Church official, ex-detainees to testify in Ottawa on human rights

Church official, ex-detainees to testify in Ottawa on human rights

ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN PH

TORONTO–A top official of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Bishop Reuel Marigza; community health worker and former political prisoner, Dr. Merry Mia Clamor; and Angelina Bisuña Ipong, the coordinator of Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainee Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Association of Ex-Detainees Against Detention and Arrest) and former political prisoner are coming to Canada to testify about human rights in the Philippines before the House of Commons’ Subcommittee on International Human Rights. They will bring to the Subcommittee the concerns of national human rights organizations and ecumenical coalitions about the grave situation of human rights abuses in the Philippines. They will also recommend proactive steps Canada should take at the next UN Human Rights Council Session to support their call that the Philippines live up to its human rights commitments. They will also travel across Canada from March 27-April 16, to meet with Members of Parliament, officials of Foreign Affairs, churches, non-governmental organizations, members of media and Filipino community groups.

Toronto will be the first stop in their 5-city tour. They will speak at a public event on Saturday, March 31, 2012 from 3:00 to 6:00pm at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), 252 Bloor St. West in Toronto. Aside from the Philippine visitors, Philippine Consul General to Toronto Pedro Chan is being invited to respond to the presentations. Amnesty International’s Submission to the UN on the current human rights concerns in the Philippines will also be discussed. This report strongly criticizes the Philippine Government for its lack of action to end the continuing climate of impunity, the rising number of incidents of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and abusive torture of hundreds of political prisoners, as well as the terrifying climate of militarization perpetuated by his counterinsurgency program, Operation Plan Bayanihan.

The tour of Bishop Marigza, Dr. Clamor and Ms. Ipong is jointly organized by the Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights in the Philippines (representing the NCCP, KARAPATAN, and NGOs from various sectors of society) and the Asia Pacific Forum (representing the Asia Programs of North American churches). The delegation will travel to the following cities: Toronto (March 27th–31st); Ottawa (April 1st-4th); Montreal (April 5th-8th); Winnipeg (April 8th-11th); Vancouver and Victoria (April 12th-16th).

Bishop Marigza is the General Secretary of UCCP, the church most heavily affected by extrajudicial killings (27 of its clergy and members have been assassinated). Under Bishop Marigza’s leadership, the UCCP has filed court cases to hold former President Macapagal-Arroyo and top military officials during her administration accountable for the assassinations, disappearances and detention of six members of UCCP. Dr. Clamor was one of the 43 health workers (known as the Morong 43) who were arrested Feb. 6, 2010 and detained until Dec. 2010 when the Philippine government was forced by strong pressure from local and international groups to release them.

Angelina Ipong is an educator, organic farmer and a proactive promoter of peace who was arrested by heavily armed special investigations police on March 8, 2005. Criminal and rebellion charges were filed against her by the state and while in jail, she was subjected to torture, sexual abuse, and continuous interrogations. In Feb. 2011, Ipong was released with all charges against her dismissed for lack of evidence.

For further information or to arrange an interview with the delegation, please contact: Bern Jagunos, Program Coordinator, Asia Pacific Partnerships, United Church of Canada, tel: 416-231-7680; Connie Sorio, Coordinator, Asia-Pacific Partnerships, KAIROS, tel: (416) 463-5312 ext 240.

(PRESS RELEASE)