be immediately and unconditionally released.

We will be monitoring the developments in the case of the detained health workers.

Respectfully yours,

(Sgd.) Yvon Raoul and Valerie Raoul
On behalf of the Free the 43 Committee (B.C. Canada)
1230 East 13th Avenue, Vancouver, BC Canada
Tel: 604.224.3723

(L-R) Erie Maestro, Aiyanas Ormond, Atty. Gail Davidson, Valerie Raoul and Yvon Raoul at the main lobby of the 700 Pender Place where the Consulate General has its office.)

(Letter from the Free the 43 Committee personally delivered and stamp Received by the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver)

International conference in Copenhagen adopts resolution calling for freedom for the Morong 43

2010-11-11T04:58:00.001-08:00

A resolution calling for the immediate release from detention of the Morong 43 was unanimously approved by the delegates to the International Conference on Solidarity, Defense and Struggle for Freedom of Political Prisoners in the World, held October 22-24, 2010 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The resolution condemned the illegal arrest, physical and mental torture and continuing unjust detention of the Morong 43, and called for their immediate release, especially the two nursing mothers and their babies delivered under detention. The resolution also called on the Aquino government to stop the alarming extra-judicial killings which include human rights advocates and defenders.

The resolution presented by Atty Remigio “Ming” Saladero Jr. of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (May First Movement, KMU), was discussed and prepared by the Workshop on the Philippines.

Attorney Saladero Jr and Cesar T. Taguba of BAYAN International-Europe also spoke during the plenary session and shared information regarding the suffering and struggle of political prisoners, on extrajudicial killings and disappearances from the time of the Marcos regime up to the current Benigno Aquino III government.

The conference approved the following proposals of the Philippine delegation: a). Adopt a political prisoner campaign b). Collection and popularization of the poems and songs written and composed by political prisoners and, c). Holding of an internationally coordinated Political Prisoners Day/Week.

The international conference was attended by delegates from Colombia, Palestine, Iran, Kurdistan, Denmark, Basque, Spain, Colombia, Philippine, Turkey and the US. They shared information about the death by torture, execution and massacre of political prisoners and the struggle against the so-called terrorist blacklisting.

The case of Mumia Abu-Jamal was highlighted. The conference delegates condemned the US-instigated “war on terror” and the global crisis as a result of capitalist greed. The conference was initiated by the Danish International Forum (IF).

MIGRANTE Europe
Postbus 15687, 1001 ND Amsterdam

ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION - PHILIPPINES - Letter to President Aquino

2010-11-11T04:54:00.000-08:00

ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION - PHILIPPINES
National Member Organization of Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) International
and International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA)

November 9, 2010

H.E. Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III
President
Republic of the Philippines

Dear President Aquino,

Last November 6, 2010, members of the Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA)-Philippines, an association of socio-civic medical student organizations in the Philippines and national body of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Association (IFMSA), joined different health and human rights groups in commemorating the 9th month of illegal arrest and detainment of the 43 health workers known as Morong 43. We were able to visit them in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, and we expressed to them our support in their cause and our aspiration to meet with them again, but this time outside the four walls of prison – a prison which none of them rightly deserve.

Today, we medical students of the Philippines strongly call the Aquino government to order the immediate release of the 43 health workers, who were illegally arrested and mistakenly tagged as rebels, in the previous administration’s pursuit to wipe out the insurgents and to achieve peace in the countryside. But peace cannot be attained without justice, and thus we look forward to your administration in correcting this detestable injustice and ushering our country towards genuine peace.

This atrocious act by the military under the Arroyo administration also posed a grave threat to the future of our people’s health. It cannot be denied that the government failed to provide our people with affordable and available primary health care services. It is health workers such as the Morong 43 who fill this immense health gap with utmost compassion for people and love for country, going to the most far-flung corners of our country, foregoing better opportunities in the metropolis and even abroad, serving the underserved. However, this incident of the Morong 43 could make a negative imprint on our young medical, nursing, and other health care workers who originally wish to stay in the community. Thus, we demand that the government release the 43 and hold the previous administration and the military accountable, as a statement to our youth that this nation will not do this again to health workers whose desire is to protect our people’s right to health.

Finally, the arrest, detainment, and even torture of the Morong 43 are clear violations of fundamental human rights. Thus, we demand that appropriate sanctions be imposed on those responsible for this deplorable act.

