Philippines: Human Rights News 02/03/2023

Top News: CHR records 64 #EJKs in Negros; #ICC: Duterte insists on innocence; release of political prisoners urged; PH has mental health crisis; US now has greater access to military facilities in PH

EXTRAJUDICIAL / SUMMARY KILLING

CHR reports 64 EJK cases in Negros Occidental | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1724242/chr-reports-64-ejk-cases-in-negros-occ/amp

3 killed in Pasay City shooting | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/859410/3-killed-in-pasay-city-shooting/story/

Batangas village watchman shot dead | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/02/03/2242119/batangas-village-watchman-shot-dead

DRUG WAR / ICC

Duterte insists he committed no crime in enacting drug war | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/02/02/23/duterte-insists-he-committed-no-crime-in-enacting-drug-war

Makabayan bloc urges Marcos Jr. to speak up on ICC probe | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/02/23/makabayan-bloc-urges-marcos-jr-to-speak-up-on-icc-probe

Dodging ICC probe to affect Philippines' image to investors —Rep. Castro | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/859450/dodging-icc-probe-to-affect-philippines-image-to-investors-rep-castro/story/

DRUG WAR

Top forensic expert calls autopsy on Kian ‘improper’ | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/03/2242202/top-forensic-expert-calls-autopsy-kian-improper

Expert flags 'superficial' autopsies on body of Kian delos Santos | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/02/2242071/expert-flags-superficial-autopsies-body-kian-delos-santos

DILG’s anti-drug advocacy program launched in W. Visayas - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/dilgs-anti-drug-advocacy-program-launched-in-w-visayas/

PNP: P460.1 million drugs seized in January | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/02/03/2242142/pnp-p4601-million-drugs-seized-january

3 cops, pal nabbed in Cavite drug bust; P1.4-M 'shabu' seized | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1724412/3-cops-pal-nabbed-in-cavite-drug-bust-p1-4-m-shabu-seized

MEDIA / PRESS FREEDOM / LIBEL

Amnesty International calls for ‘independent, impartial’ investigation of Lapid’s killing | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/02/2242073/amnesty-international-calls-independent-impartial-investigation-lapids-killing

Ex-poll exec Guanzon: Netizen who posted video of her berating drunk persons liable for libel | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1724676/ex-poll-exec-guanzon-netizen-who-posted-video-of-her-berating-drunk-persons-liable-for-libel

Marcos' advantage: An acquiescent press | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/02/03/opinion/columns/marcos-advantage-an-acquiescent-press/1877055

ATTACKS AGAINST ACTIVISTS

Ilocos development worker charged with trumped-up rebellion - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/02/02/ilocos-development-worker-charged-with-trumped-up-rebellion/

INSURGENCY

Rights group calls on courts to release sick and elderly political prisoners - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/02/02/rights-group-calls-on-courts-to-release-sick-and-elderly-political-prisoners/

Army units told to resolve alleged NPA atrocities - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/army-units-told-to-resolve-alleged-npa-atrocities/

Taguig court convicts alleged NPA member for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/859465/taguig-court-convicts-alleged-npa-member-for-illegal-possession-of-firearms-ammunition/story/

Jail sentence for NPA rebel for illegal guns - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/314301696/jail-sentence-for-npa-rebel-for-illegal-guns.html

Another Quezon town declared insurgency-free | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/02/03/2242120/another-quezon-town-declared-insurgency-free

LABOR / TRAFFICKING

851 arrested in raid on POGO firm in Tarlac | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/02/03/2242219/851-arrested-raid-pogo-firm-tarlac

ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES

Suspects in alleged kidnap of POGO workers nabbed after parking in no-parking zone | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/859520/suspects-in-alleged-kidnap-of-pogo-workers-nabbed-after-parking-in-no-parking-zone/story/

TORTURE

DOJ: 2 more complaints vs. Bantag - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/314301705/doj-2-more-complaints-vs-bantag.html

HEALTH

Mental health issues affecting general population amid hard times —Pimentel | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/859475/mental-health-issues-affecting-general-population-amid-hard-times-pimentel/story/

Bill on mental health likely to be approved - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/314301703/bill-on-mental-health-likely-to-be-approved.html

Youth solon to push for declaration of mental health emergency | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1724683/youth-solon-to-push-for-declaration-of-mental-health-emergency

CHILDREN

UNFPA seeks comprehensive sexuality education for ages 5–19 to curb teen pregnancy | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/859481/unfpa-seeks-comprehensive-sexuality-education-for-ages-5-19-to-curb-teen-pregnancy/story/

Measure to prevent adolescent pregnancies pushed | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194280

Less than half of Baguio kids English-literate - DepEd - Baguio Chronicle https://thebaguiochronicle.com/top-story/less-than-half-of-baguio-kids-english-literate-deped/

ENVIRONMENT

Dutch construction companies will profit from Philippines mega-airport which is devastating local communities and environment | Global Witness https://www.globalwitness.org/en/press-releases/dutch-construction-companies-will-profit-philippines-mega-airport-which-devastating-local-communities-and-environment/

Kaliwa Dam project to start operations by December 2026 | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194202

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

US gets greater access to Philippine military facilities | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/03/2242213/us-gets-greater-access-philippine-military-facilities

Protesters call for EDCA junking | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/03/2242198/protesters-call-edca-junking

Filipino Activists Protest Deal Granting Greater U.S. Military Access to Bases | Democracy Now! https://www.democracynow.org/2023/2/2/headlines/filipino_activists_protest_deal_granting_greater_us_military_access_to_region

Philippines' future will always involve US, says Marcos | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/859422/philippines-future-will-always-involve-us-says-marcos/story/

US to help modernize Philippine military: Austin | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/02/23/us-to-help-modernize-philippine-military-austin

Global democracy index: Philippines slightly improves to 52nd | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/03/2242205/global-democracy-index-philippines-slightly-improves-52nd

U.S.-Philippines Military Base Agreement Aimed at Countering China in War Over Taiwan https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/02/02/us-philippines-military-bases-lloyd-austin-china-taiwan-war/