With the celebration of International Human Rights Day, various progressive organizations gathered in a mass mobilization to demand accountability for over 100 extrajudicial killings and 755 political detainees brought about by the Marcos-Duterte leadership.
The case of Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao Region (KMU-SMR) organizer William Lariosa, who had been missing since April 10, had been added to the number of forced disappearances under the Marcos Jr. administration.
The Sabokahan Youth Vice Chair Kat Dalon stressed that Mindanao has become the third most dangerous place in the world for environmental defenders, citing numerous reports of extrajudicial killings in the region.
“Ang pinakadelikado pa gyud nga lugar ang Mindanao para sa mga Lumad ug environmental defenders, kay tungod, kadaghanan sa mga extrajudicial killings, naa man sa Mindanao. Kinahanglan mahatagan ug hustisya ang mga biktima sa extra-judicial killing, kay tungod, kung naay military presence, automatic, naa gyud na’y human rights violation.”
In response to these violations, the Marcos administration introduced its Human Rights Action Plan, Executive Order No. 23, which establishes an inter-agency body to protect workers’ freedom of association and creates a human rights super body.
However, Anakbayan Vice Chairperson Austine Miao criticizes these efforts, pointing out that despite the government’s claims to protect human rights, laws like the Anti-Terror Law and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) continue to silence activists.
“Gapadayon mi sa among panawagan kay padayon pud mi gipa-hilom; padayon pud mi nga gina-harass habang gina-padungog ug gina-tudlo namo sa kadaghanan atoang mga panawagan tungod sa NTF-ELCAC ug sa Anti-Terror law nga number one na weapon karon sa estado para mapahilom ang mga critics nila,” Miao said.
Karapatan-Southern Mindanao Region member Grecian Asoy also highlighted the lack of transparency in allocating confidential funds, which she argued further undermines human rights protections.
“Kanang confidential funds, source sya of corruption, since, dili man sila required magpagawas ug kanang liquidation [report] kung asa nila gigamit ang mga funds. So, of course, sa ing-ana nga butang, kailangan nila ma-hold accountable, mag-take accountability sila it’s because kwarta na siya sa katawhan,” Asoy said.
Dalon underscored the importance of mobilizing the masses to hold the government accountable.
“Dili man ma-hold accountable ang estado kung dili manawagan ang katawhan. Dili man nila i-hold accountable ang ilang mga kaugalingon kay katawhan gyud mismo ang mulihok niana.”
The mass mobilization took place at the Freedom Park along Roxas Avenue last December 10.