We expect real and immediate action from your government on this important health and human rights issue, not tomorrow but now.

For health and justice for all,

Sgd:
Ramon Lorenzo Luis R. Guinto
Co-President, Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA)-Philippines
Philippine Representative, International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA)
Doctor of Medicine Class of 2012, University of the Philippines

Website of group who sponsored Morong 43 training hacked

2010-11-10T08:18:00.000-08:00

The website of a health NGO who sponsored the training of the ‘Morong 43’ was hacked recently. Council for Health and Development’s website, a repository of news, features, and publications of community-based health programs and people’s health issues in the Philippines, was attacked by a hacker and added “ZeuS Botnet” – a dangerous malicious application used to commit financial and identity theft against online transaction users.

“The attack on Council for Health and Development’s website is another attempt to harass community-based health programs following the illegal arrest and detention of the Morong 43,” Sr. Edith Eslopor, OSB, chairperson of CHD’s Board of Trustees said.

Council for Health and Development is a non-government organization comprised of more than 50 community-based health programs in the country and one of the groups who sponsored the First Responders’ Health Training in Morong, Rizal where 43 health workers were illegally arrested on February 6 this year.

“Aside from using the group’s website to perform fraudulent schemes and other web-based malicious activities, the hacker has clear intentions of committing illegal activities at the expense of legitimate organizations such as CHD,” Eslopor added.

Eslopor reiterated that their group viewed the hacking as an attempt to discredit CHD’s legitimacy and maliciously taint their credibility to the public. “Whoever is behind this dastardly act will not succeed in dragging our institution into malicious schemes,” she added.

Reference:
Eleanor A. Jara, M.D.
Executive Director, Council for Health and Development
0917 978 9297 / (632) 929 8109

IFMSA Brazil Statement on Morong 43

2010-11-07T23:51:00.000-08:00

International Federation of Medical Students Associations of Brazil
Alameda Santos, n.º 1.800, 8º andar, CJ 8032,
Bairro Cerqueira César, São Paulo/SP
CEP: 01418200| Tel.+ 55 11 3170--3251 | presidente@ifmsabrazil.org
www.ifmsabrazil.org | CNPJ 02300156/0001--13

Dear Mr. President Benigno Aquino III,

The International Federation of Medical Students Association of Brazil (IFMSA--Brazil), as a representative of the International Federation of Medical Students Association (IFMSA) in this nation, which speaks on behalf of more than five hundred medical students, requires the release of 43 health workers in Morong, that have been detained in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, without respect to their legal rights and under torture.

Medical doctors, nurses, and community health workers, who had already worked within several communities in Far--Flung provinces of Philippines as well as Morong, were attending a training organized by the Community Medicine Foundation. The health workers were only helping people and providing them a bit of dignity. On February 6th 2010, though, the Armed Forces of the Philippines have had them handcuffed, blindfolded and held in isolation for days, without even considering their legal and human rights.

As the days followed, representatives from the government’s Commission on Human Rights were even denied entry to the camp where the detainees were kept the following day. The refusal to honor the order of the Supreme Court is an absurd, as well as a classic manifestation of impunity that no human being should suffer.

“The only weapon that a health worker carries with him in the so--called battlefield is the stethoscope for the doctor, the sphygmomanometer for the nurses and the cotton balls for the other community health workers, and their only common enemy is the disease that threatens the community,” said Dr. Bu C. Castro, spokesman of the Philippine Medical Association and president of the Alliance of All Health Organizations of the Nation, statement that, we, Brazilian medical students here represented by IFMSA--Brazil, truly believe and pursuit as a goal for our medical careers. This is our strong statement. We believe in the proficiency of Aquino Government, its righteousness and political power based on social peace promotion, and caring for the majority well being of your Philippines people.

Moreover, aware of Philippines' government subscription under The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we expect urgent measures and vigorous actions over on the release of 43 health workers.

Sincerely,

Caio Augusto Prearo Pelosi
President of IFMSA Brazil

Cinthia Jaqueline Baia de Souza
National Officer on Human Rights and Peace -- IFMSA Brazil

Protests, police blockade mark 9th month in detention of Morong43

2010-11-06T18:36:00.000-07:00

By Renato Reyes, Jr

Supporters and relatives of the Morong 43 today held a caravan to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan to visit the detained health workers and call for their immediate release. Some 40 vehicles joined the motorcade which started from Quezon Memorial Circle at around 8am. The Philippine caravan coincided with actions in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Ottawa and Vancouver, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Netherlands and New Zealand.

