The Honourable Mr Benigno Aquino III
President, Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace
J.P. Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila, NCR, 1005
Philippines

Paris – Manila, August 6, 2010

Subject: Commitments to justice and human rights require concrete actions

Your Excellency,

From July 5-9, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)and the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) jointlyconducted a mission of political dialogue with representatives of thenewly elected administration to discuss the progress of theimplementation of relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms'recommendations. FIDH and PAHRA welcome the commitments made by youradministration to address the human rights situation in thePhilippines, in a context of ongoing grave violations of human rights,in particular extrajudicial killings, torture and enforceddisappearances, and of a persistent culture of impunity.

Political Prisoners/Detainees' Relatives, TFDP members and staff release pigeons and balatengga in front of Ever Commonwealth in the morning of July 26, 2010. Photos by Rommel Yamzon

Hamon sa unang SONA ni P-Noy: Ibangon ang dignidad at karapatang pantao ng Pinoy

Ang matuwid na daan ay isang pamamahalang may paggalang, may proteksiyon at nagsasakatuparan ng karapatang pantao ng kanyang mamamayan.  Mula sa karapatang pang-ekonimiya, sosyal at pangkultura hanggang sa sibil pulitikal, ito ang hamon natin kay Pangulong Benigno Simeon Aquino III sa kanyang unang SONA.    

Ang Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) ay kasama ng mamamayan sa paghamon sa ating bagong pangulo na huwag tumulad sa nakaraang administrasyon na walang sinserong programa para sa karapatang pantao. Na sa siyam na taong panunungkulan ay ni walang anumang banggit hinggil sa karapatang pantao sa kanyang mga SONA, bagkus ay nagpaparangal pa sa mga berdugo at nagwawasiwas ng mga polisiyang tumatapak sa dignidad ng mamamayan.