Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City ! t

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

“5 no
HOUSE BILLNo, 9929

Introduced by BAYAN MUNA PARTY-LIST Representatives
NERI JAVIER COLMENARES and TEDDY A. CASINO

AN ACT MANDATING THE OBSERVANCE OF 23 NOVEMBER OF EVERY
YEAR AS NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS DAY TO END IMPUNITY, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Impunity exists whenever perpetrators of a crime are not prosecuted or are not held
accountable because of their power or influence in society. Families of the victims of
extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations point to state
security forces but to no avail.

The term “impunity” has attained prominence and common usage during the last
administration. Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s nine-year term suffered from
corruption issues, electoral fraud and worsening poverty of its citizens thus the discontent of the
populace over her leadership, and increasing calls for her ouster. As a response to this growing
dissent, the human rights situation under Arroyo turned to worse. Determined to stay in power,
the administration institutionalized a campaign to repress forces critical of the administration
through military and police force. A systematized human rights violation then took place and the
result: 1,206 victims of extrajudicial killings and 206 victims of enforced disappearance
perpetrated against activists and critics from among workers, peasants, women, indigenous
people, students, lawyers, church people, and media practitioners.

‘More than a year after the new administration little has been done to cary out
commitments that will hold accountable high officials for the massive corruption and fraud
under the previous administration, and also for the gross human rights violations that will in turn
serve justice to the people especially the vietims. Further, killings and enforced disappearance
continued. The police continue to refuse or stall investigations, the military persists in making
blanket denials and arrest warrants against alleged perpeteators have not been executed. The
climate of impunity persists.

“Thus, there is a need to instill awareness and spur action on the part of the government
and for the people to lo something about it. The people’s clamor and demand for justice should

A


become stronger to compel the government and the authorities to take action and prosecute
those who are blanketed with impunity.

November 23 is remembered as one of the grimmest incident in the country where 58
men and women were massacred in Ampatuan town of Maguindanao province in 2009. It is also
the worst attack on press freedom in Philippine history because 32 of the victims were media
practitioners. Marking it as a National Consciousness Day to end Impunity will remind us that as
Jong as high crimes remain unpunished, the fight against injustice in the country should continue
to broaden and persist.

‘Thus, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

—-
poof C24
TEDDY A. CASINO
Bayan Muna Party-List



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

me
HOUSE BILL No. 5529

Introduced by BAYAN MUNA PARTY-LIST Representatives
NERI JAVIER COLMENARES and TEDDY A. CASINO.

AN ACT MANDATING THE OBSERVANCE OF 23 NOVEMBER OF EVERY YEAR
AS NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS DAY TO END IMPUNITY, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. This Act shall be known as the “National Consciousness Day to End Impunity
Act of 2011.”

Section 2. The State shall ensure that the perpetrators of extrajudicial killings and enforced
disappearances shall be punished so that justice shall be served to the victims and their families.

The State shall intensify its efforts to curb impunity and bring it to an end. The State
recognizes that the participation of all sectors concerned shall ensure the success of the fight against
impunity. Towards this end, the State shall endeavor to raise awareness of the people regarding this
issue

Section 3. In memory of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre and as a symbol of the
people’s struggle against impunity, the 23 of November of every year is hereby declared as National
Consciousness Day to End Impunity.

Section 4. The implementation of this Act shall be under the Commission of Human Rights
(CHR), with the help of the Department of Education and the Department of Interior and Local
Government, which shall create programs directed towards educating the people about human
rights issues and the need to uphold these rights. In this regard, civil society organizations shall be
tapped to assist the CHR in this endeavor.

Section 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation.

Approved,