Upon reaching Camp Bagong Diwa, the supporters of the 43 were surprised by the blockade conducted by the police belonging to the NCRPO. Earlier, church groups were also prevented entry. The church groups included a Protestant bishop and Catholic nuns.

As I approached the officer at the gate, I noticed the sign posted on the railings: RED ALERT, it said. The whole camp was placed on RED ALERT probably due to the recent travel advisories on “terrorism”. There were scores of policemen at the gates and the entry of vehicles was restricted.

We told the officers at the gate that we had been given a permit by the BJMP to hold a religious service inside and visit to the Morong 43 detainees. Camp Bagong Diwa is the headquarters of the PNP’s NCRPO but inside is also the BJMP compound for detainees.

The officers of the NCRPO refused to recognize the permit given by the BJMP. For more than an hour, they refused us entry, citing no clear reason (it’s like we were some sort of terror threat to them). The camp commander, a certain Gen. Regis, refused to meet us despite repeated requests.

I told the officers at the gate that I had personally informed NCRPO chief Gen. Nicanor Bartolome who was in Washington at the time that we would be arriving today. Gen. Bartolome texted that he will be informing his deputy, a certain Gen. Regis.

The PNP would not budge and showed no interest in accommodating the visitors despite a BJMP permit. This forced the participants of the caravan to block the gates of Camp Bagong Diwa. Shouts of “FREE THE 43” were soon heard in Bicutan. Placards and pictures of the detained health workers were raised at the gates of the police camp.

Since the PNP was already on red alert, they were immediately able to deploy about probably two platoons of anti-riot police to block the protesters. Tension ensued. The supporters of the 43 felt truly insulted by the response of the PNP. The PNP began pushing the protesters back, who in turn pushed back at the PNP.

The tension was only resolved when the protesters gave way to vehicles who were exiting Camp Bagong Diwa. At that point, the PNP still had no clear answers as to why they were blocking the Morong visitors.

We were being given a lot of bureaucratic crap. After some time, the warden of the BJMP facility came out to meet us and explained the limited space for visitors inside the detention facility. He said it would be best to visit by batches of 25. We agreed with the assurance that all those who wanted to visit will be accommodated.

We boarded the BJMP vehicle together with past and present partylist representatives, members of human rights groups and the health sector. We were brought to the compound for male detainees. We were able to enter without any incidence.

Since visits would be conducted by batches, we decided to make our visit short to be able to accommodate the other visitors. We had a short program and the visitors gave their solidarity messages. Ka Satur Ocampo called on the detainees to be steadfast, saying that he himself was detained for nine years during martial law.

We then proceeded to visit the female detainees. They were happy to see us. They had watched the blockade and tension at the gates, live on TV, in a flash report.

We were joined by directors Bibeth Orteza and Carlitos Siguion-Reyna and artist Kiri Dalena. The female detainees were in their usual high spirits, singing Martsa ng Bayan and given a very emotional interpretation of a Joi Barrios on desaparecidos. The poem moved Bibeth to tears, as it had been part of the “Mrs. B” monologue wherein Bibeth played Mrs. Burgos, mother of the missing Jonas.

The detainees then sang happy birthday to Carlitos. The meeting was short but you could see from the faces of the detainees that they were agitated and they believed that our struggle outside prison will set them free. Malen Serrato, a schoolmate from UP and member of the Center for Nationalist Studies, told the visitors that they may be imprisoned physically but their minds and hearts were free.

We went back to the gates of Bagong Diwa to find the relatives lined up waiting for their turn to visit. The relatives were brought to the detention facility but were brought back to the gates. This incensed the relatives because no explanation was given why they were being brought back. The PNP later explained that there had been some miscommunication or lapses and that they merely wanted the process to be followed. One officer, a certain Col. Mabanag even threatened the relatives that they will all be arrested if they staged a rally inside Camp Bagong Diwa. Yes, this jerk was issuing threats for incidents that have no basis whatsoever.

I left Camp Bagong Diwa after the PNP confirmed that the relatives would be allowed to visit the detainees. We were exhausted for some reason but we left also in high spirits.

