Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1536

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by BAYAN MUNA
Representatives CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE and NERI J. COLMENARES

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

ber 23 is remembered as one of the grimmest incidents 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 long as high
crimes remain unpunished, the fight against injustice in the country should continue to broaden
and persist.

‘THEPhilippines has been tagged this year by international media groups as one of the most
dapgerous places for journalists being ranked pootly or is placed among the worst worldwide for
unsolved journalist murders. Key witnesses end up dead o forever fear for their lives like the ones
in the Maguindanao case who were murdered, with one of them even dismembered and mutilated.

‘The Maguindanao massacre case is on its 4 year and thete is still no positive light for the
prosecution of the Ampatuans. More than 100 suspects are already in police custody while around
90 are still at large. Very recent reports say that some of the victims’ families have agreed to settle
with members of the Ampatuan clan and to sign an affidavit putting the blame for the massacre on
Governor ‘Toto Mangudadatu.

Impunity exists whenever perpetrators of a crime are not prosecuted or are not held accountable
because of their power of influence in society. Families of the victims of extrajudicial killings,
enforced disappearances and other human tights 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,
clectoral 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 tuned ¢o worse. Determined to stay in power, the administration
instivationalized 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
ctitics from among workers, peasants, women, indigenous people, students, lawyers, church
people, and media practitioners,

Under the new administration, no commitments were fulfilled to 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 tum serve justice to the people especially the vietims. Further,
killings and enforced disappearance has already reached 137 cases of extrajudicial killings and 14
enforced disappearances (july 2010 to December 2012). ‘The police continne to refuse or stall
investigations, the military persists in making blanket denials and arrest warrants against alleged
perpetrators have not been executed. The climate of impunity persists. The killings have continued
under PNoy's administration which has already numbered to.

“Thus, there is a need to instill awareness and spur action on the part of the government and for the
people to do somehing about it. The people’s clamor and demand for justice should become
stronger to compel the government and the authorities to take action and prosecute those who are
blanketed with impunity.

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

Approved,
Reno Bidte Danae Rep. MERI}, COLMENARES.

Bayan Muna Parby-List Bhyan Mpna Party-List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1536

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by BAYAN MUNA
Representatives CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE and NERI J. COLMENARES

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 Honse 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 scctors 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 issuc.

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
fbuman 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 Offical
Gazette ot in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation.

Approved,