Human Rights

Will you uphold human rights and end policies giving rise to human rights violations such as extra-judicial killing, torture and enforced disappearance? Will you stop the persecution of social activists, dissidents and critics of government? Will you punish perpetrators of human rights violations?

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Counterinsurgency programs Oplan Bantay Laya 1 (2002-06) and 2 (2007-2010); Human rights violations against activists, peasants, workers, church people, national minorities, lawyers, media and others since 2001 (Karapatan):

• 1,188 political killings
• 205 enforced disappearances
• 223 political prisnors (as of 2009)
• 873,431 victims of forcible evacuation and displacement
• 534,717 of indiscriminate firing
• 84,630 of food and other economic blockades
• 52,310 of illegal search and seizure
• 38,616 of hamletting

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Benigno “Noynoy” Cojuangco Aquino Jr.

Liberal Party

• In a privilege speech in 2007, expressed commitment to end extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the country and criticized the Arroyo gov’t for its weak response on the issue
• Downplays the Hacienda Luisita (HL) massacre and even insists that only two out of seven farmers killed were from HL.
• As a representative, voted against the Human Security Act (RA 9372), or Anti-Terror Law, which is criticized by human rights groups as a law that will intensify human rights violations.

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John Carlos “JC” Gordon Delos Reyes

Ang Kapatiran Party

• Openly declares opposition to extrajudicial killings, even if only in general terms
• As Olongapo City Councillor, pushed for the implementation of Barangay Human Rights Action Centers as mandated by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

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Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada

Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP)

• As president, signed the Comprehensive Agreement for the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL)
• Rampant human rights violations were however recorded during the term with 974 cases of rights violations, according to rights group Karapatan. Among these were the arrests and detention of 301 individuals, 45 victim of summary executions, 14 massacre incidents and 22 enforced disappearances.

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Richard Juico “Dick” Gordon

Bagumbayan-Volunteers for a New Philippines  (B.Bayan-VNP)

• Thinks that the country’s human rights situation is dismal but attributes it to the people who perpetrate the violations and says “it is not the adminisrtration.”
• As senator, voted for the Human Security Act.

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Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal-Valade

Independent

• Voted against the Human Security Act (Anti-Terror Law)
• Believes that the government should end its total war policy and provide reparation for the families of the victims.

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Nicanor Jesus “Nicky” Pineda Perlas III

Independent

Vows to protect human rights to the fullest extent by cultivating a culture of respect for human rights in all agencies and affairs of government as well in the public at large “through appropriate partnerships with civil society groups.”

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Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo “Gibo” Cojuangco Teodoro Jr.

Lakas ng Tao-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (LAKAS-KAMPI)

• As defense secretary from 2007 to 2009, was in charge of the implementation of Oplan Bantay Laya II that among others explicitly targets civilian “enemies of the state”. During this period, 320 cases of extrajudicial killings, and 43 cases of enforced disappearances were recorded while the number of illegal arrests increased from 2006.
• As a representative, voted against the Human Security Act

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Eduardo “Eddie” Cruz Villanueva

Bangon Pilipinas (BP)

• Believes that there should be a faster trial of pending cases of those responsible for ‘shocking injustices’ such as extrajudicial killings.
• Wants Congress to define syndicated warlordism as a heinous crime.

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Manuel “Manny” Bamba Villar Jr.

Nacionalista Party (NP)

• Says that upholding human rights is one of his party’s priorities as well as giving justice to the victims from the Martial Law period up to the present.
• Says that human rights violations can be addressed by strengthening the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-Philippine National Police (PNP) and by addressing the concerns of the military.
• As senator, voted for the Human Security Act and is also its principal author.