"When defending rights coincides with...Arrest"
By Kat Ulrike
The recent arrest that coincides with the "International Human Rights Day" has showeth how the order will continue with its venture.
That like thieves in the night, authorities conducted four simultaneous raids on residences of six labor rights advocates and a journalist in Quezon City, Manila, and Mandaluyong between 2:00 - 3:00 in the morning last December 10 with evidences planted to justify their motives.
- Dennise Velasco (Defend Jobs Philippines)
- Jaymie Gregorio Jr (Kilusang Mayo Uno)
- Romina Astudillo (Kilusang Mayo Uno)
- Mark Ryan Cruz (Kilusang Mayo Uno)
- Joel Demate (Solidarity of Labor for Rights and Welfare - SOLAR)
- Rodrigo Esparago (Sandigang Manggagawa sa Quezon City - SMQC)
- Lady Ann Salem - Manila Today
From this arrest, along with earlier incidents and bouts of witch hunts, lies the fact that the order's intensified crackdown against critics comes an obvious contempt for human rights. And from these arrests demonstrate how the order, via the current administration considers that human rights, as any other laws under the present constitution as a "doormat" for their orderist agenda. For the apologists, this doesn't matter for them whether it was planted or actually found by state elements, for the important is, these arrested are perceived as "enemies" of the state and therefore deserves that kind of unlikely consequence- and this is unsurprising.
But will the concerned just stay quiet for this? True that these personalities are either against the administration or being critical on the administration's policies, but does it lead to another wave especially against those simply expressed their disbelief in their leader whose supporters look upon as their idol? Even Vice President Robredo is included in those witchunts brought by the order's apologists simply because she is "competing" against their idol! So again, will the concerned shy away for this system-sponsored paranoia?