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.
"They used psychological tricks in the course of the interrogation, dwelling on my religious background when I was younger. They demanded that I name names, to narrate my history in the movement. Failing to respond, they hung me by the wrists. By this time I was already very weak because of my refusal to eat, made even worse by my menstrual period. I was left hanging for a day and a half. At first i thought that i could bear it because I was on tiptoe. But later they raised me further..." (pp. 79 "To Suffer Thy Comrades")
This and much more of the horrifying experiences Ka Elma suffered in the hands of her comrades. Not known to many she also suffered the witch-hunt that ravaged the left in a massive scale.
Surely enough that even her frail condition (having been from a spinal operation) to begin with didn't avail her any mercy as she saw comrades being killed in front of her one by one to the tune of Pen-Pen de Sarapen.
Ka Elma survived the ordeal but now she needs our help.
------------------------------------ Paanyaya mula sa Sarilaya para sa ating mga kabaro, kaibigan, at kasama…
Mainit na pagbati!
Ang SARILAYA ay organisasyon ng kababaihang aktibista na naglalayon na makapag-ambag sa pagbabago ng pantay na kasarian at lipunan at pagsasakapangyarihan sa kababaihan upang lubos na mawala ang lahat ng porma ng pang-aapi at diskriminasyon sa uri, kasarian, lahi at etnisidad.
Upang ito ay matagumpay na makamit, susi ang mga masisigasig, masisipag at naninindigang staff ng Sarilaya. Sa kasalukuyan, ang Sarilaya ay may pangangailangang makalikom ng sapat na salapi upang matustusan ang medikal na gastusin ni Lota (Ka Elma) Encio na isa sa mga haligi ng organisasyon. Si Elma ay may pelvo-abdominal growth sa kanyang obaryo at nangangailangan ng kagyat na tulong. Ito ay dagdag pa sa kanyang pagiging “other-abled” dulot ng deperensya sa spinal column na nagresulta sa kanyang pagkakakuba.
Sa limampung (50) taon ni Lota, higit sa kalahati nito ay kanyang ginugol sa kilusang pagbabago – pagbabago ng mga di-pantay na relasyon bunsod ng uri, gender, pananaw. Gamit ang kakayanan sa edukasyon, si Lota ay isa sa mga batikang instruktor-organisador ng mga katutubo, mangingisda, magsasaka at kababaihan sa nagdaang mga panahon.
Small but terrible. Ganito si Lota o Elma ---Tinitingala, bagaman ay hanggang beywang lang ang kanyang taas dahil sa kanyang pisikal na kapansanan.
Si Elma ay kumilos kasama ang mga katutubong Dumagat nang higit dalawang taon; higit sa sampung taon naman kasama ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Ngayon, patuloy siyang kumikilos sa hanay ng kababaihan. Iisa ang inani ni Elma mula sa mga taong kanyang nakasalamuha – malaking tiwala para sa kanyang kakayanan at kaalaman.
Tubong Samar si Elma at nagtapos sa Pamantasan ng Lunsod ng Maynila ng Social Work. Maaari sana siyang kumuha ng ibang trabahong may mataas-taas na sahod, subalit pinili niyang mas makapaglingkod bilang isang manggagawa para sa panlipunang hustisya’t kaunlaran. Sa loob ng tatlumpung taon, si Elma ay naharap sa mga panganib sa loob at labas ng kilusang pagbabago. Subalit nalampasan niya ito.
Sa ngayon, si Elma ay nahaharap sa isa na namang mabigat na pasanin—ang problema sa kanyang kalusugan. Kasalukuyan siyang nag-aalternatibong paraan ng pagpapagaling para lumiit kundi man matanggal ang lumalaking cyst sa kanyang obaryo. Ang kanyang pagpapagaling ay nangangailangan ng palagiang check-up, ion cleansing, pyro-energen treatments, at araw-araw na medikasyong panlaban sa cancer. Ayon sa doctor, kailangan na ni Elmang MAOPERAHAN SA LALONG MADALING PANAHON.
Nangangailangan po si Elma ng tulong pinansyal upang ipagpatuloy ang kanyang pagpapagaling. Isang kaparaanan ay ang isang benefit concert na pinangungunahan ng Sarilaya. Ito ay itatanghal sa ika-17 ng Nobyembre 2006, 6-9:30pm sa The Conspiracy Bar and Café, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City (lampas lang ng konti sa Jollibee, harapan ng Shell gas station kung galing ng QMC). Ang mga performing artists ay sina Cynthia Alexander, Bayang Barrios, Susan Fernandez, Joey Ayala, Noel Cabangon, at various artists.
Kami ay taus-pusong nagpapasalamat sa inyong pagtangkilik at pagsuporta kay Elma.
(for ticket reservations please call haydee and lani at 434-0969 at 927-7123)
The Remains of a Life:"Missing Link" in the Southern Tagalog Purge
Tata Mianong (right foreground) & Aling Maring
Jose "Joker" Paner
Aling Maring and Tata Mianong
Aling Maring Paner
'Yan ba ang isusukli sa asawa ko? Pumunta kayo sa aming bayan, tanungin niyo itong Maximiano Paner, kung anong klase ng pagkatao. Halos aming kinakain ipamimigay niya na sa mga tao…halos buhay niya ibibigay sa kilusan…'Yan ba ang isusukli sa amin?
