For more than six years in office, President Gloria Arroyo systematically violated Filipinos’ political, economic, social and cultural rights, according to one of the initiators of a case against her before an international juridical body, which starts its hearing sessions today. For more than six years in office, President Gloria Arroyo systematically violated Filipinos’ political, economic, social and cultural rights, according to one of the initiators of a case against her before an international juridical body, which starts its hearing sessions today.
 
According to independent think-tank IBON Foundation, President Arroyo perpetuated an “exploitative and oppressive economic system prevailing in the Philippines, intensified the plunder of the economy, and further violated its economic sovereignty and national patrimony.” IBON is one of the initiators of the case against Arroyo and other plaintiffs before the Permanent People’s Tribunal (PPT), an international opinion tribunal that examines cases regarding violations of rights of people. The PPT’s Second Session on the Philippines opens today in The Hague, The Netherlands.

According to IBON research head Sonny Africa, the situation today under the Arroyo administration is even much worse than in the 1980s. The already exploitative economic system is further intensified by the Arroyo government’s aggressive implementation of neoliberal policies dictated by the international creditors and transnational corporations.

“Under the Arroyo administration, there are more poor Filipinos today than at any time in the country’s history,” Africa said. About 65 million Filipinos or 80% of the population struggle to survive on the equivalent of US$2 or less each day. Around 9.3 million households or 57% of the total households do not even meet the full dietary energy requirement, Africa cited.

The charge of gross and systematic violations of economic rights is only one of the three complaints filed before the PPT. The two other complaints include gross violations of civil and political rights, and the right to national self-determination and liberation. Complainants of these charges are rights groups Hustisya, Selda, Desaparecidos, and the broad patriotic alliance Bayan.

The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal Second Session on the Philippines will hold its hearings from March 21 to 24 and will announce the verdict on March 25.

Next >