Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates - LAHRA

12/06/2026

Today, we commemorate the 128th anniversary of Philippine Independence.

Our freedom was won through the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering struggle of those who came before us. They shed blood, sweat, and tears to defend our nation's sovereignty and protect what rightfully belongs to the Filipino people.

But as we celebrate Independence Day, we must also ask ourselves: Are we truly free when our public assets and national patrimony are being handed over to private interests?

Here in Iligan and across Mindanao, the Agus-Pulangi Hydroelectric Power Complex (APHEC) is more than just a source of electricity. It is a public asset built from the people's resources, providing renewable energy that powers our homes, livelihoods, and communities.

How can we speak of independence when the people are being deprived of ownership and control over resources that belong to them? How can we celebrate freedom when essential services are increasingly treated as commodities for profit rather than public goods for all?

The struggle for independence did not end in 1898. Today, it continues in the fight to protect our common resources, uphold public accountability, and ensure that development serves the people, not private profit.

This Independence Day, let us raise our voices and stand together:

𝗡𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝘂𝘀-𝗣𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶 𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅! 𝗬𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲-𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲!

APHEC is a public asset. APHEC is the people's patrimony. APHEC belongs to the Filipino people. The fight for genuine freedom continues. Join us in defending what is rightfully ours.

10/06/2026

05/06/2026

08/05/2026

22/04/2026

This Earth Day, we refuse to stay silent.

In the Philippines, the crisis is not distant—it is lived every day. Our continued dependence on fossil fuels keeps us trapped in a system that harms both people and the planet. Coal-fired power plants rise at the expense of communities—polluting the air, contaminating water sources, and endangering the health and livelihoods of those who live nearby.

These are not isolated issues. These are systemic injustices.

While corporations profit, families suffer from respiratory illnesses, fisherfolk lose their catch, and entire communities are left vulnerable to environmental destruction. This is not “development.” This is exploitation.

Earth Day is not a celebration—it is a demand:
🌱 End fossil fuel dependence in the Philippines
🌱 Hold coal corporations accountable for the damage they cause
🌱 Protect communities on the frontlines of environmental harm
🌱 Invest in just, sustainable, and people-centered energy solutions

The fight for our environment is inseparable from the fight for our people.

No more empty promises. No more sacrifice zones.

System change. Climate justice. Now.

22/04/2026

There is no Planet B! End Fossil Fuel Dependence! ✊🏻✊🏻

20/04/2026

CALL FOR URGENT ACTION AND PROTECTION OF THE 15KM MUNICIPAL WATERS! ‼️⚠️

As of April 19, 2026, through Karagatan Patrol VIIRS-Boat Detection, we can clearly see the red dots (commercial fishing vessels) inside the municipal waters, and note that not all of these commercial fishing vessels are detected.
https://www.karagatanpatrol.org/

Human Cost: 2.5 million fisherfolk and their families are suffering, with almost 15% (353,190) living below the poverty line and 93,030 families deemed “food-poor.”

A new study released by the international marine protection organization Oceana reveals that the Philippines is losing 45 million kilograms of fish catch every year, stressing that unless the Marcos government takes serious, urgent action to implement the Fisheries Code and hold officials accountable, the nation’s fisheries face imminent collapse. The report indicates that while commercial fishing yields are rising, small-scale catches are dwindling, forcing local fisherfolk into a desperate competition with large vessels to survive. But what does survival look like???

Why is Commercial Encroachment Harmful?
When commercial vessels enter this 15-km zone, it triggers a "cascading" failure of the marine ecosystem.
1. Physical Destruction of Coral Reefs: Coral reefs are often called the "backbone of fisheries." Commercial vessels often use heavier, more efficient gear (such as large trawl nets or purse seines). If these snag on a reef, they can level centuries of coral growth in minutes, turning a complex structural habitat into rubble.
2. Disruption of Nutrient Cycling: The removal of fish biomass reduces the amount of essential nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus) recycled back into the reef via fish excretion.
3. Rapid Stock Collapse: Commercial vessels have the capacity to "wipe out" entire schools of fish in a single haul. Scientific monitoring by platforms like Karagatan Patrol has shown that intrusion into municipal waters stresses coastal stocks to the point of collapse, as the fish are caught before they have a chance to reproduce.

Check and access the report here:
https://ph.oceana.org/press-releases/new-report-philippine-fisheries-in-freefall-45-million-kilos-of-fish-lost-annually/

09/04/2026

Today, we remember not only the valor of our heroes of the past, but also the ongoing struggles faced by Filipinos who continue to fight for justice, dignity, and genuine freedom.

While 9 April 2026 is declared a Regular Holiday under Presidential Proclamation No. 1005, s. 2025, Araw ng Kagitingan calls us to reflect beyond commemoration. It urges us to honor our heroes by standing against oppression, demanding accountability, and defending the rights and welfare of our people.

True valor is not confined to history, it lives in every Filipino who chooses courage over silence, action over apathy, and solidarity over fear.

Patuloy ang laban para sa bayan!