Philippines: Human Rights News 01/31/2023

Today's News: PH threatens arrest of ICC probers; police launches "new" #drugwar strategy in central PH; NBI agents face #torture raps; community doc, ex-Reds arrested; SoKorea-inspired #redtagging

DRUG WAR / ICC

Philippines Refuses to Cooperate With ‘Unacceptable’ ICC Drug War Investigation – The Diplomat https://thediplomat.com/2023/01/philippines-refuses-to-cooperate-with-unacceptable-icc-drug-war-investigation/

PNP to ICC: Respect Philippine sovereignty, justice system | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/31/2241431/pnp-icc-respect-philippine-sovereignty-justice-system

Enrile slams ICC, suggests probers’ arrest for interfering - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/314300744/enrile-slams-icc-suggests-probers-arrest-for-interfering.html

PNP: Internal investigation, DOJ review enough for 'drug war' accountability | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/30/2241305/pnp-internal-investigation-doj-review-enough-drug-war-accountability

Rights groups welcome resumption of ICC probe on the Philippines - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/01/28/rights-groups-welcome-resumption-of-icc-probe-on-the-philippines/

DRUG WAR

PNP to enforce new anti-drug strategies in Central Visayas | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1722871/pnp-to-enforce-new-anti-drug-strategies-in-central-visayas

Cebu province to set up anti-drugs offices in all 22 major sea ports | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1723110/cebu-province-to-set-up-anti-drugs-offices-in-all-22-major-sea-ports

Hearing of de Lima's drug cases continues | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/30/23/hearing-of-de-limas-drug-cases-continues

De Lima attends hearing on illegal drug trade case | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/multimedia/photo/01/30/23/de-lima-attends-hearing-on-illegal-drug-trade-case

QCPD’s 7-day ops net 245 suspects | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/01/31/2241375/qcpds-7-day-ops-net-245-suspects

TORTURE

9 NBI agents face torture raps | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/01/31/2241380/9-nbi-agents-face-torture-raps

9 NBI agents face raps over abuse of 2 suspects in cockight case | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1723168/9-nbi-agents-face-raps-over-abuse-of-2-suspects-in-cockight-case

EXTRAJUDICIAL / SUMMARY KILLING

Army forms court martial vs Durante, 6 others over Plaza killing | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/30/23/army-forms-court-martial-vs-durante-6-others-over-plaza-killing

Cop wounded, guard slain in Batangas shootings | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1722893/cop-wounded-guard-slain-in-batangas-shootings

ATTACKS AGAINST ACTIVISTS / REDTAGGING

Karapatan flags similarities in South Korea union raids and local red-tagging | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/30/2241335/karapatan-flags-similarities-south-korea-union-raids-and-local-red-tagging

Anti-Terrorism Council designates red-tagged community doctor a terrorist | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/30/2241334/anti-terrorism-council-designates-red-tagged-community-doctor-terrorist

INSURGENCY / TERRORISM

Gov't designates as terrorist a community doctor who helped Lumad of Mindanao https://www.rappler.com/nation/government-designates-community-doctor-natividad-castro-helped-lumad-terrorist/

Cordillera activist arrested, 8 others charged with rebellion - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/01/30/cordillera-activist-arrested-8-others-charged-with-rebellion/

CPP denounces arrest of ailing retired peace consultant, 2 others - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/01/30/cpp-denounces-arrest-of-ailing-retired-peace-consultant-2-others/

LABOR / MIGRATION

Monsters in Kuwait | Inquirer Opinion https://opinion.inquirer.net/160691/monsters-in-kuwait

In privilege speech, lawmaker laments crowded gov't shelters for OFWs https://www.rappler.com/nation/magsino-laments-crowded-government-shelters-overseas-filipinos/

Philippines eyes Kuwait bilateral meet over death of OFW https://www.rappler.com/nation/philippine-kuwait-bilateral-meeting-jullebee-ranara/

DFA says working to bring trafficking victims in Myanmar, rest of SEA home | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/30/2241360/dfa-says-working-bring-trafficking-victims-myanmar-rest-sea-home

At Home sa Abroad: Is exporting Filipino workers a good thing? https://www.rappler.com/nation/overseas-filipinos/at-home-sa-abroad-episode-labor-export/

