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Despedida of Debold Sinas, arrests of 7 activists
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
MANILA – With the retirement of Police Chief Gen. Debold Sinas and with his birthday today, May 8, human rights group Karapatan believes that the recent series of arrests of activists is the general’s despedida.
Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan, made this statement after four individuals were arrested on May 6 in the Southern Tagalog region. The day before, Karapatan alerted the public after receiving information that another series of police and military raids in Southern Tagalog is in the offing.
Luz Rimban of the Asian Center for Journalism at the Ateneo joins the call for release of Frenchie Mae Cumpio
“But even if we mark World Press Freedom Day with many reasons to be fearful, we mark it also with hope, knowing that there are many of us still working each day to gather facts and shine a little light on what is happening in the country and on what isn’t.”
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
MANILA – On World Press Freedom day, journalists in the Philippines reiterated their call for the release of community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and for the junking of Anti-Terror Law.
Published May 3, 2021, 6:04 PM
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Monday, May 3, asked the Commission on Human Rights to immediately conduct an investigation into the police and military raids conducted in Bicol over the weekend, noting that serious violations of the law and the service of search warrant were allegedly committed by law enforcers.
Lagman said Bicolano activists have become the latest victims of the “pernicious pattern of red-tagging, terror-baiting and evidence planting.”
The veteran lawmaker gathered that while operatives searched the homes of the persons subjected to court-issued search warrants, neither members of their families nor other persons were allowed to witness the operation.
Updated May 2, 9:13 p.m.
By EMILY VITAL
MANILA A day before the World Press Freedom Day, former National Union of Journalists of the Philippines Director John Heredia was gunned down by motorcycle riding men in barangay Lawa-an Roxas City, Capiz.
According to NUJP, Heredia, also municipal administrator of Pilar, Capiz, was about to board his vehicle when he was attacked.
In an interview with the local media, Heredia’s wife, lawyer Cris Heredia, said the victim was dead on arrival when he was brought to Capiz Doctor’s Hospital.
In September 2019, the victim’s wife survived an attempt on her life. Cris, a member of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) was red-tagged before the incident.