Some torture victims and their sympathizers held Wednesday
night a candle-lighting activity in this city to mark the 30th anniversary of
the United Nations Convention Against Torture and the International Human
Rights Day.
They displayed streamers denouncing torture and violations
of human rights.
"We are doing this as a reminder to the government
because despite some laws, there are still torture and violations against human
rights," said Derek Cabe, spokesperson of the Kilusang Pambansang
Demokrasya (KPD) in Bataan .
"We hope for the respect and recognition of the human
rights be implemented for the dignity of the people," Cabe said.
Cabe, quoting reports of the Commission on Human Rights,
claimed that from January 2014 to this date, there are 28 cases of torture in
the Philippines
Danilo Castro, 63, of Morong town, said he was tortured by
members of the then Philippine Constabulary in 1973.
Former Vice Mayor Leonardo Cruz of Dinalupihan town said he
was suspected of being an NPA supporter which he said he was not.
Miguela Orpilla, 67, of Abucay town, said she was suspected
of feeding the rebels in 1978 and imprisoned for two months.
Some members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
(LGBT) community joined the candle-lighting activity at the Plaza Mayor in Balanga City
They claimed they were also victims of human rights
violation in the form of discrimination.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=715243
The Kilusang Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD) mentioned above is probably the Kilusang para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD-Movement for Nationalism and Democracy). The KPD is the legal umbrella multisectoral front organization for the breakaway underground Marxist-Leninist Party of the Philippines (MLPP).
ReplyDeleteThe MLPP was reportedly established in 1998 by Central Luzon cadre of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) after they were expelled from the Party over ideological differences. These expelled cadre came mainly from the CPP's Metro Manila Provisional Regional Party Committee, the Peasant Secretariat and the National Trade Union Bureau.
The split between the MLPP and the CPP became so acrimonious that by 2000 the New People's Army (NPA), the military arm of the CPP, began to launch attacks against members of the MLPP and its military wing,the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan (RHB--People's Revolutionary Army) killing a number of MLPP/RHB cadre.