Gov’t officials to meet with recruitment agencies to discuss improvements in monitoring OFWs https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/1/30/government-officials-meeting-with-recruitment-agencies.html

Tulfo demands public apology from Kuwait following 'repetitive' abuses | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/30/23/tulfo-demands-public-apology-from-kuwait-following-repetitive-abuses

Tulfo blasts dep't store execs over alleged abuse of cashiers | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/30/23/tulfo-blasts-dept-store-execs-over-alleged-abuse-of-cashiers

Clear case of human rights violation - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/opinion/columns/to-the-point-by-emil-jurado/314300750/clear-case-of-human-rights-violation.html

Marcos visits wake of slain OFW | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/31/2241435/marcos-visits-wake-slain-ofw

LGBTQ / DISPLACEMENT

10-year Post-Haiyan: LGBTQ+ Survivors Still Fight for Their Legal Rights – New Naratif https://newnaratif.com/post-haiyan-lgbtq-survivors/

Death toll from widespread rains since January 2 jumps to 43 — NDRRMC | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1722829/death-toll-from-widespread-rains-since-january-2-jumps-to-43-ndrrmc

CHILDREN / EDUCATION

Marcos says PH education sector 'failed' children, vows reforms | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/30/23/marcos-says-ph-education-sector-failed-children-vows-reforms

DepEd to revise ‘congested’ K-12 curriculum | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1723183/deped-to-revise-congested-k-12-curriculum

In education report, Sara Duterte puts a spotlight on teachers' welfare https://www.rappler.com/nation/sara-duterte-spotlight-teachers-welfare-education-report-2023/

VP Sara: Lack of school facilities still basic education’s main problem | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/859083/vp-sara-lack-of-school-facilities-still-basic-education-s-main-problem/story/

What are the most pressing issues of PH basic education? | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/01/30/23/what-are-the-most-pressing-issues-of-ph-basic-education

Sara Duterte's basic education report mum on teachers' urgent demands - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/01/30/sara-dutertes-basic-education-report-mum-on-teachers-urgent-demands/

Lack of classrooms must top DepEd’s priorities —commissioned survey | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/859109/lack-of-classrooms-must-top-deped-s-priority-commissioned-survey/story/

PNP to give additional security in schools | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/859081/pnp-to-give-additional-security-in-schools/story/

DepEd to 'embed culture of peace' in curriculum | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/30/23/deped-to-embed-culture-of-peace-in-curriculum

HEALTH

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease downs 51 children in South Cotabato town https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/children-diagnosed-hand-foot-mouth-disease-banga-south-cotabato-january-27-2023/

WOMEN / REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Pregnancy among 10 to 14-year-olds still high in 2022 at over 2,000 –POPCOM | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/859067/pregnancy-among-10-to-14-year-olds-still-high-in-2022-at-over-2-000-popcom/story/

Since younger days, MP Froilyn Mendoza already championing IP women’s rights | MindaNews https://www.mindanews.com/feature/2023/01/since-younger-days-mp-froilyn-mendoza-already-championing-ip-womens-rights/

ECONOMY / POVERTY

SWS: 49% of Filipinos say quality of life will improve in 2023 | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/859107/sws-49-of-filipinos-say-quality-of-life-will-improve-in-2023/story/

Lawmaker slams GDP growth, cites continued hardship of ordinary Filipinos | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/31/23/lawmaker-slams-gdp-growth-cites-continued-hardship-of-ordinary-filipinos

Decrease in number of newborns could lead to economic growth | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193939

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

US Defense visit to accelerate US military intervention in the PH – progressives - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/01/30/us-defense-visit-to-accelerate-us-military-intervention-in-the-ph-progressives/

US defense chief's Manila visit to focus on EDCA, plans to address new threats | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/30/2241341/us-defense-chiefs-manila-visit-focus-edca-plans-address-new-threats

Marcos says strong US-PH ties ‘as important as they have ever been’ | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/859122/marcos-says-strong-us-ph-ties-as-important-as-they-have-ever-been/story/

Family of detained Pinoy in Myanmar appeals for help | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/30/23/family-of-detained-pinoy-in-myanmar-appeals-for-help