Biden, Marcos meet; rights on agenda?; #drugwar victims don't trust police; Reds reject amnesty; Marcos signs EO to 'probe' attacks vs workers; Sara Duterte brings #redtagging to education dept

Philippines: Human Rights News 05/02/2023

EXTRAJUDICIAL / SUMMARY / ARBITRARY KILLINGS / QUESTIONABLE DEATHS

4 suspected robbers slain by cops after stealing Android phone in Cotabato Province | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1762858/4-suspected-robbers-slain-by-cops-after-stealing-android-phone-in-cotabato-province

Remains of two persons found dumped in concrete pipe - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/remains-of-two-persons-found-dumped-in-concrete-pipe/

Construction worker gunned down in Digos City | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1762727/construction-worker-gunned-down-in-digos-city

Talikala expresses concern over recent murders in Tagum - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1960020/davao/local-news/talikala-expresses-concern-over-recent-murders-in-tagum

BIDEN-MARCOS

HRW OPED: Biden Should Press Philippines’ Marcos on Human Rights Concerns | Human Rights Watch https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/05/01/biden-should-press-philippines-marcos-human-rights-concerns

Biden courts son of Philippine dictator he once opposed - The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/30/marcos-biden-philippines-united-states/

Marcos in the White House: Manila back in Washington's arms https://www.rappler.com/nation/agenda-top-issues-marcos-jr-official-visit-united-states-2023/

Military ties top agenda as Biden meets Philippines’ Marcos Jr | Politics News | Al Jazeera https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/1/military-ties-top-agenda-as-biden-meets-philippines-marcos-jr

Joint Statement of the Leaders of the United States and the Philippines - The White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/05/01/joint-statement-of-the-leaders-of-the-united-states-and-the-philippines/

Marcos Jr. says PH, US need to strengthen ties | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/02/23/marcos-jr-says-ph-us-need-to-strengthen-ties

Joint Statement of the Leaders of the United States and the Philippines - The White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/05/01/joint-statement-of-the-leaders-of-the-united-states-and-the-philippines/

Biden walks human rights tightrope while hosting Filipino president amid China tension | Washington Examiner https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/biden-walks-human-rights-tightrope-philippines

Groups call on Biden to bring up human rights issues in meeting with Marcos | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/05/01/2263003/groups-call-biden-bring-human-rights-issues-meeting-marcos

PHL lawmaker wants inclusion of cybersecurity in defense treaty with US - BusinessWorld Online https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2023/05/01/520237/phl-lawmaker-wants-inclusion-of-cybersecurity-in-defense-treaty-with-us/

“DRUG WAR” / LEILA DE LIMA / ICC

Kin of drug war victim: Can we even fight the police? https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/drug-war-victim-family-asks-can-even-fight-police-killings/

Gov’t presents PAO lawyer in reopened De Lima case | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1762581/govt-presents-pao-lawyer-in-reopened-de-lima-case

The Philippines Refuses to Cooperate with the ICC. What Now? https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/trending/104637/the-philippines-refuses-to-cooperate-with-the-icc-what-now-a5229-20230428-lfrm

Prosecutors to present rebuttal witness in reopened drug case vs De Lima | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/28/2262296/prosecutors-present-rebuttal-witness-reopened-drug-case-vs-de-lima

COMMUNIST INSURGENCY

Reds reject amnesty offer | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1762591/reds-reject-amnesty-offer

Refusing amnesty tantamount to signing death warrant – RTF6 ELCAC https://visayandailystar.com/refusing-amnesty-tantamount-to-signing-death-warrant-rtf6-elcac/

7 alleged NPA members killed, firearms seized in Northern Samar clash https://www.rappler.com/nation/visayas/alleged-npa-members-killed-firearms-seized-northern-samar/

‘Northern Samar clash fatalities major blow to CPP-NPA’ | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/05/02/2263064/northern-samar-clash-fatalities-major-blow-cpp-npa

Walang Pahinga: General Odie's combat offensive drags on for a week, Army kill count rises to four dead Reds with only two soldiers wounded https://dnx.news/walang-pahinga-general-odies-combat-offensive-drags-on-for-a-week-army-kill-count-rises-to-four-dead-reds-with-only-two-soldiers-wounded/

More CPP-linked social media accounts shut | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1762895/more-cpp-linked-social-media-accounts-shut

CPP: PRWC, Ang Bayan, other red-linked Twitter accounts taken down or suspended | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/868484/cpp-prwc-ang-bayan-other-red-linked-twitter-accounts-taken-down-or-suspended/story/

Rebel killed, another captured in NegOr clash - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1960042/bacolod/local-news/rebel-killed-another-captured-in-negor-clash

LABOR / EMPLOYMENT / MIGRATION

Marcos issues EO creating body to probe killings, harassment of workers | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1763151/marcos-issues-eo-creating-body-to-probe-killings-harassment-of-workers

Wage-setting system, rates at the center of Labor Day protests - BusinessWorld Online https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2023/05/01/520238/wage-setting-system-rates-at-the-center-of-labor-day-protests/

'Migrant Women Rise' documentary highlights plight of red-tagged OFWs https://www.rappler.com/nation/overseas-filipinos/documentary-highlights-plight-red-tagged-ofws/

For these workers, unionism does wonders - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/05/01/for-these-workers-unionism-does-wonders/

Church, labor leaders push P1,100 living wage | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1762599/church-labor-leaders-push-p1100-living-wage

Construction worker dies after accidentally touching a live wire in Samar | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1763117/construction-worker-dies-after-accidentally-touching-a-liver-wire-in-samar

