human rights violations

Statement: Rendering service to the people courts death

1 June 2022

Ms. Carmel A. Eubra, a municipal social welfare and development officer (MSWDO) of Viga, Catanduanes was killed by riding in tandem in Virac, Catanduanes last May 24, 2022. She was shot twice while driving her car inside a subdivision.

It is obvious that her killers had subjected our colleague to a surveillance and decided that the location where Ms. Eubra died was the perfect killing spot. Apparently, the location also afforded the killers the best route for their getaway.

Contracting hired killers for this dastardly act is a clear sign that somebody or a group of individuals was hell bent to eliminate Ms. Eubra.

This is again a classic case of senseless killing.  It is very ironic that a social work practitioner that has overcome the challenges of being a frontliner in a rural setting just to put premium on the sacredness of life, died violently.  Her passion to serve other people especially those in need was cut short.  She was only 43 years old. Her dreams were crushed with her lifeless body.

Her murder was another notch of a long thread of professionals who also met the same fate, another testament that rendering service to the people invites violent death  and how impunity has permeated the society.

We are living in perilous times.  The death of Ms. Eubra is even not a bad omen. With a Marcos-Duterte tandem capturing the helm of the country’s political power, there will be no radical departure from the legacy of widespread human rights violations of their predecessor. In fact what is worrisome is the possibility of invoking the landslide victory in inflicting harm against the people and the so-called adherents of the “pink movement.”  BBM loyalists in the social media are now starting to push for the physical decimation of the critics of the new administration.

While we demand justice for our colleague, it is now than ever that social work practitioners should close ranks and start instituting precautionary and security measure to preserve our ranks.

The battle is long and risky, but victory is inevitable.

Department of Social Work

College of Social Work and Community Development

UP Diliman

May 27, 2022

Research Forum: Ugnayan para sa Hustisya at Dignidad: Pagtugon at Hamon sa Pagtataguyod ng Karapatang Pantao

7 April 2022

The Research and Extension for Development Office (REDO) of the UP College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD) is organizing an online research forum entitled, Ugnayan para sa Hustisya at Dignidad: Pagtugon at Hamon sa Pagtataguyod ng Karapatang Pantao, on 29 April 2022, Friday from 3:00pm to 6:00pm to share the outcomes of CSWCD’s network building initiatives in response to the War on Drugs of the Duterte Administration, as well as to advocate for human-rights-based and people-centered governance anchored on principles of people’s empowerment, transformative social change and social justice. 

The research forum will highlight the results of the two studies conducted by the college under the Office of the Dean as follows: 1) Creating Innovations in Collaborative Action Research and Community Dialogue, and 2) Building Networks for Human Rights Approaches to Meet Humanitarian Needs in the Philippines. 

Pre-register via zoom: bit.ly/CSWCDResearchForum

Opisyal na Pahayag: Hands off our Development Workers!

2 March 2022

Hands off our Development Workers!

Ang Kolehiyo ng Gawaing Panlipunan at Pagpapaunlad ng Pamayanan, sampu ng kanyang mga guro, kawani at mag-aaral ay nagkakaisa sa pagkondena sa hindi makatarungan at iligal na pag-aresto kay Agnes Mesina at kanyang mga kasamahan, at sa tahasang panggigipit at pagpatay sa mga development workers at human rights defenders tulad ng tinaguriang New Bataan 5.

28 Pebrero 2022, bandang 7:00 NC, inaresto si Agnes Mesina habang kumakain sa isang karinderya sa Aparri, Cagayan dahil sa isang kaso na pinawalang-bisa na ng korte noon pang 12 Hulyo 2021. Si Agnes Mesina ay nasa Cagayan upang magsagawa ng community outreach at fact-finding mission para sa mga pamayanang Agta na biktima ng walang habas na pambobomba na militar sa Conzaga, Cagayan. Bandang 11:30 NC, si Agnes Mesina ay pinalaya mula sa kustodiya ng mga pulis.

Walang duda, ang pag-aresto kay Agnes Mesina ay isang anyo ng panggigipit sa mga development workers na kadalasang pinaghihinalaan o inaakusahang kasapi ng mga rebeldeng grupo na walang sapat na batayan. Hindi ito makatarungan. At batay sa karanasan mula sa New Bataan 5, Bloody Sunday at Human Rights Day 7, ito rin ay lubhang mapanganib at nakamamatay.

Naniniwala ang Kolehiyo ng Gawaing Panlipunan at Pagpapaunlad ng Pamayanan na ang aktibismo ay hindi terorismo at may mahalagang gampanin ang maa development workers lalo na sa paghahatid ng tulong, kaalaman at kasanayan sa mga pamayanang nasa laylayan at pinagkakaitan ng kanilang karapatan. Nananawagan kami sa mga kinauukulan na kilalanin at igalang ang mahalagang gampanin ng mga development workers sa pagpapaunlad ng mga pamayanan at ang karapatan nilang makipagtuwangan sa mga maralitang sektor ng ating lipunan nang walang takot at pangamba sa banta ng pang-aabuso, hindi makatarungang pagpapakulong o kamatayan. Nananawagan din kami sa mga awtoridad na panagutin ang mga nagsagawa ng ilegal na pag-aresto. ###