PRESS STATEMENT
January 14, 2022
Amid the unprecedented surge of COVID-19 cases, neglect of Typhoon Odette victims, and prolonged economic woes from successive lockdowns, the human rights of Sitio Patungan residents in Maragondon, Cavite facing demolition and displacement are being violated.
Sitio Patungan is a fisherfolk community at the foot of Mt. Pico de Loro that has been under threat of demolition since 2016 from plans of the Sy family-owned Manila Southcoast Development Corporation to expand its Hamilo Beach Resort in Nasugbu, Batangas.
“Displacing a fishing community just to build a luxury beach resort is already inhumane and reprehensible. But this demolition and violating human rights during an intensifying health crisis, poverty, and the dismal government response is the height of unspeakable ruthlessness,” said Council for People’s Development and Governance (CPDG) spokesperson Liza Maza.
Civil society organizations and rights groups have expressed indignation at the incident which started on January 12 when combined forces of PNP and the Seraph Security Agency surrounded Sitio Patungan. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Cavite reports that the residents were fired at indiscriminately.
“State-sponsored and -supported violence has become a culture in the past five (5) years. This only shows that despite numerous international statutes ensuring economic and socio-cultural rights and the recent recommendations of the United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, the powerful few use armed violence for their self-interest with impunity,” Maza added.
CPDG also said that the upcoming UN Universal Periodic Review in March this year will be crucial to draw international attention to the worsening human rights situation in the Philippines.
Moreover, the 2022 elections provide an avenue to campaign for human rights, justice, and accountability for state-sponsored violence and other human rights violations.
“We are appealing to all Presidential hopefuls and other candidates to make a firm stand on human rights and condemn what is happening in Sitio Patungan and other parts of the country. The people do not deserve this kind of neglect and should not endure even just another day more of Duterte-style governance.” Maza ended. #