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Irony on Int’l Human Rights Day: activists arrested, sent to jail in PH without knowledge of charges

Isn’t it ironic? A trade union organizer and a journalist were arrested on a day commemorating the importance of human rights.

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While progressive groups held protest rallies at Mendiola on International Human Rights Day, no less than seven people were arrested for alleged links to the New People’s Army.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested trade union organizers Dennis Velasco, Romina “Sham” Astudillo, Rodrigo Esparago, Mark Ryan Cruz, Joel Demate, and Jaymie Gregorio, Jr. on December 10.

They would also arrest Manila Today editor and journalist Lady Ann Salem.

Charges filed against Velasco and Salem were violations of Republic Acts 10591 and 9516 or illegal possession of firearms and explosives. No details were available to charges levied against the other 5 trade union organizers.

All search warrants for the seven arrests were issued by Quezon City Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert. Villavert was also the judge who issued the search warrants for 58 activists in Manila and Bacolod in 2019.

This all happened as progressive groups, led by activist Renato Reyes, Jr., were holding protest rallies in the streets of Manila.

Another member of a progressive group, peace consultant and National Democratic Front spokesperson Alvin Luque was slain by PNP personnel in Tandag City, Surigao Del Sur.

According to the PNP, their men were merely supposed to serve an arrest warrant when Luque and his companion opened fire at the officers.

In a statement, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) denied the claim, saying the 51-year-old peace consultant could not have possibly held a gun as he was still recovering from paralysis.

Netizens were visibly appalled by the actions of the Philippine government, led in large part by newly-instated PNP chief Debold Sinas.

Just a few days prior to International Human Rights Day, two more activists would figure in a series of arrests—both under the same premise.

Amanda Echanis, daughter of slain Anakpawis leader Randy Echanis, is now in jail with her one-month-old baby for allegedly having a baby armalite in her home.

Various groups are now busy ensuring there would not be a repeat of what happened to Reina May Nasino and her daughter, Baby River.

Six days prior, another trade union organizer was arrested by non-uniformed men supposedly from the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

The police seem to have a pattern with every single one of these arrests.

It has the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) providing “information” on who they suspect is a member of the CPP-NPA-NDF. PNP personnel then conduct an “operation” with a “search warrant” from QC Judge Burgos-Villavert, swoop in, and “arrest” the suspected NPA member.

They would then file charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, even if the suspect does not posses firearms and explosives at the time of arrest.

Several progressive groups have already called the actions of the Duterte administration as ironic, especially after President Rodrigo Duterte himself said the country would abide by any human rights treaties it had signed.

arrestsCecilyn Burgos-VillavertDennis VelascoInternational Human Rights DayInt’l Human Rights DayJaymie Gregorio Jr.Joel DemateLady Ann SalemMark Ryan CruzPNPRodrigo EsparagoRomina Astudillo

Written by Andronico Del Rosario

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