Perfecto Caparas

Never forget By Perfecto Caparas That evening after the massacre, Mat and I boarded a passenger jeepney and went to the office of a newspaper that published Mat’s photo in its front page the following morning. His photo captured one…

“Diyos ko, ‘wag Mo ‘kong pabayaan. Maglilingkod pa ‘ko sa sambayanan!” (My God, don’t forsake me. I will still be serving the people!) Not even for a nanosecond did gunfire stop. As gunfire roared—while faced down on the pavement by…

This is the hitherto untold story of the fallen frontliners during the Mendiola Massacre. Thirty-six years ago. Watching about 10 meters from where they stood, I personally witnessed the massacre of demonstrators at the foot of Mendiola Bridge.[1] Located in…

Pressenza journalist Perfecto Caparas sought former senator Leila de Lima’s views on the International Criminal Court Office of the Prosecutor’s investigation into the situation in the Philippines involving alleged crimes against humanity committed during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s reign of…

In her interview with Pressenza journalist Perfecto Caparas, ex-senator Leila de Lima envisions a future characterized by her continuing fight for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. “There is this part of me that refuses to rest until…

Former Senator Leila M. de Lima discusses with Pressenza journalist Perfecto Caparas how she fulfilled her senatorial duties—for over 5 years out of her 6-year term—in prison. “… my being alive and in detention sent a stronger message against the…

Detained former senator Leila M. de Lima shares with Pressenza journalist Perfecto Caparas her views and insights on international human rights law in light of her own experiences as a political prisoner.  “We were able to show that in the…

Political prisoner Leila de Lima—former senator, justice secretary, and chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights—analyzes the Filipinos’ political culture during her interview with Pressenza journalist Perfecto Caparas. She ended up behind bars after earning the ire of former president Rodrigo…

Here’s the next part of Pressenza’s two-part interview with political prisoner Leila M. de Lima – former senator, justice secretary, and chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights – conducted by journalist Perfecto Caparas. De Lima discusses challenges to the rule of law…

Pressenza journalist Perfecto Caparas interviewed political prisoner Leila M. de Lima, former senator, justice secretary, and chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights. On October 9, 2022, de Lima was taken hostage by a fellow prisoner inside her cell where former president Rodrigo Duterte’s…