Negros labor groups to demand P750 national minimum wage on Labor Day protest | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1762804/negros-labor-groups-to-demand-p750-national-minimum-wage-on-labor-day-protest

‘MEDIA WORKERS ARE LABORERS, TOO’: Journalists’ union calls for fair treatment of media workers - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/media-workers-are-laborers-too-journalists-union-calls-for-fair-treatment-of-media-workers/

Protesting workers stopped from entering CDO, held for hours under the sun | MindaNews https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/05/protesting-workers-stopped-from-entering-cdo-held-for-hours-under-the-sun/

DOLE: Regional wage boards reviewing 10 wage hike petitions | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/868593/dole-regional-wage-boards-reviewing-10-wage-hike-petitions/story/

At Home sa Abroad: Why do so many Filipinos go abroad to work? https://www.rappler.com/nation/overseas-filipinos/at-home-sa-abroad-episode-why-do-so-many-filipinos-go-abroad-work/

Returning Filipinos grapple with reverse culture shock https://www.rappler.com/nation/overseas-filipinos/returning-filipinos-grapple-with-reverse-culture-shock/

WOMEN / REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

DepEd plans to teach sexual, reproductive rights starting Grade 4 | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/868416/deped-plans-to-teach-sexual-reproductive-rights-starting-grade-4/story/

DETENTION

7,500 Bilibid inmates set for transfer | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/05/02/2263066/7500-bilibid-inmates-set-transfer

Zamboanga jail reforms focus on protection of rights, dignity of PDLs | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/30/23/zamboanga-jail-reforms-focus-on-protection-of-rights-dignity-of-pdls

ENVIRONMENT / CLIMATE CHANGE / EL NINO

‘Threat of El Niño real; conserve, recycle water’ | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/30/2262670/threat-el-nio-real-conserve-recycle-water

HEALTH / COVID

HIV cases breach 2,000 mark – DOH | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/05/02/2263075/hiv-cases-breach-2000-mark-doh

Marcos ‘might’ reimpose mask mandates | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/05/02/2263154/marcos-might-reimpose-mask-mandates

12 of 13 Covid-19 deaths in Bacolod this year ‘unvaccinated’ - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1960043/bacolod/local-news/12-of-13-covid-19-deaths-in-bacolod-this-year-unvaccinated

Nationwide vax drive begins today | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/05/01/2262958/nationwide-vax-drive-begins-today

EDUCATION

Sara Duterte brings red-tagging to DepEd https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/sara-duterte-brings-red-tagging-deped/

Teachers demand higher salaries | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/05/02/2263087/teachers-demand-higher-salaries

[ANALYSIS] How can we fix K to 12? https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/analysis-how-can-philippines-fix-reform-k-12-education-program/

Revert to old school calendar, gov’t urged | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1763154/revert-to-old-school-calendar-govt-urged

UP professor: Mother tongue program more conducive to learning, should not be scrapped  | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1762720/up-ced-mother-tongue-education-is-vital-to-empowering-filipino-workers-honoring-diverse-identities

Better pay, benefits lure Filipino teachers to schools in Japan https://www.rappler.com/nation/overseas-filipinos/what-motivates-teachers-apply-schools-japan/

CONFLICT

Southern Philippines: Making Peace Stick in the Bangsamoro | Crisis Group https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-east-asia/philippines/331-southern-philippines-making-peace-stick-bangsamoro

Bangsamoro normalization programs ‘sputtering’ - International Crisis Group https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/crisis-group-says-bangsamoro-normalization-programs-sputtering/

End skirmishes, fastrack aid distribution, hasten normalization: Factors to achieve peace in BARMM - ICG - VERA Files https://verafiles.org/articles/end-skirmishes-fastrack-aid-distribution-hasten-normalization-factors-to-achieve-peace-in-barmm-icg

Army general tells warring MILF members: Don’t force us to take action https://www.rappler.com/nation/army-general-warning-moro-islamic-liberation-members-dispute-maguindanao-del-sur/

For MILF combatants, a slip of paper spells a future for their families https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/certificate-live-birth-spells-future-milf-combatants-families/

Army commander to MILF: spare the civilians | MindaNews https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/04/army-commander-to-milf-spare-the-civilians/

BIFF ‘bomb courier’ killed in Maguindanao del Sur | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/04/30/2262594/biff-bomb-courier-killed-maguindanao-del-sur

Ex-MILF combatants issued birth certificates | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/05/01/2262947/ex-milf-combatants-issued-birth-certificates

Gunman linked to death of SAF 44 killed during gov't ops in Maguindanao  | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1763079/gunman-linked-to-death-of-saf-44-killed-during-govt-ops-in-maguindanao

DISABILITY RIGHTS

Still a long road ahead: PWDs struggle to join Philippine workforce https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/persons-with-disability-struggle-philippine-workforce/

FOREIGN AFFAIRS / US-PH MILITARY

Marcos Jr treads a fine line over military ties as he heads to US | Politics News | Al Jazeera https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/1/marcos-jr-treads-a-fine-line-over-military-ties-as-he-heads-to-us

US urges China: Stop harassing Philippine vessels https://www.rappler.com/nation/united-states-urges-china-stop-harassing-philippine-vessels-april-2023/

Marcos: Philippines won't be 'staging point' for military action in Indo-Pacific https://www.rappler.com/nation/ferdinand-marcos-jr-says-philippines-not-staging-point-military-action-indo-pacific/

AFP ready to defend PH with ‘full force’ in next 3-5 years with US help —envoy | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/868515/afp-ready-to-defend-ph-with-full-force-in-next-3-5-years-with-us-help-envoy/story/