As one of the convenors of Lakbay Buhay (Journey for Life), a 21-day march-caravan of core pilgrims from Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao to the Senate in Manila to campaign against the reinstatement of death penalty, the members of CODE-NGO have actively participated in the activities organized in several key cities/provinces (Cebu, Eastern Samar, Sorsogon, Legazpi, Naga, Quezon City and Manila), together with other civil society groups, including human rights advocates, people’s organizations and church people. The 15 core pilgrims come from various sectors – farmers, fishers, indigenous people, workers, urban poor and members of communities affected by mega dam and economic zone operations.
The Lakbay Buhay core pilgrims were welcomed by various civil society organizations (CSOs) and church groups on their route to Manila. They held discussions with communities and different sectors in 14 localities to explain their position against the death penalty and highlight the need to instead focus on social reforms to fight poverty and inequality.
Lakbay Buhay culminated in a march and rally at the Senate on May 24, 2017. This is to reiterate to the Philippine legislators that “the re-imposition of death penalty is not right and will have adverse implications on the country’s democracy and respect for human rights”.
The other convenors of Lakbay Buhay include Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA), Kilusan ng Kababaihang Pilipina (PILIPINA), Council of the Laity of the Philippines (Laiko), National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace (CBCP – NASSA), Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), Social Movement Coalition, PASCRES, PHILDHRRA, Puwersa ng Pamayanan para sa Voluntarismo at Reporma (PPVR), AMRSP, Veritas, iDEFEND, Philippine Misereor Partnership (PMPI), USAD, Urban Poor Alliance (UP-All), Change Politics Movement (CPM), Kilos Maralita (KM), Luzon Community Mortgage Program Peoples’ Organizations Network (LCMPPO-Net), Samahan ng mga Nagkakaisang Pamilyang Pantawid (SNPP), Ugnayang Lakas ng mga Apektadong Pamilya sa Ilog Pasig at Tributaryo (ULAP), Akbayan, The Silent Majority (TSM) and others.
For more updates on the Lakbay Buhay Caravan, you may visit their page at: https://web.facebook.com/JunkDeathPenalty/.
Cebu (May 8, 2017) thru the Central Visayas Network of NGOs (CENVISNET)
Eastern Samar (May 12, 2017) thru the Diocesan Commission on Social Action-Justice and Peace (DCSA-JP) of Borongan, a member of the Eastern Visayas Network of NGOs and POs (EVNET)
Naga (May 14, 2017) thru the Coalition for Bicol Development (CBD)
Ateneo de Manila (May 19, 2017) thru the CODE-NGO Board, EDs, Coordinators and Secretariat
University of Santo Tomas (May 21, 2017) thru the CODE-NGO Secretariat
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