Media Quote
Responding to an encounter between activists and riot police during a protest against elections results outside the Commission on Human Rights, Amnesty International Director Butch Olano said:
“The brutal dispersal of protesters before the proclamation of winners in Batasan is sending all the wrong messages on dissent on the same day that Marcos’ election victory was certified. The heavy-handed police response is consistent with Duterte’s brand of policing and Amnesty International condemns such acts against protesters during this crucial transition period,
The brutal dispersal of protesters before the proclamation of winners in Batasan is sending all the wrong messages on dissent on the same day that Marcos’ election victory was certified. The heavy-handed police response is consistent with Duterte’s brand of policing and Amnesty International condemns such acts against protesters during this crucial transition period.
Butch Olano, Section Director
“The rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly have come under increasing attack particularly over the past six years of Duterte, with opposition activists targeted, and crackdowns against journalists and media outlets. Marcos must commit to protecting, promoting and ensuring full respect for human rights, and also to ending impunity and delivering accountability for past human rights violations,
“Amnesty International is calling on both Duterte and Marcos to condemn these violent acts by members of the PNP, and ensure the protection of basic civil liberties including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly including the right to peaceful dissent.”