One visitor remarked: “Baligtad pala dito. Pag dalaw mo, akala mo ikaw ang manga-agit sa kanila (detainees). Yun pala, sila ang manga-agit sa iyo.”

So true.

Our struggle continues until the 43 are free.

See Video >>>

24 Oras: Morong 43 Sympathizers face off with police at camp bagong diwa gate

2010-11-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

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International Day of Action to Free the Morong 43!

2010-11-06T10:49:00.001-07:00

(HKCAHRPP) calls on President Benigno Aquino III to make right the injustice committed against the Morong 43

2010-11-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

The Hong Kong Campaign for Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (HKCAHRPP) calls on President Benigno Aquino III to make right the injustice committed against the Morong 43. The arrest, torture and continuing detention of the Morong 43 is a travesty of justice. They should be immediately released and the perpetrators of their unjust incarceration punished.

Morong 43 group to P-Noy: do the right thing now

2010-11-04T18:32:00.001-07:00

Free the 43 Health Workers! Alliance trooped to Malacañang again today to seek a dialogue with the President himself to order the release of the Morong 43 following his declaration that evidences against the health workers were wrongly gotten.

Relatives, supporters, and representatives from the health sector once again knocked on the doors of the Palace to ask the President to stop dilly-dallying with the case and let justice commence by withdrawing all cases against the 43.

“We will not tire on knocking on the doors of the President’s office until he hears our plea. Every day that the health workers spend in jail is a day of injustice,” Dr. Julie P. Caguiat said.

It is very ironic that as President Aquino joins other world leaders in calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, a pro-democracy political icon that sought to counter the military junta in Myanmar, he is mum on the continuing human rights violations reeking in his very country, the group said.

She added that Malacañang’s lack of time frame to concretely act on the case is very disappointing. “Mr. Aquino should walk the talk and not limit himself to lip service. If indeed he wants to correct the errors committed against the 43, what or who is holding him from acting on the case immediately?” Dr. Caguiat expressed.

Ordering the withdrawal of all cases against the Morong 43 is within the President’s authority, the group said. They added that by doing so, the courts can consequently order for the detainees’ release. “By freeing the Morong 43 and all political prisoners in the country, President Aquino can prove that he is indeed different from his predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” the group concluded.##

References:
Dr. Julie Caguiat Spokesperson, 0909 113 3038

Philip Paraan
Media Officer, 0919 486 1580

Lawyers Rights Watch Canada seeks immediate release of “Morong 43”

2010-11-03T00:48:00.000-07:00

What is preventing President Aquino to order the release of the Morong 43?

2010-11-01T06:16:00.000-07:00

Joint Statement of Migrante chapters in the Middle-East and the OFWs Muslim-Christian Alliance for Justice and Peace in the Philippines [MCA-JPP]

Migrante chapters in the Middle East and the Saudi-based coalition of OFW Muslims and Christians advocates for Justice and Peace in the Philippines (MCA-JPP), join the calls of various sectors in the Philippines as well as of different international human rights organizations abroad, for Pres. Aquino to immediately release the Morong 43 who have been illegally detained since February 6.

The 43 health workers who are conducting community health trainings at the farmhouse of UP College of Medicine Professor Dr. Melecia Velmonte have been raided by the elements of the 202 Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and thereafter charged them of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

November 6 marks the 9th month in detention of the 43 health workers.

Human rights lawyers and legal luminaries believed that the manner of the arrest and the filling of trumped up charges against the 43 health workers showed gross violations of the constitutional rights of the 43 against illegal arrest and detention.

In fact, the Philippine Justice department Secretary had already made her recommendation after the President himself asked her to review the case of the Morong 43, months ago. Justice Secretary Leila De Lima has indicated that her recommendation will lead to the release of the 43 health workers.

Even the President had also said during a press conference that the search warrant is defective, but he is quick to add that the 43 health workers release will have to be sanctioned by the courts.

Now we asked what is preventing the President to issue an order for the immediate and unconditional release of the Morong 43? He could instruct the Justice department to file a motion to withdraw the cases filed against the 43, which are fabricated charges anyway!”

It seems, indicative of the actuations of the President, he is not willing to act on the case of the 43 health workers despite that he has the mandate to implement and defend the Constitutional provisions guaranteed in the 'Bill of Rights' especially if it is to correct a mistake committed by any Executive branch agency, personnel or the AFP itself under his command.

