Militant groups mark 66th Int'l Human Rights Day

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – At least 1,000 members of sectoral organizations under Bayan-Panay marched along the major streets of this city yesterday to commemorate the 66th International Human Rights Day.

Hope Hervilla, chairperson of Bayan-Panay, said human rights violations under the Aquino administration has not changed compared to previous administration and has even worsened.

With the implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and the privatization of some government owned and controlled corporations, through the Public Private Partnership Program, human rights violations has been increasing, said Hervilla.

The increase was expected, she said, citing EDCA with previous incidents when the Visiting Forces Agreement was implemented in the country in the past.

The privatization of some government corporations only increased the poverty cases in the country, in which only influential business owners have benefited, while leading to the death of smaller business sector and workers, Hervilla said.

Bayan-Panay also called on the government to give justice to the killing of its leaders: Romeo Capalla who was gunned down on March 15 this year and Dionisio Garete on May, also this year.