Philippines: Human Rights News 03/15/2023

Top News: Summary killings, political violence; #drugwar conviction not proof justice system works; #pressfreedom stalwart Teodoro, 81; #rightsdefenders bill; #comfortwomen #japan; #disinformation

EXTRAJUDICIAL / SUMMARY / ARBITRARY KILLING

Cebu village chief, wife gunned down in Asturias town https://www.rappler.com/nation/visayas/cebu-barangay-captain-mario-tundag-wife-gunned-down-march-14-2023/

2 women dead in Quezon shootings | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1742437/2-women-dead-in-quezon-shootings

Missing person found dead, handcuffed in Cavite | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/863894/missing-person-found-dead-handcuffed-in-cavite/story/

Pamamaril sa tricycle driver, huli sa CCTV | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/multimedia/video/03/14/23/pamamaril-sa-tricycle-driver-huli-sa-cctv

Families of 3 slain young men file murder complaint vs 8 Sultan Kudarat cops https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/families-slain-men-file-murder-complaint-cops-sultan-kudarat/

POLITICAL VIOLENCE

Marcos orders formation of panel of prosecutors for Negros Oriental killings | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/863859/marcos-orders-formation-of-panel-of-prosecutors-for-negros-oriental-killings/story/

Degamo slay a ‘remnant’ case of private armies — Ejercito | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1742410/degamo-slay-a-remnant-case-of-private-armies-ejercito

Raps filed vs Teves aide, 5 more over guns and grenades seized from his properties | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/14/2251628/raps-filed-teves-aide-5-more-over-guns-and-grenades-seized-his-properties

Families of slain Calbayog mayor, other victims call for speedy trial https://www.rappler.com/nation/visayas/families-slain-calbayog-mayor-ronaldo-aquino-victims-call-for-speedy-trial/

INSURGENCY / CONFLICT

Rights group calls on CHR to probe rights violations in Rizal, Kalinga - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/03/14/rights-group-calls-on-chr-to-probe-rights-violations-in-rizal-kalinga/

Arrested Laguna activists, supporters urge DOJ to ‘take immediate action’ after delays in hearings - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/03/14/arrested-laguna-activists-supporters-urge-doj-to-take-immediate-action-after-delays-in-hearings/

Police arrest Maguindanao del Sur youth leader linked to terrorism https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/police-arrest-youth-leader-linked-terrorism-maguindanao-del-sur-march-2023/

“DRUG WAR”

Decades of punitive drug war strategies failed – UN | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/15/2251721/decades-punitive-drug-war-strategies-failed-un

PH asks ICC to suspend probe into drug war killings under Duterte https://www.rappler.com/nation/philippines-appeal-icc-suspend-probe-drug-war-killings-rodrigo-duterte-march-2023/

Philippine police officer jailed for killing teens in rare drug war conviction https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/philippine-police-officer-jailed-for-killing-teens-in-rare-drug-war-conviction/ar-AA18AVwy?li=BBorjTa

Philippine officer guilty of killing teens in second-only drug war murder conviction — BenarNews https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/police-conviction-03142023143418.html

Philippine police officer sentenced for double murder during drug war - La Prensa Latina Media https://www.laprensalatina.com/philippine-police-officer-sentenced-for-double-murder-during-drug-war/

‘2nd drug war conviction highlights broken Philippines justice system’ | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/03/15/2251700/2nd-drug-war-conviction-highlights-broken-philippines-justice-system

Hontiveros on drug war cop's guilty verdict: 'Partial victory, but not the end' | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1742542/hontiveros-on-drug-war-cops-guilty-verdict-a-partial-win-but-not-the-end

Guilty verdict on ex-cop in Carl, Kulot killing proof justice system working —Acosta | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/863878/guilty-verdict-on-ex-cop-in-carl-kulot-killing-proof-justice-system-working-acosta/story/

Barbers: Informants of successful drug busts being paid with drugs | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/863868/barbers-informants-of-successful-drug-busts-being-paid-with-drugs/story/

Julie Lluch’s ‘tattoos’ on sculpture are her protest against the drug war - VERA Files https://verafiles.org/articles/julie-lluchs-tattoos-on-sculpture-are-her-protest-against-the-drug-war

RIGHTS DEFENDERS

Why I’m fighting to pass the Philippine Human Rights Act | The Hill https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/3894652-why-im-fighting-to-pass-the-philippine-human-rights-act/

UN rights chief airs concerns over Philippines | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/09/2250320/un-rights-chief-airs-concerns-over-philippines\

Human rights defenders bill won’t protect terrorists, says solon | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197338

NTF Elcac: Human rights defenders bill could make anti-terror law a ‘toothless paper tiger’ | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1742541/ntf-elcac-human-rights-defenders-bill-could-make-anti-terror-law-a-toothless-paper-tiger

Lagman defends human rights defenders' protection bill, says security sector consulted | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/863784/lagman-defends-human-rights-defenders-protection-bill-says-security-sector-consulted/story/

[OPINION] Human rights defenders are not the enemy https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-human-rights-defenders-not-enemy/

MEDIA / PRESS FREEDOM

Luis Teodoro, Philippine journalism's champion and critic, dies at 81 | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/14/2251625/luis-teodoro-philippine-journalisms-champion-and-critic-dies-81

