OPINION
PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY October 1 - 15 , 2017
Tinig Migrante
By E . Maestro
Rise Up For Life and For Rights is a Philippine network created to defend life and protect human rights against drug related extra judicial killings and violations in the Philippines . The people ’ s ecumenical church and its leaders and workers started its “ sanctuary work ” without any fanfare as early as October 2016 , when the numbers of the deaths from Duterte ’ s “ war of drugs ” against the poor stood at 3700 deaths , a number that even then was shocking .
Extrajudicial killings , also known as “ salvagings ” or extrajudicial executions are killings by government forces or agents without any legal process or judicial proceedings . Yes , these are illegal and criminal acts ; in everyday language , you would probably refer to them as murders by state forces .
Today , the numbers are estimated to be more than 7000 deaths and Rise Up for Life and For Rights is now in the news . There are several small parishes that provide
Sen . Villar ...
of Bulong Pulungan that her staff did not see the email but that it didn ’ t matter as she is against criminalizing minors ’ misdemeanors anyway and lowering the age cap . Although , she pointed out , she would be for punishing parents who use minors to commit crimes . But she admitted she felt hurt by the reported malicious innuendoes against them supposedly from two senators .
“ We all belong to one senate ,” she lamented .” We see each other every day . We shelter to people in the urban poor areas in Metro Manila . That the identity of these parishes remains anonymous is no brainer in the light of the butal war of the Duterte government against its citizens . Lives need to be saved , people need places to run to for help and thus , secrecy and anonymity are crucial to protect those needing sanctuary .
This unusual “ ministry ” was started by churches taking action against extrajudicial killings ( also known as EJKs ) in the drug war and their targets of mostly suspected street level drug users or small-time pushers . The network includes the Promotion for Church People ’ s Response , the National Council of Churches in the Philippines , the Permanent Commission on Social Mission Apostolate of the Redemptorist Missionaries , CONTAK Philippines , Kasimbayan and other community groups .
Norma Dollaga , a Methodist deaconess , is one of the founders of Rise Up . She is also one of the leaders of the Association of Women in
can talk to each other . We should not be against each other .”
She also doused speculations about former senator Manny Villar or her running for the top post in Manila . The rumors might have started when Manny constructed a small building on the land they used to rent before , Cynthia explained . It was sold to him and Manny decided to build something there with living quarters on the top floor .
It could also have
Rise Up For Life and For Rights
Theology and a Board Member of the Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights in the Philippines . She was in Vancouver for a short visit and told the stories that do not get reported in the news . The use of EJKs has always been used by the state to suppress dissent and eliminate critics , and sow terror among the citizens ; it has commonly targeted the people ’ s organizations of workers , peasants , students , journalists , etc . Dollaga says in her quiet voice , “ If a worker-leader or a human rights leader is killed , for example , there is immediate outrage and sympathy . But if a suspected drug addict in the urban poor areas is killed , there is no sympathy until people realize that the suspect was in fact executed .” This was what happened in the case of Kian de los Santos , Grade 11 student killed in Caloocan , in which footage from the CCTV showed how the police officers in civilian clothes abducted the young student .
It is a sad commentary of our times when some of our kababayan actually believe that there is a set of human
escalated when they went to help out in Baseco , where 10,000 informal settler families live . Cynthia has many laudable projects for this densely-populated area and these include more schools , livelihood projects , and better road and facilities to help them manage their solid waste and give them toilets ! As it is , Manila Bay is their toilet !
The Philippines is also the third biggest plastic pollutant , Villar reported . With her water lily project in
rights and legal rights protection for one group of people and none for the others . It is a tragic state of affairs when the highest official of the land publicly and brazenly gives the green light to kill and the police like the dogs that they are aim their guns at the poor , the alleged small time users , and while they ’ re at it , almost anyone ! “ Let ’ s kill another 32 every day . Maybe we can reduce what ails this country ” was Duterte ’ s response to the police reports of 32 killed recently in Bulacan . Duterte has also in effect ordered the shooting of human rights workers with his words , ““ If they are obstructing justice , shoot them .” A recent Social Weather Station survey this October reported that seven in 10 Filipinos are worried that they would become victims of EJKs or that someone they know , would be a victim .
Rise Up For Life and For Rights goes into the urban poor communities ; it documents cases of drug-related
her area , Cynthia also gathers plastic sachets , bags , etc . These are recycled and made into school desks .
Environmental issues affect agriculture , Cynthia loves to point out , which is why she has taken to heart the farm schools she started and helps out . Cynthia has two on-going farm schools that are run with the help of TESDA and these are thriving under VillarSipag . We went to the one at the border of Las Piñas and Bacoor a while ago and it was inspiring to see killings and human rights violations . It provides counselling for those suffering from trauma , free acupuncture sessions to drug addicts wanting to start a detox program , and livelihood programs .
Rise Up For Life and For Rights is not only about providing sanctuary , it is also about organizing and empowering these communities to rise up to defend their communities and their families .
Rise Up For Life and For Rights is the people ’ s church putting forward its preferential option for the poor , it is affirming that prayers are important but not enough unless combined with courageous action . In doing so , the people ’ s church has also put its self in the line of fire .
In the recent protests in the Philippines against EJKs and against tyranny , the people ’ s church network is not alone in its fight .
the trainees in the field and in the classrooms . They are farmers , would-be farmers , and those who want to be trainors . There is another Farm School in Bulacan and they don ’ t lack students .
The senadora dreams of a farm school for every municipality in the country , and the dream , she knows is reachable with the help of like-minded individuals and committed government agencies . There are at present 930 farm schools , sustainable farms that are also tourist
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