Or he is still awaiting the “green light” from its US-imperialist master in its continued adherence to US “war on terror” and counter-insurgency policy especially that the 43 health workers have been wrongly accused by the AFP of being members of the New Peoples Army?

If the President is looking for political gains out of political concessions just like what he had done in granting amnesty to about 400 military coup plotters, then he is acting on his own and his administration's interests and not of the people, not of the 43 health workers and other political prisoners.

The President should be reminded of the ‘democratic ideals and aspirations’ his parents stood for, and he should realize that and move to order the immediate and unconditional release of the Morong 43 and all political prisoners in the country who have been victim of fabricated charges.

Migrante chapters in the Middle East and the OFWs Muslim-Christian Alliance in Saudi Arabia will simultaneously hold their respective press conferences and indoor protests starting from November 2 to 6, coinciding the 9th month in detention of the 43 health workers and the BAYAN-led internationally coordinated action, to press hard the Aquino govt. to effect the immediate and unconditional release of the Morong 43.

-Migrante chapters in the Middle East and the OFWs Muslim-Christian Alliance for Justice and Peace (MCA-JPP)

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator
Convenor, OFWs Muslim-Christian Alliance for Justice and Peace in the Philippines
Mobile No.: 00966 564 978 012

No timetable set for Morong 43’s release, says Malacañang

2010-10-31T06:12:00.000-07:00

By Aytch S. de la Cruz
http://www.tribuneonline.org/

As President Aquino went active in joining other world leaders in their campaign to release detained Burmese politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, hopes continue to stay bleak for the state of 43 health workers who were arrested in Morong, Rizal province, that they would be accorded similar attention.

It was implied yesterday by deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte that while Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has already submitted her recommendations on the case of the so-called “Morong 43” to the President, he is yet to act on them.

Aquino has earlier stated his position on this matter, signifying his intention to leave their cases to the court first out of respect to its jurisdiction even as he recognized the fact that the pieces of evidence against them by the military were obtained illegally.

Valte conveyed to reporters, in an interview over the state-run dzRB, to just wait for further developments as the President pores over the recommendations presented by De Lima where he would base whatever decisions he has to make regarding the matter.

“DoJ (Department of Justice) Secretary Leila de Lima has already made recommendations on this matter and from what I remember; the last statement of the President on this matter was to leave it to the courts because there is what we call evidence that is the fruit of the poisonous tree which is ill-gotten. So let’s just wait for developments there,” Valte said.

Aquino’s inaction over the cases of the Morong 43, who are considered political prisoners, already drew widespread flak from international human rights advocates including a New Zealand-based group, Auckland Philippines Solidarity (APS), which recently came out with a public statement urging their Prime Minister, John Key, to enlighten the Philippine President on this matter.

“It’s a good thing that the Philippines is adding pressure for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar, but it’s totally outrageous that scores of political prisoners including 43 community health workers remain in unjust detention under the supposedly democratic Aquino government,” APS spokesman Luke Coxon was quoted saying.

Coxon and his group also scored the Philippines’ plan to host the secretariat of the Asean Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights since human rights abuses under Aquino’s watch have persisted.

“Before it can be a model host for the secretariat of the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, the Philippine government has a lot of cleaning up to do with its messy human rights record,” Coxon stressed.

Philippines Peace Advocates Visit Whangarei

2010-10-30T06:06:00.000-07:00

Two high ranking Filipino peace advocates – Luis Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma - are to visit Whangarei, New Zealand in the next days. Luis is the Chair, and Coni a member, of the National Democratic Front’s Negotiating Panel at the peace talks with the Philippines Government, facilitated by Norway.

In New Zealand, little is known about the four-decade long war and peace process in the Philippines. At a Public Meeting in Whangarei, Luis and Coni will share first-hand knowledge about the peace negotiations they are involved with. They were both arrested under the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, spent time in jail as political prisoners, and lived in The Netherlands since 1976.

The National Democratic Front (NDF) is the coalition of several underground groups, including the Communist Party of the Philippines and its New People's Army, which has been waging a war of liberation throughout the Philippines for more than 40 years, making it one of the longest running armed struggles in the world. The basis of the conflict has is the huge social and economic injustices faced by the majority of people in the Philippines.

