Urgent Action Appeal : Philippine’s teacher union under threat

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11 February 2019

The General Secretary, Raymond Basilio of the Philippine’s teacher union – the Alliance of Concerned teachers (ACT)- has received death threats on his personal mobile phone and ACT members are being unlawfully profiled by the authorities.

The call came during an ACT press conference on 11 January 2019, at which the education union denounced the constant harassment and threats faced by its members and leaders. The caller, who appeared to know about Basilio’s personal details and about his family, claimed an order had been issued for Basilio’s assassination unless he agreed to cooperate with the caller’s demands.

Despite the denial of the Philippine National Police and the authorities, ACT has also learned of continuing unlawful profiling of its members carried out by the police in different regions of the nation, in a serious breach of both national and international law.

In an interview with the Manilla Bulletin, ACT party representative France Castro said: “The Alliance of Concerned Teachers is a national organization of teachers and education support personnel with a long track record of working for the economic and political well-being of teachers and all other education workers as well as for genuine social transformation.

“ACT members fear for further harassment, intimidation, filing of trumped up cases and death threats as a result of the profiling being conducted by the Philippine National Police.’

The AEU has joined Education International (EI) to denounce the practices as violating the principles of freedom of association, equality and non-discrimination, as well as the rights to respect for private life and data protection. It is urging the global community of educators and activists to:

  • Sign the petition to the Philippine authorities
  • Promote the petition to colleagues, union members and networks on Facebook and Twitter.

The AEU stands in solidarity with its affiliates in the Philippines and will continue to monitor the human and trade union rights situation in the country.