Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 10) – In celebration of the 75th International Human Rights Day, groups on Sunday denounced the attacks and urged the government to promote respect for human rights.
In a video posted by the group Karapatan, protesters urged the government to free political prisoners.
“Kung titignan ‘yung karamihan ng desisyon ng Korte Suprema, tila mas pumapanig ito dun sa mga nakararangya, ‘yung powerful,” Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said.
[Translation: If we look at the Supreme Court’s decisions, it seems most of these are favoring powerful people.]
During their protest at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, Karapatan also decried the lack of food and medical supplies for political prisoners in congested jails and detention facilities.
The Kabataan Partylist, meanwhile, urged the government to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). The youth group said the NTF-ELCAC red-tagged activists and human rights advocates.
“Imbes na tugunan ‘yung mga isyu ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao, ang mga militar pa mismo ang pangunahing violator ng international humanitarian law,” said human rights defender Hailey Pecayo.
[Translation: Instead of addressing the issues of human rights, the military itself is the main violator of international humanitarian law.]
The Commission on Human Rights earlier said cases of red-tagging remain rampant under the Marcos administration.
READ: CHR: Red-tagging still rampant under Marcos
The protesters marched along Mendiola Street to urge President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to uphold the human rights of Filipinos.
They threw eggs and orange paint at an effigy called “Cards of Terror,” which depicts Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte as the “king and queen of terrorism.”
Rallyists throw eggs on what they call "cards of terror," depicting President Bongbong Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte as the "king and queen of terror." | @dsfernandez pic.twitter.com/HHq6fLIpDU
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) December 10, 2023
CNN Philippines Correspondent Daniza Fernadez contributes to this story.
