Philippines: Human Rights News 02/09/2023

Top News: #ICC: PH files appeal vs probe; #Duterte resumes #drugwar call; statutory rapes increasing; #LGBT: Evangelist politicians try to block SOGIE Equality Bill; PH bans deployment to Kuwait

DRUG WAR / ICC

Philippines appeals resumption of ICC probe https://www.rappler.com/nation/office-solicitor-general-starts-appeal-icc-probe-drug-war-february-2023/

Government appeals ICC ruling on drug probe | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/09/2243660/government-appeals-icc-ruling-drug-probe

ICC’s reopened probe into Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war puts Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and Philippines in a tight spot | South China Morning Post https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3209274/iccs-reopened-probe-dutertes-drug-war-puts-marcos-jnr-and-philippines-tight-spot

PH govt notifies ICC it will appeal drug war probe resumption | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/09/23/ph-govt-notifies-icc-it-will-appeal-drug-war-probe-resumption

PH to ask ICC chamber to reverse approval of war on drugs probe | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/860097/philippines-asks-icc-chamber-to-reverse-approval-of-war-on-drugs-investigation/story/

Lawyer bares ways for ICC to reach witnesses in Philippine drug war probe | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/860054/icc-may-set-up-field-office-in-ph-send-witnesses-abroad-for-drug-war-probe-lawyer/story/

Gov’t appeals ICC decision to resume drug war probe https://malaya.com.ph/news_news/govt-appeals-icc-decision-to-resume-drug-war-probe/

Atrocity Alert No. 334: Nigeria, Philippines and Wagner Group - Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect https://www.globalr2p.org/publications/atrocity-alert-no-334/

DRUG WAR

Ex-prez Duterte: Executive Dep’t must issue ‘very strong’ statement vs. illegal drugs | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/860131/ex-prez-duterte-executive-dep-t-must-issue-very-strong-statement-vs-illegal-drugs/story/

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

Dating Gawi: Police says "drug personalities" named in utod kamot list back in business https://dnx.news/dating-gawi-police-says-drug-personalities-named-in-utod-kamot-list-back-in-business/

Bacolod cops arrest 37 drug suspects, net P1-M 'shabu' in January - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1952907/bacolod/local-news/bacolod-cops-arrest-37-drug-suspects-net-p1-m-shabu-in-january

EXTRAJUDICIAL / SUMMARY / ARBITRARY KILLING

Engineer at pamangkin niyang driver, patay sa pamamaril sa Batangas | Balitambayan https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/balitambayan/promdi/860162/engineer-at-pamangkin-niyang-driver-patay-sa-pamamaril-sa-batangas/story/

INSURGENCY

Human-rights group asks military to show missing NDFP consultant | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1727249/human-rights-group-asks-military-to-show-missing-ndfp-consultant

House reso seeks lifting of terror tag, return to peace table with CPP-NPA-NDF | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/08/2243496/house-reso-seeks-lifting-terror-tag-return-peace-table-cpp-npa-ndf

Cops identify three NPA rebels slain in Kabankalan clashes - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/cops-identify-three-npa-rebels-slain-in-kabankalan-clashes/

2 more Quezon towns now insurgency-free | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/02/09/2243562/2-more-quezon-towns-now-insurgency-free

LGBT / SOGIE

Drama ensues as House revives SOGIE bill discussions https://www.rappler.com/nation/drama-house-revives-sogie-bill-discussions/

Villanuevas in Congress move to delay SOGIE Equality Bill | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/08/2243520/villanuevas-congress-move-delay-sogie-equality-bill

Villanueva father, son raise concerns at House, Senate talks on Sogie bill | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1727235/villanueva-father-son-duo-hinder-sogie-bill-hearings-in-house-and-senate

Religious groups' opposition puts Senate's SOGIE bill in limbo | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/860107/religious-groups-opposition-puts-senate-s-sogie-bill-in-limbo/story/

Villanueva halts House hearing on Sogie bills; calls it ‘illegal’ due to forum shopping        | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1727113/villanueva-halts-sogie-house-hearing-calls-it-illegal-due-to-forum-shopping

'Anyare sa bill?': Hontiveros asks why SOGIE bill is in 'limbo' | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/08/23/anyare-sa-bill-hontiveros-asks-why-sogie-bill-is-in-limbo

MEDIA / PRESS FREEDOM

Lapid slay: Murder raps vs Bantag up for resolution | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/02/09/2243565/lapid-slay-murder-raps-vs-bantag-resolution

