Rappler's latest stories on Karapatan
Cops arrest 11 at anti-terrorism law rally in Laguna
The police round up the protesters right after their program ended

'Consider the Constitution': Groups urge DOJ to recommend veto of anti-terror bill
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra will submit the review to Malacañang on Wednesday, June 17. He will not make it public unless Malacañang releases it from their end.
Rights groups urge Filipinos: Reject Duterte admin's 'tyrannical' moves vs ABS-CBN
(UPDATED) The order to shut down ABS-CBN is the latest in a string of attacks against media in the Philippines under the Duterte administration

Rights group: PH government's offer of dialogue on abuses 'hollow, hypocritical'
The Ecumenical Voice for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines says the Philippine government 'continues without fail to go berserk' instead of addressing issues head-on

Duterte gov't depriving activists of legal options, says Amnesty Int'l
Amnesty International expresses alarm that activists continue to 'face threats and undue restrictions' without any way to protect themselves

Quo warranto vs ABS-CBN political harassment, vendetta – rights groups
Karapatan says it is not surprising that Solicitor General Jose Calida is 'doing the dirty work of concocting legal offensives against his master’s so-called enemies and critics'

Bayan Muna, Karapatan condemn ‘witch hunt’ vs Lumad evacuees in Davao City
Paramilitary group Alamara allegedly forcibly enters the UCCP Haran compound where Lumad evacuees have taken refuge since 2015

Rights group leader gets death and rape threats on Human Rights Day
Karapatan's Cristina Palabay is threatened with death and rape after celebrating Human Rights Day

On Human Rights Day, fight vs abuses continues amid crackdown under Duterte
Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay says human rights 'must continuously be asserted, defended and fought for’

HRW: De Lima's persecution shows Duterte's 'increasing authoritarianism'
Karapatan also likens the situation of Senator Leila De Lima with the experience of hundreds of political prisoners facing alleged trumped-up charges under President Rodrigo Duterte

Fearing more raids and arrests, progressive groups get CHR to inspect offices
Karapatan deputy secretary-general Roneo Clamor says this is 'to deprive the police any opportunity to plant evidence' against activists

Groups hail U.N. resolution vs drug war: 'Crucial step towards justice'
Human rights groups urge the Philippine government to coordinate with the United Nations as rights chief Michelle Bachelet is expected to write a comprehensive report on the country's situation

Rights groups: Pass U.N. resolution vs PH drug war killings now
'There’s no other time,' say Philippine human rights groups attending the 41st Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Esperon sues groups that filed for protection vs gov't harassment
Karapatan slams the National Security Adviser's perjury complaint as another government attack aimed at discrediting their advocacy against human rights violations

Rights groups fail to get court protection from army harassment
'There is no evidence of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, malicious prosecutions, and defamations,' says the Court of Appeals
Rights group denied chance to present evidence in red-tagging hearing
The Court of Appeals 14th Division submits the case for decision without allowing human rights group Karapatan to present testimonies and witnesses
2 human rights workers shot dead in Sorsogon
Ryan Hubilla, a 22-year-old senior high school student, and Nelly Bagasala, 69, who both advocated for human rights, are killed by unknown gunmen

Supreme Court issues writ of amparo in favor of rights groups
(UPDATED) The Supreme Court directs the Court of Appeals to hear the petition of Gabriela, Karapatan, and the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines on June 18

Groups fear 'more challenging days' for human rights with new Senate
Advocate Rose Trajano says it is high time for local government units to introduce and promote ordinances that focus on defending human rights

Other groups follow NUPL lead, ask SC for protection vs red-tagging
One of the petitioners is the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, which is being investigated by the European Union for communist financial links upon the request of the Philippine government
Former spokesman of rights group Karapatan arrested in Davao City
Kelly Delgado is allegedly found in possession of shabu, according to Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, whose assassination was allegedly plotted by Delgado 9 years ago

Rights groups question warrants issued by Cebu judge vs Negros 14
After a fact-finding mission, rights groups question why the search warrant was issued by a court in another province when there are regional trial courts in Negros Oriental

On Human Rights Day, groups call for accountability vs violations under Duterte
In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity (iDEFEND) urges the public to remain steadfast in demanding the government to adhere to the rule of law and human rights

Rights groups oppose another martial law extension in Mindanao
Father Allan Khen Apus of Movement Against Tyranny says there has been 'a marked increased of of human rights violations' in Mindanao since martial law started there

Labor leader in Agusan del Norte shot dead
Linus Cubol was killed in front of his furniture store by motorcyle-riding gunmen

