Philippines: Human Rights News 03/17/2023

Top News: #drugwar: surge in killings, PH probe "cherry-picked," CHR supports investigation ; #politicalviolence; civic space constricted in PH; govt shuts down 4 radio stations; ban #childmarriage

EXTRAJUDICIAL / SUMMARY / ARBITRARY KILLING

PNP: 2 barangay captains killed in separate gun attacks in Cebu, Maguindanao | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/864105/pnp-2-barangay-captains-killed-in-separate-gun-attacks-in-cebu-maguindanao/story/

Maguindanao barangay chair killed in shooting | MindaNews https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/03/maguindanao-barangay-chair-killed-in-shooting/

POLITICAL VIOLENCE

300 soldiers sent to Negros Oriental  - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/300-soldiers-sent-to-negros-oriental/

Negros Oriental residents call for justice as they pay last respects to Degamo https://www.rappler.com/nation/visayas/negros-oriental-residents-call-justice-pay-last-respects-degamo/

Gunmen using ambulance attack vendor in Marawi | MindaNews https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/03/gunmen-using-ambulance-attack-vendor-in-marawi/

Maguindanao councilor arrested For violating Anti-Terror Law | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/03/16/2252105/maguindanao-councilor-arrested-violating-anti-terror-law

“DRUG WAR”

Surge in executions of drug offenders in 2022, more on death row | Death Penalty News | Al Jazeera https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/16/surge-in-executions-of-drug-offenders-in-2022-more-on-death-row

Justice for the dead in Duterte drug war hangs as gov’t seeks to shut ICC down | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1743986/justice-for-the-dead-in-duterte-drug-war-hangs-as-govt-seeks-to-shut-icc-down?utm=inqfocus

CHR presses probe into human rights violations during drug war | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1743242/chr-repeats-call-to-probe-human-rights-violations-during-drug-war

NUPL: PH probe on Duterte's drug war 'cherry-picked' | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/16/23/nupl-ph-probe-on-dutertes-drug-war-cherry-picked

PH notes errors in ICC ruling on drug probe, presses for reversal - VERA Files https://verafiles.org/articles/ph-notes-errors-in-icc-ruling-on-drug-probe-presses-for-reversal

Conviction of Arnaiz, Kulot killers only 2nd win, shows need for ICC probe -- Bayan Muna | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1743369/conviction-of-arnaiz-kulot-killers-only-2nd-win-shows-need-for-icc-probe-bayan-muna

Child rights advocates hail guilty verdict on cop involved in Carl-Kulot slay case https://mindanaogoldstardaily.com/archives/136682

PDEA destroys almost P20-B worth of dangerous drugs | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1743852/fwd-pdea-destroys-almost-p20-b-worth-of-dangerous-drugs

Media presence in drug ops, deterrent to evidence-planting https://mindanaogoldstardaily.com/archives/136609

‘Ninja cops, informants declaring only 30% of drug hauls’ | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/16/2252017/ninja-cops-informants-declaring-only-30-drug-hauls

Tulfo proposes limited tour of duty for PDEA, PNP agents | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1743107/fwd-tulfo-proposes-limited-tour-of-duty-for-pdea-pnp-agents

PDEA chief asked: Why didn’t you question tipsters claiming drugs were offered as reward? | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1743075/pdea-chief-asked-why-didnt-you-question-tipsters-claiming-drugs-were-offered-as-reward

ATTACKS AGAINS ACTIVISTS / REDTAGGING

Civic space in Philippines 'repressed', global civil society study says | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/16/2252125/civic-space-philippines-repressed-global-civil-society-study-says

Education International statement on human rights violations and anti-union attacks in the education sector in the Philippines https://www.ei-ie.org/en/item/27401:education-international-statement-on-human-rights-violations-and-anti-union-attacks-in-the-education-sector-in-the-philippines

RIGHTS DEFENDERS

CHR reiterates support for human rights defenders bill | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197583

CHR: Increasing threats against rights defenders justifies bill to protect them | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/16/2252151/chr-increasing-threats-against-rights-defenders-justifies-bill-protect-them

COMMUNIST INSURGENCY

Youth activist in Quezon found guilty of illegal possessio of firearm, explosive | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1743704/youth-activist-in-quezon-found-guilty-of-illegal-possessio-of-firearm-explosive

Appeal for release of women political prisoners | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/multimedia/photo/03/16/23/appeal-for-release-of-women-political-prisoners

Rebels condemn Degamo slay but… - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/rebels-condemn-degamo-slay-but/

MEDIA

Mati City orders 4 radio stations closed down for operating without permits https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/mati-city-davao-oriental-orders-radio-stations-closed-down-operating-without-permits/

WATCH: Former students, colleagues pay tribute to veteran journalist Luis Teodoro https://www.rappler.com/nation/video-former-students-colleagues-tribute-veteran-journalist-luis-teodoro/

CHILDREN

PH's first Muslim human rights commissioner asks countries to ban child marriage | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/03/16/news/phs-first-muslim-human-rights-commissioner-asks-countries-to-ban-child-marriage/1883056

Social media blamed for youth’s risky sexual behavior | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/16/2251981/social-media-blamed-youths-risky-sexual-behavior

DSWD-10 pilot tests program for Bukidnon teen moms https://mindanaogoldstardaily.com/archives/136496

\DICT calls for inclusive, safer digital spaces for Filipino youth and women | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1743335/dict-calls-for-inclusive-safer-digital-spaces-for-filipino-youth-and-women

HEALTH

Bakit mataas ang bilang ng mga kabataang may HIV, ayon sa DOH | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/03/16/23/bakit-mataas-ang-bilang-ng-mga-kabataang-may-hiv-ayon-sa-doh

HIV cases in Iloilo continue to increase - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/hiv-cases-in-iloilo-continue-to-increase/

DOH: Measles, rubella cases rise by 541% https://www.panaynews.net/doh-measles-rubella-cases-rise-by-541/

Chronic kidney disease on the rise, health experts warn | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/864020/onic-kidney-disease-on-the-rise-health-experts-warn/story/

RIGHTS OF OLDER PEOPLE

SC: Interment services covered by senior citizens' funeral, burial discount https://www.rappler.com/nation/supreme-court-decision-interment-services-covered-senior-citizens-funeral-burial-discount/

ENVIRONMENT

Makabayan wants probe on effects of Oriental Mindoro oil spill to environment | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1743856/makabayan-wants-probe-on-effects-of-mt-princess-empress-oil-spill-in-mindoro

Activists hit order to halt P400M tax collection from South Cotabato mining firm https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/activists-hit-court-tax-appeals-order-halt-tax-collection-mining-company-south-cotabato/

It's time to boost women's mining participation - DENR chief | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1743397/meaningful-and-substantive-womens-representation-in-mining-industry-urged

LABOR

Sans protective gears, carpenter dies after falling from 2-storey building in Zamboanga | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1744110/sans-protective-gears-carpenter-dies-after-falling-from-2-storey-building-in-zamboanga