Peace Advocates for Truth, Healing & Justice (PATH) was formally organized in 2002, pioneering in its focus on human rights violations by a non-state armed group. Composed of torture survivors, families, relatives and friends of victims missing or executed during the anti-infiltration campaigns within the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) in the 1980s, PATH seeks truth and justice from the CPP-NPA and other Left blocs involved in the anti-infiltration campaigns.
PATH believes that all non-state armed groups, including those not from the Left movement, should observe human rights in the conduct of their resistance against the State. Ultimately, PATH holds the State accountable as well for the purges, and for military atrocities during martial law and throughout successive administrations.
Goals & Objectives
PATH's goals and objectives are as follows:
1. Complete the documents of the cases of all victims during the purges and all those involved.
2. Organize a national community of human rights defenders and advocates composed of survivors, families, relatives and friends of victims during the purges.
3. Facilitate the healing of survivors as well as the families, relatives and friends of purge victims.
4. Conduct exhumations so that victims are given due respect and proper burial.
5. Conduct a comprehensive advocacy work. Its main components will be public information and campaign, solidarity-building and lobbying at the local, national and international levels.
6. Deepen and popularize the culture of human rights through artistic and popular education, productions and other cultural endeavors.
7. Come up with case studies of country experiences on the setting up of Truth and Justice Commissions and strive for the creation of a Truth and Justice Commission in the country together with other human rights organizations and individual human rights advocates.
7 Committees
Research & Documentation. Documents stories and produces a database of victims in aid of locating burial sites; conducts research to surface facts and circumstances of the purges; publishes materials as tools for justice campaigns; ensures confidentiality and security of records and files.
Recovery of Victims' Remains. In cooperation with the victims' kin, locates gravesites, retrieves the remains and arranges their proper burial; mobilizes the services of forensic experts and other professionals; initiates dialogues with the victims' families as well as with perpetrators.
Counseling & Therapy. Facilitates healing sessions that address the long-term trauma of surivivors and victims families; mobilizes professionals in the fields of psychology and psychiatry; builds support groups for victims and their families towards eventual closure.
Communications & Popular Education. Develops education programs, including theoretical materials and tools for reflection, that revolve around human rights and respect for human dignity; holds commemoration activities and builds memorials for the victims; develops external communications through publications and mass media.
Legal & Security. Leads in the initiation and pursuance of legal actions for victims; assist in the handling and protection of material evidence in coordination with the RVR Committee; conducts research on the possibilities of a Truth Commission; studies the implications of PATH's work on the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the CPP-NPA-NDF; and ensures lines with established institutions that will help strengthen PATH;
Arts & Culture. Produces musical compositions, literary works, plays, video documentaries, films, and other cultural works from the stories of survivors and victims.
Organizing & Advocacy. Reaches out to survivors and victims' families in different regions and encourages solidarity in their journey towards justice and healing.
His hand rubbed his chin frantically as we set up the mic and camera, now & then throwing me a suspicious glance. I stumbled upon Weng's life story over dinner with friends, journalists Earl Parreno & his brother Lyle, erstwhile activist turned Presidential Special Affairs ASEC Danny Consumido, ABS Correspondent Melo Del Prado and Henry. We all gasped when Earl described the day Weng's parents were exhumed from their common grave. They were tortured and buried alive by fellow communist party cadres during an anti-infiltration campaign in the mid-80s. Weng was only 5-yrs old when it happened. His parents' remains were exhumed only last November. Even now, he says, he can't bear to look at pictures or video of the exhumation in all its graphic detail: his dad's arms embracing his mom as if comforting her; his mom's neck apparently broke from God knows what kind of torture she went through; pieces of nylon underwear still wrapped around their skeletal remains.
Weng admitted growing up distrusting everyone. It took me almost a month to convince him to agree to an interview. This was going to be hot copy, I knew, especially in light of the killings of leftist leaders in recent months. He now lives in Davao but was in Manila this month for an activists' seminar/workshop. The afternoon before he was to fly back to Davao, Bobby Garcia called to inform me that Weng was ready for an interview. There was no time to book a crew; Ces agreed to shoot, I was hesitant to drive around unfamiliar territory so we took a cab. I told Ces to get me some tight shots when Weng showed emotion… around 15 minutes into the interview, I said.
In the first 12 minutes or so, I just let him talk about what it was like growing up with relatives ---cruel ones--- all the while wondering what happened to his folks. He was wearing his philosophical hat as he spoke, constantly smiling at me; he wouldn't show any emotion... and I was skirting the issue of the exhumation. Then I pulled the trigger.
"The last time you saw your parents alive... you still remember that night?" "Yes, vividly." "The next time you saw them…" I couldn't summon the right phrase. "…how do these two images, 20 years apart, sit side-by-side in your mind now?"
He started to cry. On the 16th minute!! I couldn't speak further; I didn't wanna press on. I just held his hand quietly. What now, I thought, I have a great story, got my soundbite, the desired emotional reaction. Do I run away with my story --his tragic story-- leaving him hurting after I wielded the dagger, then pretend that everything's alright with the world? Can anyone ever make it right for Weng? God's grace, yes! I wrote down Weng's case in my prayer petition the following Sunday. Only then did I know he's gonna be fine :-)
Peace Advocates for Truth, Healing and Justice (PATH) 45 Matimtiman St., cor. Magiting St., Teachers' Village East Quezon City 1101, Philippines Tel. No: (632) 921-8049 Telefax: (632) 926-2893
You can also donate to PATH by clicking on the ads below
The book about the CPP-NPA Purges
"Bobby Garcia provides a riveting account of the Communist Party of the Philippines' "killing fields" and situates it within the context of a revolutionary movement that was nobly motivated but also tragically flawed. To Suffer Thy Comrades goes beyond Garcia's narrative of his and other survivors' harrowing experiences and explains why the purges took place, how both torturers and victims coped and made sense of their plight, and how they survived in the aftermath of the purge. The book sheds light on the darkest and deepest secrets of the revolutionary movement and provides insights that are useful now that the communists are negotiating peace with the government" - SHEILA CORONEL, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
"...Bobby Garcia had the courage to write about the 'killing fields' despite some people's efforts to dissuade him. Bobby was one of its victims -- he was 21 when his entire future was nearly taken away from him -- who was lucky enough to survive. And who is even luckier to retain a huge sense of humor and equanimity, even when talking about his ordeal, at least with friends. His book is called "To Suffer Thy Comrades"...It is certainly not something that will set your mind at rest. But read it anyway. Its virtue is to be found in that biblical observation, 'The truth shall set you free.' - CONRADO DE QUIROS, Philippine Daily Inquirer
