MANILA, Philippines – Human rights worker and Amnesty International (AI) Philippines’ section director Butch Olano died on Sunday, October 20. He was 60 years old.
AI Philippines confirmed his passing through a letter sent to the organization’s network and partners on Monday, October 21. Olano passed away in Bukidnon, where he was monitoring the situation related to the indigenous group Manobo-Pulangiyon’s fight for their ancestral land.
“Butch has shown his deep commitment to human rights up to his remaining days, and has been a genuine ally of the people, most especially the marginalized communities and sectors, in defending their human rights towards creating a life with dignity for all,” AI Philippines chairperson Derek Cabe wrote in the letter.
The group’s board of trustees and national secretariat also posted a tribute on Facebook, thanking Olano for “reminding us that at the core, taking action for the individual victim is Amnesty’s main service to the people.”
“Ang kanyang mga ambag ay hindi matatawaran at tatanawin bilang inspirasyon sa pagpapatuloy ng gawain para sa adhikaing likhain ang isang lipunang ligtas sa anumang karahasan at paglabag sa karapatang pantao,” Amnesty said.
(His contributions are invaluable and will be regarded as an inspiration in continuing the work towards the goal of creating a society free from any form of violence and human rights violations.)
Olano served as head of office for Amnesty in the Philippines from 2016 to 2017, before becoming section director until his passing. He previously worked as executive director of the Philippine Agrarian Reform Fund as well as agrarian undersecretary under the Ramos administration.
Olano earned his undergraduate degree in management engineering from Ateneo de Manila University. He then went on to teach at the then-Sacred Heart School for Boys in Cebu as part of the Jesuit Volunteers Philippines (JVP) program, where he met his future wife, Daisy Arel.
“Butch was a remarkable man who dedicated his life to service,” JVP said in a Facebook post on Monday.
During his time as Amnesty’s section director, Olano was at the forefront of condemning the human rights violations under then-president Rodrigo Duterte, especially those committed under the violent anti-illegal drugs campaign that saw almost 30,000 dead both in police operations and vigilante-style killings.
He once slammed the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for using Facebook to gather tips on suspected drug personalities, calling this move as “lazy and unacceptable” work aside from being “unjustifiable, irresponsible, and illegal.”
In April 2024, Olano led the Philippine launch of Amnesty’s annual The State of the World’s Human Rights report where he urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to make a “categorical, explicit, public policy pronouncement” to stop the continuing drug war killings. He said that Marcos’ “silence means complicity.”
Olano’s wake is being held at the Divine Shepherd Memorial Chapel in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City until Friday, October 25. Those who want to extend their sympathies to his family are advised to send their messages to info@amnesty.org.ph. – Rappler.com