-Merlinda "Aling Maring" Paner-
The widow of the top suspect in the CPP-NPA-NDF's Oplan Missing Link in 1988 cannot understand why his executioners deny her right to his remains. Maximiano Paner left home on July 17, 1988 and never returned. She traveled far, searching desperately. His tormented spirit came to her in dreams, crying out for help. Eight long years later, Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal, NPA spokesman of the Melito Glor Command, offered the widow his condolences and a vague promise.
Merlinda "Aling Maring" Paner, now in her 70s, still lives in the modest bungalow that once teemed with revolutionaries. As we sit around the table on a terrace at the back of the house, she points towards a spot near the ground. That used to be a basement, she says. A typewriter and a mimeographing machine churned furiously there. After her husband disappeared she had the basement filled up, like a grave after burial of the dead.
She speaks softly, even in her anger. Her voice quavers. Tears spring up as she remembers her husband but there is no outpouring. She no longer wonders where her husband's body was dumped. Yet she laments bitterly, "Bakit siya pinatay? Anong pagkakasala niya?" Her sons Jose and Ricardo are silent. They have heard this cry before, echoing down the years of tragedy and survival...
About the Author ("Flor Caagusan was active in the NATDEM cultural movement in Metro Manila from the mid-60s up to the early 80s, although detained by the ISAFP in 1974.")
DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE STORY HERE (Don't worry its virus free)----> CLICK ME
Kabataan Labing walong taong gulang si Joey nang pumasok sa kilusan. Batang kolehiyo, puno ng lakas, nag-uumapaw sa ideyalismo. Naghanap ng puwang; naghangad ng pagbabago. Sa murang gulang, pinili niyang ialay ang buong buhay at talino para sa tao. Para sa bayan. Sa ngalan ng rebolusyon. Sa ngalan ng digmaan.
Pagkilos at Pakikibaka Si Becca, matapos ang maagang pagkilos mula pa noong siyay nasa high school, ay nagpasyang mag-full time sa rebolusyonaryong kilusan at iwanan ang kolehiyo. Ang napangasawa niyang si Lance ay isang gerilya ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan. Pareho silang nanindigang marangal at dakila ang ipinaglalaban.
Bintang at Pagdududa. Dalawampung taon nang nakikibaka si Ka Teban. Ano't siya'y pinagbintangang kaaway ng kilusan? Ano't siya'y ikinadena't ikinulong ng sariling kasamahan? Ano't hinayaang bumaon ang tanikala sa kanyang balat at hinayaang magnaknak at mamaga ang mga kamay?
Matanda na si Ka Berting. Mahigit singkwenta anyos na. Inasahan bang tatagal ang kanyang katawan sa bagsik ng kulata ng riple at lupit ng kamao ng isang mandirigma? Nagpasalamat kaya siya nang inilibing siya ng buhay?
Hindi makakaila ang kapansanan ni Lina. Hindi siya makatayo nang tuwid, ilang ulit na siyang inoperahan sa likod. Anong uri ng kahayupan ang dumpao sa kasamang nagbitin sa kanya sa puno at nagpahid sa kanyang mukha ng dugo ng bagong kitil na bihag?
kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan, ika ni Rizal. Nasa rurok ng kabataan si Joey, si Becka, at si Lance nang magsimulang maniwala sa kapangyarihan ng punglo. Nasa rurok ng kabataan nang matuklasang ang karahasa'y walang pinipili at wala ring sinasanto.
Dalawampung taong gulang si Ka Romy nang hatawin ng isang kasama ang kanyang batok at tarakan ng punyal ang kanyang dibdib. "Maglagom kayo, mga kasama!" Sigaw ng isa pa, habang pumupulandit ang dugo mula sa kanyang leeg.
Pagkalimot Dala-dala ang masakit na karanasan, maraming nakatuklas na ang pakikibaka pala ay tigmak ng tunggalian. Hindi lamang sa pagitan ng rebolusyon at reaksyon, kundi sa puso ng bawat isa. Ahh... di kaya mas mabuting kalimutan na lamang ang lahat?
Gayon nga ang naganap. Taon ang lumipas. Ang kahibanga'y ikinubli sa pinid na pinto ng ala-ala. Ang mga sugat ay pilit pinaghilom ng hilaw na pilat ng pagtatakip at pagtakwil. Subalit ang baho'y pilit na pilit na sisingaw; ang ugat ay magpupumilit na umusbong.
Katotohanan at Katarungan Humihiyaw ang mga inilibing. Humahagulgol ang kanilang labi Danga't kami'y inyong kaligtaan? Masdan ang mga pilat sa inyong binti, ang inyong balantukang kaluluwa. Wala na nga bang nakapagpapaalala? Taon ang binilang. Ang karanasa'y hindi na maikakaila. Ang katotohana'y hindi habambuhay na maibabaon. Magsalaysay. Magsumigaw. Magbuklod. Manindigan.
- Robert Francis Garcia (read by Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel in the concert "Unsung" a tribute to nameles heroes last Nov. 29, 2003)
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