Protecting human rights groups vs threats
Human rights groups call for the passage of a bill that will recognize the essential role of human rights defenders in ensuring a peaceful and equal society

'Big blow against impunity': Human rights groups welcome Palparan conviction
The court finds the former army general Jovito Palparan, who was nicknamed 'berdugo' (The Butcher), guilty of kidnapping and illegal detention of UP students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan

IN PHOTOS: Protesta de Mayo
Militant activists hold their own version of the annual Catholic tradition

'My son is not an NPA,' says mother of teenager killed in Davao clash
Eastmincom admits it erred in the spelling of the name of the boy, but insists he was indeed an NPA child soldier

Arrest of nun shows Duterte gov't 'has much to hide, guilty as hell' – rights group
Karapatan secretary general Tinay Palabay says that the action of President Rodrigo Duterte's regime against international human rights observers and development workers 'betrays its guilt'

Liberal Party senatorial slate, FASAP on SC ruling, Xi greets Duterte | Evening wRap
Watch the evening newscast with Mara Cepeda

No one to blame but Duterte for PH failure to curb drugs – rights group
'Duterte did that all by himself, in a path of tyrannical megalomania and unparalleled self-destruction,' says Karapatan, in response to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque

Prone to abuse: State surveillance as a tool to silence critics
Human rights activists say the conduct of both physical and communication surveillance is prone to abuse and is a violation of a citizen's right to privacy

State surveillance: A necessary evil?
Proponents of state surveillance argue that monitoring individuals is necessary in the interest of 'national security'. But who defines what 'national security' is? To what extent is state surveillance legal?

CHR: Withdrawal from Int'l Criminal Court can be seen as 'encouraging impunity'
Human Rights Watch and Karapatan also slam President Rodrigo Duterte's move, saying that his administration must be held accountable for 'all rights violations'

UN experts urged to probe Duterte's threats vs human rights activists
‘Coming from the President’s mouth, the threats can be taken as calls to the military and police forces…to escalate suppression and repression,’ says rights group Karapatan

SEC closure order vs Rappler a move toward dictatorship - activists
'Closing down Rappler means one less independent media through which environmental advocates can stand up to the oligarchs and corporations that seem to run the Duterte government’s agenda nowadays', a group says

Father Tito Paez: 'A comrade for others'
'He offered his life not only as a priest but also as a comrade. He was a comrade for others – a hero, a martyr,' says San Jose City Bishop Roberto Mallari of slain activist priest Marcelito 'Tito' Paez

IN PHOTOS: Rights groups protest against 'killing fields' in Mindanao
Barug Katungod Mindanao and Karapatan stage a rally in front of the Department of National Defense to protest against Martial Law in Mindanao

Central Luzon police vow 'in-depth probe' into killing of Nueva Ecija priest
Central Luzon regional police vows to find out who killed Fr. Marcelito 'Tito' Paez

Priest killed in Nueva Ecija
(UPDATED) The incident happened hours after Fr Marcelito Paez assisted in facilitating the release of a political prisoner in Cabanatuan, says rights group Karapatan

IN PHOTOS: Relatives of political prisoners run for freedom
Around a hundred relatives of political prisoners run to call for the freedom of 449 political prisoners in the country.

IN PHOTOS: Black Friday protest against Duterte's war on drugs
Leftist groups lights candles for the victims, relatives, and defenders of those killed in the drug war

20 cops or 20 protesters injured? Even claims clash in ASEAN protests
Cops also say a protester was arrested for throwing stones, but his fellow protesters say he was just driving a support van

Human rights groups: ‘Martial law in entire nation not impossible’
Manlaban para sa Karapatan is only one of the groups taking part in mass protests to be staged on Thursday, September 21, for the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law

Rights group urges Duterte to lift martial law declaration
Karapatan fears that just like in the time of Marcos human rights violations will be justified on the pretext of security protection and national interest


10 years later, search for Jonas Burgos continues
Protesters decry the promotion of Armed Forces chief General Eduardo Año but he is adamant he never knew Jonas Burgos

Karapatan brings cases of political killings in PH to UN
Cases of extrajudicial killings related to the Duterte administration s bloody war on drugs are next

An open letter to Human Rights Watch on EJKs, Duterte, and Karapatan
Has the militant rights group spoken out strongly against the wave of extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in the Philippines?

Human rights group says 75 activists missing in Rizal
Karapatan reports the incident a day after troops and communist rebels clashed in the area
