“Kami lubog na lubog sa baha. Sila nasa mataas, paano kaming nasa baba? Kahit silipin nila kami ‘te, hindi nila kami matatanaw kasi sobrang taas nila.”
These were the words spoken by 20-year-old Edzel Santos during the mobilization last September 21. He was among more than 200 individuals arbitrarily arrested by the Manila Police District (MPD) that same day following escalated tensions in Mendiola and Ayala Bridge. Edzel was forcibly taken by MPD at the latter.
Three days before the commemoration of International Human Rights Day, Edzel participated in a snake-and-candle lighting protest in Altura Market. Market vendors and consumers also took part in the action to stand in solidarity with the call for justice and human rights.
Standing up for human rights defenders
On November 15, various human rights groups across the National Capital Region (NCR) demanded the immediate passage of the Human Rights Defenders Protection Ordinances in all cities of the National Capital Region.
On December 9 of last year, Baguio City and Quezon City pioneered the passage of HRDPO to define the rights and fundamental freedoms of human rights defenders (HRDs) operating in their locality. This also emphasizes the responsibilities of their local government unit to protect and promote those rights.
The HRDPO also seeks to institutionalize protective mechanisms locally so that rights defenders—be they individuals or groups working to defend human rights—can operate without fear of harassment, red-tagging, and arbitrary arrests, among other abuses.
While these local ordinances are laudable, Defend NCR hopes that this will set a precedent for other cities and municipalities up to the national level to follow.
Defend NCR noted three main objectives of the HRDPO:
- Explicitly prohibit red-tagging by local government units and officials.
- Establish concrete protection mechanisms for defenders at the city level.
- Guarantee a safe and enabling environment for all individuals and groups advocating for human rights.
Under Defend NCR, Defend Manila highlighted the dire situation in their locality, particularly under the administration of Manila city mayor Francisco ‘Isko’ Moreno, which has perpetuated a continuing policy of political repression marked by red-tagging, illegal arrests, and judicial harassment.
In a statement, Defend Manila highlighted the September 21 mass arrests as a glaring example of the weaponization of the law against those who dare to criticize the government and defend the poor and marginalized.
“It is a highlighted case in the regime’s portfolio of fascist attacks, and it screams the urgent need for a local mechanism to protect our defenders,” the group added.
Former Kabataan Partylist representative Raoul Manuel also supported the urgent passage of HRDPO across cities and municipalities in NCR.
“This measure is very important because even now, in the NCR, we still have communities that are being militarized. It is disheartening to see our fellow citizens, who only wish to exercise and defend our basic rights, portrayed negatively,” he said in an interview with Karapatan NCR.
Manuel added that it is about time that we ensure that the ordinance will not be watered down.
“Our human rights defenders should not be red-tagged, labeled as terrorists, or subjected to abuse by state forces for their own interests,” he added.
End police brutality
Along with Edzel was Emman Durden of Kalye Kontra Pasista.
On October 31, Emman was violently strangled, dragged, and threatened at gunpoint by a drunken police officer. Emman promptly underwent a medicolegal examination since the incident, which confirmed that he had suffered physical assault.
On November 18, Emman formally filed a case against the police officer responsible.
Karapatan NCR hailed this as a significant step toward justice, noting that abuses of power should not go unchallenged.
“Sa harap ng sunod-sunod na kaso ng karahasan at pananakot na kinasasangkutan ng ilang miyembro ng kapulisan, muling ipinakita ng kasong ito na nananatili ang kultura ng kawalang-pananagutan. Gayunpaman, pinatunayan ni Emman na may saysay ang manindigan at ipaglaban ang hustisya,” Karapatan NCR said in a statement.
Following Emman and Edzel’s case, human rights defenders stressed that the HRDPO is not just a policy but a vital shield and tool for citizens to fight back. Human rights groups issued a collective call:
- To the human rights defenders, we declare: your courage is the nation’s conscience, and we pledge our unwavering collective defense.
- To the City Council and the Office of the Mayor: The people’s demand is clear, and our expectation is firm. We expect the immediate filing of the HRDPO, and we expect its swift passage. The documented evidence of abuse leaves no room for hesitation. This is the people’s mandate.
- To the people: The fight to protect our defenders is the fight for our own rights and futures. Let us unite, organize, and mobilize. Our collective power is the ultimate guarantee of our rights.
