Philippines: Human rights news 01/18/2023

Top News: "Ninja cop" in #drugwar; more killings; DOJ junks raps vs cops; men who abducted activists were cops, kin say; #redtagging; govt urged to stop "megadam" project; Marcos in Davos

DRUG WAR

Leyte drug suspect dies in shootout with cops; P1-M worth of ‘shabu’ recovered - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1951005/tacloban/local-news/leyte-drug-suspect-dies-in-shootout-with-cops-p1-m-worth-of-shabu-recovered

Ninja cop, two others arrested in buy-bust ops - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/314297175/ninja-cop-two-others-arrested-in-buy-bust-ops.html

Cops vs cop: PNP anti-drug agent yields 'shabu', arrested | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1717467/cops-vs-cop-pnp-anti-drug-agent-yields-shabu-arrested

Only 18 police generals and full colonels have yet to submit courtesy resignations — PNP - #PressOnePH https://pressone.ph/only-18-police-generals-and-full-colonels-have-yet-to-submit-courtesy-resignations-pnp/

EXTRAJUDICIAL / SUMMARY KILLING

2 dead men found by the roadside in Quezon | Balitambayan https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/balitambayan/promdi/857710/2-bangkay-ng-lalaki-magkahiwalay-na-nakita-sa-gilid-ng-kalsada-sa-quezon/story/

Body of woman with gunshot wound found inside car in Las Piñas | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/17/23/bangkay-ng-babae-nahanap-sa-kotse-sa-las-pias

ATTACKS AGAINST ACTIVISTS / REDTAGGING

DOJ panel junks murder raps vs 17 cops over 'Bloody Sunday' killing | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/17/23/doj-panel-junks-murder-raps-vs-17-cops-over-bloody-sunday-killing

DOJ junks murder complaint vs cops tagged in labor leader's death https://www.rappler.com/nation/doj-junks-murder-complaint-cops-labor-leader-death-bloody-sunday/

Castro mulling legal remedies after red-tagging anew from ex-NTF-Elcac officers | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1717508/fwd-castro-mulling-legal-remedies-after-another-red-tagging-spree-from-ex-ntf-elcac-personnel

ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES

Group asks: Are abductions the new norm? - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1951094/cebu/local-news/group-asks-are-abductions-the-new-norm

Cebu dev’t worker told father abductors said they were police | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/857736/cebu-dev-t-worker-told-father-abductors-identified-themselves-as-police/story/

2 activists abducted by ‘cops’; PRO 7 chief orders investigation - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1950980/cebu/local-news/2-activists-abducted-by-cops-pro-7-chief-orders-investigation

Cebu development workers' kin urge witnesses to send photos, videos of abduction https://www.rappler.com/nation/visayas/cebu-development-workers-gumanao-dayoha-families-ask-witnesses-send-photos-vidoes-abduction/

NBI, PNP to look into alleged abduction of activists in Cebu; victims now safe | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/857676/nbi-pnp-to-look-into-alleged-abduction-of-activists-in-cebu-victims-now-safe/story/

DOJ files kidnapping raps vs. six in sabungeros case - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/314297171/doj-files-kidnapping-raps-vs-six-in-sabungeros-case.html

INSURGENCY

Army slams NPA for kagawad’s slay - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/army-slams-npa-for-kagawads-slay/

10ID chief orders to finish remaining threats | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/01/18/news/regions/10id-chief-orders-to-finish-remaining-threats/1874772

'Red fighter' yields in Angeles City | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1717536/red-fighter-yields-in-angeles-city

MILITARY / DEFENSE

Defense chief Galvez acknowledges 'rumblings' in ranks over delayed promotions | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/17/2238258/defense-chief-galvez-acknowledges-rumblings-ranks-over-delayed-promotions

Galvez says 'rumblings' within AFP due to 'fixed-term' law | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/17/23/galvez-says-rumblings-within-afp-due-to-fixed-term-law

DETENTION

DOJ urges Palace to hasten clemency for 1,000 prisoners - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/national/314297206/doj-urges-palace-to-hasten-clemency-for-1000-prisoners.html

DOJ, BuCor finalizing plans for Mindoro ‘supermax’ prison | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1192918

