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BAGUIO CITY — Hustisya-Northern Luzon, an organization of families, surviors and victims of human rights violations (HRV) urged President Benigno C. Aquino III to exhaust all means necessary to help them attain justice.

“We ask the President to heed our calls. Prosecute the perpetrators of human rights violations and make the past bloody administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo accountable. We further call to stop the continuing cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations under the new Operation Plan Bayanihan,” the Hustisya statement read.

Hustisya in its statement also pointed out that they do not see any significant development in terms of the human rights situation in the country to this day.

“We do not see an end to this violence. While the violations continue, we amplify our call. We demand no less than justice!” the statement further read.

This June, Hustisya-NL commemorates the 5th death anniversary of tribal elder-leader Rafael Markus Bangit who was killed on June 8, 2006. Bangit was the Vice Chairperson of Bayan Muna Kalinga; the regional coordinator of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) elder’s desk and the Binodngan Pongors Organization. His wife Agustina today works to make ends meet to sustain the needs of their four children.

On this same month, Hustisya-NL also commemorates 1,000 days of James Moy Balao’s enforced disappearance which will fall exactly on June 12. Balao is a founding member of the CPA. State security forces abducted him on September 17, 2008 at La Trinidad, Benguet and has not been brought back to his family and colleagues. His parents, Arthur and Jane Balao passed away last year without seeing their son. Hustisya reiterated their condemnation over all the political killings, enforced disappearances and various forms of human rights violations. “We mostly grieving women and children, coping up with the loss of our husband parent / sibling / family member. However, this would not limit us from continuing with the call for justice,” the statement read. # Hustisya-NL Release