Philippines: Human Rights News 03/20/2023

Top News: More killings; #political violence: Marcos orders dismantling of private armies; #drugwar #impunity: EU GSP+, Marcos in crossroads; #cyberlibel: "basher" convicted; #HIV infection rise

EXTRAJUDICIAL / SUMMARY / ARBITRARY KILLING

Worker killed in Zamboanga del Sur attack | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/03/20/2252908/worker-killed-zamboanga-del-sur-attack

South Cotabato town mayor’s aide shot | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1744622/south-cotabato-town-mayors-aide-shot

Manager ng banana plantation, natagpuang patay | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/18/23/manager-ng-banana-plantation-natagpuang-patay

“DRUG WAR” / DEATH PENALTY / IMPUNITY

EU, Marcos face own crossroads in trade perks renewal as PH impunity persists https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/european-union-marcos-jr-administration-crossroads-trade-perks-renewal-impunity-philippines/

Families urge Philippines to work with ICC on ‘drug war’ probe | ICC News | Al Jazeera https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/17/philippines-urgedtocooperate-withicc-drugwar-investigation

Putin arrest order a shadow of things to come for Duterte, analysts say - BusinessWorld Online https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2023/03/19/511467/putin-arrest-order-a-shadow-of-things-to-come-for-duterte-analysts-say/

Hindi nanlaban: QC court acquits drug war survivor of direct assault https://www.rappler.com/nation/quezon-city-court-acquits-drug-war-survivor-direct-assault/

Drug suspect slain in Antipolo City | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1744417/drug-suspect-slain-in-antipolo-city-2

Barbers to renew call to reinstate death penalty for drug offenders | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/864396/barbers-to-renew-call-to-reinstate-death-penalty-for-drug-offenders/story/

DILG humingi ng tulong sa mga barangay para sa laban kontra droga | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/18/23/dilg-humingi-ng-tulong-sa-mga-barangay-para-sa-laban-kontra-droga

POLITICAL VIOLENCE

Peace and order council to tackle  local chief execs’ security concerns - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/peace-and-order-council-to-tackle-local-chief-execs-security-concerns/

Marcos orders DND: Dismantle private armies | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1744356/marcos-tells-dnd-dismantle-private-armies

Rappler Talk: Negros Oriental priest on human rights after Degamo slay https://www.rappler.com/nation/interview-negros-oriental-priest-julius-perpetuo-heruela-human-rights-degamo-killing/

ATTACKS AGAINST ACTIVISTS

Female community organizer reports threats by alleged OPAPP members | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/17/2252417/female-community-organizer-reports-threats-alleged-opapp-members

Gabriela outraged by alleged intimidation by self-proclaimed OPAPRU men | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1744499/fwd-gabriela-raises-alarm-over-alleged-intimidation-of-its-member

‘Release women political prisoners’ – groups - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/03/17/release-women-political-prisoners-groups/

CHR calls for dialogue on HR defenders bill | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/03/17/2252270/chr-calls-dialogue-hr-defenders-bill

DETENTION

BJMP jail congestion rate now at 370% | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/864209/bjmp-jail-congestion-rate-now-at-370/story/

LIBEL / DEFAMATION

‘Basher’ OFW convicted of cyber libel | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/19/2252680/basher-ofw-convicted-cyber-libel

ENVIRONMENT / IP

Oil spill impact on livelihood, prices worsens - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/314315400/oil-spill-impact-on-livelihood-prices-worsens.html

Kalinga IP groups ask NCIP to act on petition vs hydro-power project https://www.rappler.com/nation/luzon/kalinga-indigenous-peoples-groups-ask-ncip-act-petition-hydroelectric-power-project/

WOMEN / GENDER EQUALITY

Women fight in tandem with LGBT community for their rights: advocate | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/03/19/23/women-fight-in-tandem-with-lgbt-community-for-their-rights-advocate

CHR alarmed over recent spate of violence vs. women and children | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/864197/alarmed-over-recent-spate-of-violence-vs-women-and-children/story/

LIST: A look at Filipino women leaders who rose to the challenge of fighting for migrant rights - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/03/17/list-a-look-at-filipino-women-leaders-who-rose-to-the-challenge-of-fighting-for-migrant-rights/

House spearheads one-day seminar on gender orientation, equality - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/national/314315368/house-spearheads-one-day-seminar-on-gender-orientation-equality.html

Don't typecast women cops, Hontiveros tells NCRPO | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1745069/hontiveros-tells-cops-not-to-typecast-amid-ncrpo-move-to-exclusively-assign-women-as-customer-relations-officers

Professor Diane Desierto serves as co-counsel in landmark UN ruling for Filipina ‘comfort women’ | News | The Law School | University of Notre Dame https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/2023-diane-desierto-united-nations-philippines-comfort-women/

LABOR

Duty Free retrenchment to displace over 700 workers | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/03/20/2252918/duty-free-retrenchment-displace-over-700-workers

TUCP welcomes Senate bill increasing minimum wage by P150 | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/864200/tucp-welcomes-senate-bill-increasing-minimum-wage-by-p150/story/

HEALTH

POPCOM-6 links rise in HIV cases to lack of information - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/popcom-6-links-rise-in-hiv-cases-to-lack-of-information/

Group asks gov’t to implement comprehensive sex education | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1744491/group-wary-of-adolescents-contracting-hiv-asks-govt-to-implement-comprehensive-sex-ed

CHILDREN

Woman gets 2 life terms for child sex trafficking | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/20/2252953/woman-gets-2-life-terms-child-sex-trafficking

Pinoy kids eating more sugary, salty, fatty food | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/20/2252962/pinoy-kids-eating-more-sugary-salty-fatty-food

Filipino sex trafficker who livestreamed minors’ abuse sentenced to life in prison https://www.rappler.com/nation/filipino-sex-trafficker-livestream-minor-abuse-sentenced-life-in-prison/

EDUCATION

Teachers’ group to gov’t: Build more classrooms, address nationwide shortage | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1744813/teachers-group-to-govt-refocus-ph-infrastructure-program-to-classroom-building

Lawmaker wants student loan payments suspended during calamities, emergencies | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1744665/lawmaker-wants-student-loan-payments-suspended-during-calamities-emergencies

ACT to admin: Prioritize education over Cha-cha, globe-trotting, NTF-Elcac  | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1744419/act-to-admin-prioritize-education-over-cha-cha-foreign-trips-ntf-elcac

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

US advance party to Balikatan war games arrive in PH today - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/314315361/us-advance-party-to-balikatan-war-games-arrive-in-ph-today.html

PH-US Balikatan will intensify abuses, corruption, fisherfolk displacement – Groups - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/03/17/ph-us-balikatan-will-intensify-abuses-corruption-fisherfolk-displacement-groups/