#BudgetWatch webinar: Funding justice, security, and human rights in 2021

Throughout 2020, the Philippines was marred with issues and challenges concerning the justice system and the upholding of human rights in the country. Many of these instances have taken place in the middle of a pandemic, making it more difficult for advocates and activists to speak up.

Throughout 2020, the Philippines has witnessed issues and challenges concerning the justice system and human rights in the country in the middle of a pandemic, making it more difficult for advocates and activists to speak up.

Will these challenges continue in 2021? The justice department and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which have red-tagged individuals and groups are eyeing bigger budgets next year.

In the proposed  P4.7 trillion national budget for 2021, the Department of National Defense will get around P519 billion. Of this amount, P16.4 billion is allocated to support the Barangay Development Program of the NTF-ELCAC. (READ: [ANALYSIS] Why you should be alarmed by Duterte’s 2021 budget)

If approved, human rights advocates are concerned that this will set the stage for an even more aggressive campaign next year against progressive groups.

When Vitaliano Aguirre II helmed the Department of Justice, the DOJ led the red-tagging campaign when it filed a petition before a Manila court seeking to declare over 600 activists as terrorists – described by Human Rights Watch as “virtual hit list.” Leftists have long claimed that red-tagging is linked to state-sponsored violence, and has led to the disappearance and killing of activists.

In 2019, under Secretary Menardo Guevarra, the DOJ withdrew most of the names in the petition, leaving only 8 people – Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)  founding chairman Jose Maria Sison, and alleged to be officers CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

In 2021, the justice department is poised to receive P22.7 billion, though it’s still asking for an additional P33.42 billion.

Under the controversial Anti-Terrorism Law, the DOJ is handling complaints sanctioned by the Anti-Terrorism Council.

Funding justice, security, and human rights

Seeking to engage the public in demanding a 2021 a budget that fully addresses the negative impact of the pandemic on the country, Rappler’s civic engagement arm MovePH and the Institute of Leadership, Empowerment and Democracy (iLEAD) teamed up to organize a webinar series titled #BudgetWatch.

The seventh episode of the #BudgetWatch webinar, which will air on November 27 at 1 pm, will tackle the government’s plans in funding justice, security, and human rights protection in the country. Alternative Law Groups and the Akbayan Citizens’ Action Partylist will co-host this episode.

Robert Sanders, Jr., a policy researcher at iLEAD, will provide the organization’s analysis of the justice and security budget.

She will be joined by lawyer Gian Miko Arabejo, a lawyer from Alternative Law Groups; Carlos H. Conde, a senior researcher at the Asia division of Human Rights Watch; Princess Molleno, head of Project Management Division of the Commission on Human Rights; and Loretta Ann “Etta” Rosales, Akbayan Citizen’s Action Partylist’s chair emeritus, in the roundtable discussion.

Rappler’s Aika Rey will moderate the discussion. You may secure your slot in the webinar by signing up here.

Inputs from this webinar will be consolidated into concrete budget items and action plans that iLEAD will submit to concerned legislators before the budget season ends this year. – Rappler.com