New Talisay City Jail warden aiming for drug-free facility - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1951058/cebu/local-news/new-talisay-city-jail-warden-aiming-for-drug-free-facility

ENVIRONMENT

Gov't urged to stop 'destructive' mega dam projects | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/climate-and-environment/2023/01/17/2238246/govt-urged-stop-destructive-mega-dam-projects

Writ of Kalikasan for Sto. Tomas Forest Reserve affirmed in SC, ex-solon petition struck down - Baguio Chronicle https://thebaguiochronicle.com/top-story/writ-of-kalikasan-for-sto-tomas-forest-reserve-affirmed-in-sc-ex-solon-petition-struck-down/

CHILDREN

Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education | Human Rights Watch https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/01/17/submission-un-special-rapporteur-right-education

Gov alarmed as public school literacy drops | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/01/18/news/regions/gov-alarmed-as-public-school-literacy-drops/1874774

ECONOMY / POVERTY / INFLATION

Growth will hit 6.5% - Daily Tribune https://tribune.net.ph/2023/01/18/growth-will-hit-6-5/

2M non-poor households hit by inflation, rate selves poor now | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1717763/2m-non-poor-households-hit-by-inflation-rate-selves-poor-now

Losses driving onion farmers to desperation | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1717327/losses-driving-onion-farmers-to-desperation

EXPLAINER: Why onions in PH are now more expensive than meat https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/1/11/High-prices-of-onions-in-PH-explainer.html

'The Golden Onion Era': Netizens slam Customs over PAL crew onions issue https://www.rappler.com/nation/filipinos-online-reactions-bureau-customs-philippine-airlines-crew-smuggling-onions/

LABOR

'Kahihiyan': Tulfo wants gov't to stop assisting OFWs facing drug cases | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/17/23/kahihiyan-tulfo-wants-govt-to-stop-assisting-ofws-facing-drug-cases

DFA admits low acquittal rate for Filipinos facing cases abroad https://www.rappler.com/nation/overseas-filipinos/dfa-admits-low-aquittal-rate-ofws-facing-cases-abroad/

Bigger 'safe haven' needed for troubled OFWs in Kuwait | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1192933

ILO mission to PH will help Congress make pro-labor laws – Nograles | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1717837/ilo-mission-to-ph-will-help-congress-make-pro-labor-laws-nograles

Foreign countries ‘pirating’ Filipino nursing students | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/17/2238118/foreign-countries-pirating-filipino-nursing-students

Envoy denies report Germany, UK ‘pirating’ Filipino nursing students - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/national/314297203/envoy-denies-report-germany-uk-pirating-filipino-nursing-students.html

36 Years: The Philippines’ ‘greatest export’ https://www.rappler.com/nation/thirty-six-years-episode-philippines-greatest-export-history-labor-policy/

TERRORISM / CONFLICT

Suspected bombmaker behind bus explosions nabbed in Cotabato | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1717799/suspected-bombmaker-behind-bus-explosions-nabbed-in-cotabato

MINDANAO / BARMM

600 ex-MILF fighters to avail themselves of EU's skills project - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1951078/zamboanga/local-news/600-ex-milf-fighters-to-avail-themselves-of-eus-skills-project

EU diplomat urges BARMM officials to hold wider consultations on electoral, local government codes | MindaNews https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/01/eu-diplomat-urges-barmm-officials-to-hold-wider-consultations-on-electoral-local-government-codes/

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Marcos in Davos: Same pitch, with a sovereign fund this time https://www.rappler.com/nation/marcos-jr-davos-world-economic-forum-what-philippines-can-expect-maharlika-fund-pitch/

Davos trip to burnish Marcos international reputation – think tank | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/18/2238330/davos-trip-burnish-marcos-international-reputation-think-tank

US State Dept. official in PH for strategic dialogue from Jan. 18–21, 2023 | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/857753/us-state-dept-official-in-ph-for-strategic-dialogue-from-jan-18-21-2023/story/

Chinese envoy hopeful joint oil, gas exploration talks to continue despite SC ruling https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/1/17/huang-xilian-ph-china-oil-gas-exploration-talks.html