• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Bishop of San Carlos, Most Rev. Gerardo Alminaza, led the launch of “Manindigan”, a national network of individuals aimed to uphold human rights in the face of “relentless attacks under the current admin.”
Alminaza, vice president of Caritas-Philippines, will serve as the lead convener of the campaign network.
“Manindigan is a call to stand up for the people whose lives and dignity are being trampled by the state terror funded with people’s money,” the bishop said.
The group, backed by diverse coalition including faith-based leaders, writers, human rights defenders, lawyers, environmental advocates, peasants, and representatives from indigenous and Moro communities, denounce the “misuse of public funds to bankroll military,” which they said resulted in the red-tagging and harassment of civilians and activists.
According to them, militarization has led to situations that resemble Martial Law.
“Communities, especially in rural and Indigenous areas, continue to suffer from bombings, harassment, and militarization,” Alminaza said.
The Human Rights Advocates Network (HRAN), who joined the launch, said that Negros Island experienced a ‘dictatorial rule’ when the former President Rodrigo Duterte imposed a memorandum that resulted to enforced disappearance and more than 100 cases of extra-judicial killings.
HRAN added that it also led to the illegal arrest of farmers, farmworkers, and the murder of human rights defenders.
“Manindigan” said they vowed to “resist the worsening of human rights and international humanitarian law under the Marcos Jr. administration.”*
