HUMAN rights advocacy group, Karapatan, has condemned the arrest of longtime women’s rights activist Atel Hijos, 79, in Butuan City, Tuesday.
In an emailed statement this afternoon, Karapatan claims the arrest showed the “weaponization” of the judicial system against rights defenders.
“Karapatan is gravely concerned that with all these cases filed in Caraga courts, the region has become a warrant factory were trumped up charges against activists are cooked up to suppress their voices and stifle political dissent,” Karapatan’s statement reads in part.
The group pointed out that Mindanao-based activists and development workers have been arrested on trumped-up charges. Among them, the group said, are Dr. Naty Castro, human rights worker Renalyn Tejero and Teresita Naul, women’s rights activists Nerita de Castro, teacher Gary Campos, development workers Julieta Gomez and Niezel Velasco, peasant activists Virgilio Lincuna and Marcela Diaz, church worker Aldeem Yanez, indigenous rights activist Gloria Campos Tumalon, among others, were arrested and many of them remain detained due to similar charges. Luzon-based trade unionists Juan Alexander Reyes, Rowena Rosales, Maoj Maga, and Antonieta Dizon, and development workers Benito Quilloy and Rita Espinoza were likewise implicated in trumped-up charges filed in courts in Caraga - even if all of them have never been to Mindanao.
“The arrest of Hijos is based on fabricated testimonies of soldiers saying that Atel is a combatant and was involved in armed encounters ― a blatant lie considering Atel’s senior age and frail physical condition,” the statement reads.
In one of the charges leveled against Hijos, they said, she has submitted sound and reasonable proof that she was attending election-related activities at the time of the alleged incident of armed encounter by soldiers and New People’s Army rebels.
“Like all those who were arrested, Hijos has been subjected to red-tagging, via numerous posters and fliers bearing her name and picture disseminated by the military in public places in Caraga,” the group said.
A former public school teacher, Hijos, was a founding member of the Women’s Alliance for True Change-Mindanao, a broad-based movement of women who resisted the Marcos dictatorship. She had been a long-time officer and women’s rights advocate of Gabriela, unwavering in her advocacy and assistance for women victims of violence and abuse, including those perpetrated by State agents. She had numerous forays into local government elections, having been involved with Gabriela Women’s Party.
“We demand the immediate release of Atel Hijos, Adora Faye de Vera, and all political prisoners on humanitarian and just grounds,” the group said. (PR)