“The Philippines desperately needs peace and security. Resolving the people’s war by addressing the injustices that are at the root of this conflict is central to achieving peace,” said Tim Howard, local convenor of Luis and Coni’s hosts in Whangarei. “This is a great opportunity for us to hear first-hand about the peace negotiations.”

The speaking tour is hosted jointly by Philippines Solidarity Network Aotearoa, Auckland Philippines Solidarity, and Wellington Kiwi Pinoy.

“This Public Meeting is also a chance for us to consider what role New Zealand might play assisting the peace process,” said Tim Howard. Our previous Prime Minister sent a strong message to the Philippines President, indicating that New Zealand is concerned with the continued reports of killings, disappearances, unjust detentions and more human rights violations. There were 1100 assassinations under the previous President Arroyo. Prime Minister John Key has so far taken one side of the conflict, the Government’s, and labeled the opponents as ‘terrorists.’ Many of us look to New Zealand taking a more useful role in supporting human rights and the peace process.”

The Meeting will consider a petition in support of the peace process, and will hold a vigil as part of an international campaign in support of the ‘Morong 43,’ a large group of community health workers arrested 9 months ago this Saturday at a professional development course. 26 of the detainees are women, two having given birth since their arrest. They are still imprisoned illegally, subject to torture, in a military camp.

Whangarei people interested in justice in our country and our region are warmly welcomed to the Public Meeting at 7pm on Friday 5 November, at Manaia PHO rooms in Rust Avenue in central Whangarei.

Army Engaging in Double Talk on Morong 43

2010-10-29T20:59:00.000-07:00

Responding to the statement of the Army perversely insisting that the Morong 43 are armed rebels, supporters of the Morong 43 hit the military for its outright lies behind the arrest of the health workers.

The group also scored the AFP for engaging in double talk. The Army can only continue to harp lies to make its bungled and illegal arrest of the 43 plausible.

Dr. Caguiat, said that it is hypocritical of the Army to speak of “professionalism” in saying that they will not object to any decision P-noy may arrive at on the case of Morong 43 while at the same time they still obstinately insist that the 43 illegally detained health workers are NPAs caught in a bomb training activity.

"It seems that the military has started to believe its own lies when the Commission on Human Rights and the Department of Justice already pointed out the illegalities of the case."Caguiat said.

“It is simply not true that search and subsequent arrest of the 43 health workers was covered by a “proper warrant” as Army spokesperson Col. Antonio Parlade is saying.”, according to Dr. Julie Caguiat, spokesperson of the group “The search warrant was patently defective. Even the President acknowledges this saying that any evidence is considered fruit of the poisonous tree.”

On Col. Parlade’s statement that some members of the army will not be pleased if the Morong 43 were to be released, Caguiat said that the President should not be threatened by this and should be only beholden to the truth.

“Decision on the Morong 43 is not about the morale of soldiers. Nothing is honorable and can build the morale of soldiers if it is based on atrocious acts and affronts against the innocent citizens. Decision on the Morong 43 should be considered solely on the primacy of justice and the abiding principles of the rule of law and the protection of human rights.”

The group also hits the Army’s malicious and rash statement that the Morong 43 should be tried in court to prove they are rebels before they should be given “amnesty”. It is again a desperate attempt to lead in to their manufactured lies and false testimonies.

Dr. Caguiat reiterated that health workers are not after amnesty but for their unconditional release because they have been wronged and they should not be released based on legal prescription implying guilt upon them.

Reference:
Dr. Julie Caguiat
Spokesperson, FREE THE 43 HEALTH WORKERS ALLIANCE
Mobile: 0909 113 3038 / 0919 486 1580
Tel. No. 929-8109

Free the 43 Health Workers !!!

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by Mila Polinar This article was first published in print in issue 23 of the Philippine Collegian on 24 January 2011.)

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Release them

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Photo: JR Guerrero

Photo: JR Guerrero

Photo: JR Guerrero

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43 for the 43

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(Statement of the World Council of Churches Delegation to the Philippines)

PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights 2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101 Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146 Web: http://www.karapatan.org

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Gone too soon

by Mila Polinar
This article was first published in print in issue 23 of the Philippine Collegian on 24 January 2011.)

By the Morong 43
Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan

"There's The Rub"
By Conrado de Quiros
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK

Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org