Karapatan calls on PNoy to craft "concrete human rights program"

CEBU, Philippines - The Karapatan - Central Visayas is calling on President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino to craft a concrete human rights program.

The group made the call during a para-liturgical rite it organized yesterday morning to pray for justice for Fr. Rudy Romano and the 26 other so-called desaparecidos. The memorial rite was held at a marker for Romano in Katipunan Road, Barangay Labangon.

The group lighted 26 candles that symbolized the missing individuals. A gospel was read and a wreath was laid down at the marker. 

The group said it is important that Aquino come up with a solid human rights program to give justice to the desparecidos and to prevent future victims of abduction.

The group also looked back at the term of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s wherein 1,091 extra-judicial killings were recorded and 212 persons went missing, six of whom are Cebuanos.

“Gusto namo na si President Noynoy maghimo ug tangible or concrete human right programs how to dispense justice to the families of the victims,” Karapatan – Central Visayas chairman Dennis Abarrientos said.

At around 6pm yesterday, a special mass was also celebrated at the Redemptorist Church for Romano. The mass ended with the singing of Romano’s favorite song.

Romano is one of the hundreds of desaparecidos in the country since 1980s.

Fr. Romano, a Redemptorist priest and human rights fighter, was a leading figure in the fight against the Marcos dictatorship. He organized rallies, mobilized communities and attacked human rights abuses in his homilies and speeches.

The marker in Katipunan road marks the place where Fr. Romano was abducted by armed men on July 11, 1985. The marker was installed by the city government the following year. — THE FREEMAN