Kabataan Partylist urges Baguio LGU to pass HRD Ordinance

Kabataan Partylist (KPL) Cordillera called on the local government of Baguio to immediately pass the Human Rights Defenders (HRD) Ordinance in light of recent disappearances of human rights activists in the city, May 31.

Weeks before KPL Cordillera released its statement, the hashtags #DefendTheNorth, #StopTheAttacks and #SurfaceDexterAndBazoo made rounds on the internet as progressive groups and individuals continued to clamor for their safe returns.

Indigenous people’s rights defenders and UP Baguio alumni, Dexter Capuyan and Gene Roz Jamil “Bazoo” have been missing since April 28. According to human rights group Kalipunan Mamamayan sa Pilipinas, agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) were confirmed to be behind their abduction. The CIDG denies these allegations.

Also cited in the statement were other recent human rights violation cases including Dumanun Makitungtong, state surveillance and text threats against student activists, and trumped-up charges filed against the Northern Luzon 7 (NL7).

Dumanun Makitungtong is a house visit strategy of the Baguio Task Group where parents are informed that their children may be “potential recruits of the CPP-NPA-NDF.'' A total of six cases have been recorded in UPB.

NL7 refers to the seven activists - Jennifer “Jen" Awingan, Windel Bolinget, Steve Tauli, Lulu Gimenez, Sarah Alikes, Niño "Babs" Oconer, and Florence "Renz" Kang - who were arrested in January following rebellion accusations. The charges were only recently dropped for lack of probable cause.

According to KPL Cordillera, “it is high time that the LGU acknowledge the need for human rights to be at the premium of the city’s concerns.”

"We hold onto Mayor Magalong’s pronouncements that 'activists are safe in Baguio,' and we hope we can make Baguio a safe space for all," Regional Spokesperson of Kabataan Partylist Cordillera, Louise Montenegro, said.

The HRDO has already been approved on its second hearing.