Writer, advocate Luis Teodoro remembered as 'pillar of Philippine journalism' https://www.rappler.com/nation/luis-teodoro-obituary-remembered-pillar-journalism-philippines/

PH journalism community mourns passing of veteran journalist Luis Teodoro https://philstarlife.com/news-and-views/927980-journalism-community-mourns-up-college-mass-communication-dean-luis-teodoro

Veteran journalist Luis Teodoro writes 30 | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/15/2251719/veteran-journalist-luis-teodoro-writes-30

DOJ to charge Bantag, others over Percy Lapid's death https://www.rappler.com/nation/doj-indicts-gerald-bantag-others-percy-lapid-killing/

Marcos thanks publishers for promoting accurate info, free press | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197402

DISINFORMATION

'New animal of disinformation' may rise in 2025, group warns Comelec | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1742511/brace-for-new-animal-of-disinformation-in-2025-group-warns-comelec

The Philippines’ Historical Revisionism Reflects A Growing Global Erasure of Facts | New University | UC Irvine https://newuniversity.org/2023/03/13/the-philippines-historical-revisionism-reflects-a-growing-global-erasure-of-facts/

MindaNews, PressOne now part of International Fact Checking Network | MindaNews https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/03/mindanews-pressone-now-part-of-international-fact-checking-network/

ENVIRONMENT

DSWD: Over 140K residents in Mimaropa, Western Visayas affected by oil spill | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/863836/dswd-over-140k-residents-in-mimaropa-western-visayas-affected-by-oil-spill/story/

Liquefied natural gas: a dirty, costly detour https://pcij.org/article/9994/liquefied-natural-gas-a-dirty-costly-detour

Sunken tanker in oil spill lacked permits | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/15/2251743/sunken-tanker-oil-spill-lacked-permits

Delikado: the film exposing the criminality lurking behind Palawan in the Philippines | Global Witness https://www.globalwitness.org/en/blog/delikado-film-exposing-criminality-lurking-behind-palawan-philippines/

WOMEN

1.26-M Filipino women, girls induced abortion in 2020 – group - PTV News https://www.ptvnews.ph/1-26-m-filipino-women-girls-induced-abortion-in-2020-group/

Solon seeks more laws on women's rights, gender equality | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/863716/solon-seeks-more-laws-on-women-s-rights-gender-equality/story/

Bill allowing married women to retain maiden names approved on 2nd reading in House | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/863858/bill-allowing-married-women-to-retain-maiden-names-approved-on-2nd-reading-in-house/story/

At Home sa Abroad: The plight of overseas Filipino women https://www.rappler.com/nation/overseas-filipinos/at-home-sa-abroad-episode-plight-overseas-filipino-women/

PH joins 67th session of UN Commission on Status of Women | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197043

COMFORT WOMEN / GENER-BASED VIOLENCE

Philippines failed to redress continuous discrimination and suffering of sexual slavery victims perpetrated by Imperial Japanese Army, UN committee finds | OHCHR https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/03/philippines-failed-redress-continuous-discrimination-and-suffering-sexual

At UN rights body, a ‘landmark victory’ for PH ‘comfort women’ | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1740708/at-un-rights-body-a-landmark-victory-for-ph-comfort-women

Hontiveros resolution urges gov’t to pay ‘comfort women’ reparations | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/863726/hontiveros-resolution-urges-gov-t-to-pay-comfort-women-reparations/story/

PH urged to compensate, apologize to comfort women | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/14/23/ph-urged-to-compensate-apologize-to-comfort-women

CHR, Senate seek reparations from Japan for comfort women | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1742300/chr-senate-seek-reparations-from-japan-for-comfort-women

Palace: Gov’t acted to assist comfort women - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/314312975/palace-govt-acted-to-assist-comfort-women.html

HEALTH

DOH: 86 kids, adolescents tested positive for HIV in January | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/863821/doh-86-kids-adolescents-test-positive-for-hiv-in-january/story/

EDUCATION

Private school learners face learning loss in science, math due to COVID-19 pandemic —study | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/863718/private-school-learners-face-learning-loss-in-science-math-due-to-covid-19-pandemic-study/story/

DISPLACEMENT

Demolition starts for Mindanao Avenue project | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/03/15/2251702/demolition-starts-mindanao-avenue-project

LABOR / EMPLOYMENT

Ople reiterates importance of predeparture orientation for OFWs | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197335

DMW vows to intensify efforts against trafficking of OFWs | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/dispatch/863851/dmw-vows-to-intensify-efforts-against-trafficking-of-ofws/story/

Zubiri files bill increasing private workers’ minimum wage by P150 | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/863852/zubiri-files-bill-increasing-private-workers-minimum-wage-by-p150/story/

POVERTY / CONSUMER RIGHTS

Thousands stage rally against Davao del Norte’s relatively high power rates https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/protest-against-northern-davao-electric-cooperative-power-rates-march-2023/

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

US Ambassador Carlson: EDCA sites to boost local security, economy | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/863749/us-ambassador-carlson-edca-sites-to-boost-local-security-economy/story/

PH-US Balikatan 2023 to be largest yet with 17,600 troops https://www.rappler.com/nation/troops-philippines-united-states-balikatan-2023/

Philippine-US annual ‘Balikatan’ military drills will be biggest ever – official | Arab News https://www.arabnews.com/node/2268266/world