Three years in detention, Frenchie Mae Cumpio inspires new breed of journalists | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/08/2243492/three-years-detention-frenchie-mae-cumpio-inspires-new-breed-journalists

ATTACKS AGAINST ACTIVISTS

Journalists, progressive solons reiterate call for dropping of charges against ‘Tacloban 5’ - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/02/08/journalists-progressive-solons-reiterate-call-for-dropping-of-charges-against-tacloban-5/

PNP defends arrest of UP professor | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/02/09/2243580/pnp-defends-arrest-professor

ENVIRONMENT / MINING

DENR orders probe into Altai's alleged destruction of seagrass in Sibuyan https://www.rappler.com/nation/luzon/denr-orders-investigation-altai-alleged-destruction-seagrass-sibuyan-island-romblon/

Mining company faces more raps | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/02/09/news/regions/mining-company-faces-more-raps/1877881

LABOR / MIGRATION / DOMESTIC WORKERS

PH halts applications of first-time domestic workers bound for Kuwait https://www.rappler.com/nation/overseas-filipinos/philippines-halts-applications-first-time-domestic-workers-bound-kuwait-february-2023/

9.6 million adult Filipinos jobless as of December 2022 – SWS | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1727314/9-6-million-adult-filipinos-jobless-as-of-december-2022-sws

Philippine suspends household worker deployment to Kuwait | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/09/2243617/philippine-suspends-household-worker-deployment-kuwait

CHILDREN

PSA: More teen births involve older fathers https://www.panaynews.net/psa-more-teen-births-involve-older-fathers/

Senator urges PNP, DOJ to prosecute violators of statutory rape | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194750

Bill aims to penalize child negligence with imprisonment | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1726806/house-bill-aims-to-penalize-child-negligence-with-imprisonment

CHR to investigate Calabarzon cops accused of raping minors | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/07/2243244/chr-investigate-calabarzon-cops-accused-raping-minors

30 parents of child laborers in Oro receive livelihood aid - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1952889/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/30-parents-of-child-laborers-in-oro-receive-livelihood-aid

House panel okays bill amending law to include online violence vs. women, children | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/860063/house-panel-okays-bill-amending-law-to-include-online-violence-vs-women-children/story/

EDUCATION

Youth groups: Address education crisis, ditch mandatory ROTC - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/02/08/youth-groups-address-education-crisis-ditch-mandatory-rotc/

Sara Duterte: Reading issues got worse due to COVID-19 school disruption | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/860154/sara-duterte-school-closures-due-to-pandemic-stunted-reading-comprehension/story/

VP Duterte urges ASEAN to 'act now' on education issues | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/08/23/vp-duterte-urges-asean-to-act-now-on-education-issues

HEALTH

DOH employee claims 'conspiracy' in cancer funds | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/08/23/doh-employee-claims-conspiracy-in-cancer-funds

LAND RIGHTS

2 farmers get 10 days in jail for encroaching on PMA land | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1727303/2-farmers-get-10-days-in-jailfor-encroaching-on-pma-land

Villar endorses bill condoning debts of ARBs to plenary | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194754

DISABILITY

Early voting for PWDs? May 2022 polls posed multiple barriers to voters with disabilities https://pcij.org/article/9749/may-2022-polls-posed-multiple-barriers-to-voters-with-disabilities

CONFLICT

39 Special Forces soldiers held by MILF in Lanao Sur released | MindaNews https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/02/39-special-forces-soldiers-held-by-milf-in-lanao-sur-released/

MILF frees 39 soldiers in Lanao del Sur after 24 hours https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/tension-grips-lanao-del-sur-milf-holds-soldiers-february-2023/

3 BIFF members killed in Mamasapano clash | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1726785/3-biff-members-killed-in-mamasapano-town-clash

POLITICS

89% of Filipinos satisfied with how democracy works – SWS https://www.rappler.com/nation/filipinos-satisfied-how-demoracy-works-sws-survey-january-december-2022/

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Marcos: Security cooperation a new element in Philippines-Japan ties | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/860118/marcos-security-cooperation-a-new-element-in-philippines-japan-ties/story/

Charter change may intensify foreign plunder of PH seas - fishers - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/02/07/charter-change-may-intensify-foreign-plunder-of-ph-seas-fishers/

Marcos Jr.: Japan wants more patrols in South China Sea | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/08/23/marcos-jr-japan-wants-more-patrols-in-south-china-sea

Marcos: No formal talks yet on military access agreement with Japan https://www.rappler.com/nation/marcos-formal-talks-military-access-agreement-japan/