The creation of a Special Committee on Human Rights under Administrative Order No. 22 is welcome, however this initiative of President Marcos Jr. must be complemented by the immediate ratification of the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and the presidential certification on the urgency of the enactment of the Human Rights Defenders Protection Act.
Every year since 1992, the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation has been honoring those it considers to be martyrs and heroes (300 plus to date) who fought for freedom during the dark years of the Marcos dictatorship (1972-1986). Those were the women and men who lost their lives, suffered in prison, were tortured in so many horrible ways and who disappeared (“salvaged” or summarily executed) because they dared to stand up against tyranny.
There can be no "gentlemen’s agreement" with a chronic aggressor like China in the West Philippine Sea.
I agree with President Marcos Jr. that former President Duterte’s unilateral and surreptitious agreement with China’s principal official is a grave mistake and indeed compromises Philippine sovereignty. This has no binding effect.
May I congratulate our lady colleagues as they take centerstage in the proceedings this afternoon.
by Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, President of the Liberal Party
As we commemorate the 38th anniversary of the EDSA people power revolution of February 22 to 25, 1986, we must underscore the following:
