2 Missing UP Students Tortured, Raped inside Military Camp

One year and five months after their abduction, a witness testified that he had actually seen and talked to Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, the two scholars of the University of the Philippines (UP) who were abducted allegedly by soldiers on June 26, 2006 while doing research in a farming community in Barangay (village) San Miguel, Hagonoy, Bulacan. Farmer Manuel Merino was abducted together with the two.

The witness, Raymund Manalo, also confirmed what had been feared all along - that the UP students were raped by their abductors.
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AFP units in Panay responsible for assassination attempt on our nominee – Bayan Muna

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño condemned the latest assassination attempt against a high-ranking official of our party in Western Visayas .

“Ms. Hope Hervilla, our Bayan Muna Panay regional officer and 10th nominee in the last partylist elections, narrowly escaped a crack team of assassins that had blocked off all the exits of her house in Iloilo yesterday, November 26. Only the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) units in the island are the primary suspects, having the motive, means and evil designs to harm Hervilla, a respected political leader in the province,” Rep. Casiño said.

According to a short report from Bayan Muna Panay, Hervilla was only able to get out of her house when security escorts provided by Iloilo Congressman Niel Tupas Jr. and Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas came over. The assassins’ vehicles were blocking all exit points.

Hervilla has been extended protection by the provincial government since yesterday.

“She has earned the ire of the military in the island of late due to her strong advocacy in searching for Luisa Posa-Dominado and Nilo Arado, the two militant leaders in April 2007,” Casiño said.

Hervilla has blamed the attempted murder and abduction of Luisa Posa-Dominado, Ely Garachico and Nilo Arado on the military.

“We advise the military, specifically the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, Philippine Army officials MGen Jovenal Narcise, Col. Renato David, Lt. Col. David Tan and Capt. Lowen Gil Marquez, not to come up with the usual profound denials. If Hervilla meets any harm, we shall hold them and the AFP top leadership responsible,” Casiño said. #

News Release –November 27, 2007
For Reference: Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, 0920-9035683
For more information: Vince Borneo, Media Officer, 0927-7968198

US aid tied to RP action on killings

US Senate has served notice it wants the Arroyo administration to prosecute human rights violators, including soldiers, before it approves additional military aid.

Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo Monday said he had thanked the US Senate for approving an increase in regular military funding to the Philippines from $11 million to $30 million.

But in the first significant international backlash over the wave of killings of left-wing activists blamed on Philippine security forces, the US Senate also set conditions for the release of an additional $2 million in military assistance.
Two million??? They're only withholding two million? There's still 30 million that's still being given unconditionlly!

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UN report: RP strategy to blame for spate of killings

A United Nations official has blamed the Philippine government’s counterinsurgency strategy, and a distorted criminal justice system, for the continuing spate of extrajudicial killings in the country. In a 21-page report to the UN General Assembly on Friday, Professor Philip Alston, the Commission of Human Rights’ Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions stuck to his findings earlier this year that leftist leaders in some parts of the Philippines were “systematically hunted down.”
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Relatives remember 800 victims of political slays

Relatives of more than 800 victims of extrajudicial killings in the country grieve for their loved ones and cry for justice as the nation commemorates the days of the departed. Some 160 of the victims were from Southern Tagalog.
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