Philippines: Human Rights News 03/24/2023

TOP NEWS: PH govt "losing" ICC case; US: impunity still a problem; Marcos names new rights commissioner; fighting disrupts classes; banks profit from fossil fuel; 9 of 10 Filipinos feel climate impact

“DRUG WAR” / ICC

Police, military 'impunity' still 'significant problem' in PH –US report | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/864793/police-military-impunity-still-significant-problem-in-ph-us-report/story/

Only 3 prosecutions, convictions for drug-related EJK since 2016 https://www.panaynews.net/only-3-prosecutions-convictions-for-drug-related-ejk-since-2016/

Church worker reports to UN: 223 drug-related killings under Marcos Jr. | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/23/2253898/church-worker-reports-un-223-drug-related-killings-under-marcos-jr

ICC ruling lets victims, families recount realities of drug war - BusinessWorld Online https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2023/03/23/512555/icc-ruling-lets-victims-families-recount-realities-of-drug-war/

ICC lets victims participate in appeal proceedings of drug probe, denies PH access to their identities - VERA Files https://verafiles.org/articles/icc-lets-victims-participate-in-appeal-proceedings-of-drug-probe-denies-ph-access-to-their-identities

OSG: Let PH respond to alleged victims’ complaints before ICC | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198049

SOMEONE ELSE’S WINDOWS: Justice Secretary Remulla misled the public on ICC’s mandate | MindaNews https://www.mindanews.com/mindaviews/2023/03/someone-elses-windows-justice-secretary-remulla-misled-the-public-on-iccs-mandate/

[OPINION] Do we need the ICC? Philippine justice system in numbers (the hard evidence) https://www.rappler.com/nation/opinion-do-we-need-icc-philippine-justice-system-numbers-evidence/

Bayan Muna claims Marcos and Duterte admins 'losing' ICC case  | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1747339/bayan-muna-claims-marcos-and-duterte-admins-losing-icc-case

LEILA DE LIMA

Hopes are high for De Lima’s release soon - VERA Files https://verafiles.org/articles/hopes-are-high-for-de-limas-release-soon

RIGHTS DEFENDERS

Ex-CA justice named CHR commissioner | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/24/2254052/ex-ca-justice-named-chr-commissioner

Churches in the Philippines call for protection of human rights and its defenders | World Council of Churches https://www.oikoumene.org/news/churches-in-the-philippines-call-for-protection-of-human-rights-and-its-defenders

EXTRAJUDICIAL / SUMMARY / ARBITRARY KILLING

8 cops face raps over Sultan Kudarat ‘shootout’ | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/03/24/2253919/8-cops-face-raps-over-sultan-kudarat-shootout

CONFLICT / INSURGENCY

Civilians flee fighting in Maguindanao, Cotabato as Ramadan starts | MindaNews https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/03/civilians-flee-fighting-in-maguindanao-cotabato-as-ramadan-starts/

Marcos Jr. calls for vigilance after Masbate violent incidents | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/24/23/marcos-jr-calls-for-vigilance-after-masbate-violent-incidents

Soldier shot dead at Army checkpoint | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/03/24/news/regions/soldier-shot-dead-at-army-checkpoint/1884066

Army tightens watch on infra sites | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/03/24/news/regions/army-tightens-watch-on-infra-sites/1884065

Military launches ‘focused’ offensive vs terror group on eve of Ramadan https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/military-launches-focused-offensive-terror-group-eve-ramadan-march-2023/

POLITICAL VIOLENCE

26 OFFICIALS ‘UNDER THREAT’: PRO-6 finishes risk evaluation of 37,832 elected officials - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/26-officials-under-threat-pro-6-finishes-risk-evaluation-of-37832-elected-officials/

TORTURE

47-year-old applicant dies after initiations of socio-civic club | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/864877/47-year-old-applicant-dies-after-initiations-of-socio-civic-club/story/

MEDIA / PRESS FREEDOM

NTC wants judge handling website blocking case to inhibit - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/03/23/ntc-wants-judge-handling-website-blocking-case-to-inhibit/

LGBT / SOGIE

Sluggish pace of Sogie bill in Senate dismays Rep. Roman | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1747337/sluggish-pace-of-sogie-bill-in-senate-dismays-rep-roman

EDUCATION / ATTACKS ON EDUCATION

Masbate AFP-NPA clashes disrupt classes | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/03/24/2253923/masbate-afp-npa-clashes-disrupt-classes

NPA activities in Masbate rising to 'alarming rate' —DepEd | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/864795/npa-activities-in-masbate-rising-to-alarming-rate-deped/story/

No blanket class suspension amid clashes in Masbate, DepEd orders https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/3/23/no-blanket-class-suspension-amid-Masbate-clash.html

DepEd shifts Masbate to blended learning amid terrorist attacks | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198079

DepEd plans to hire 9,650 new teachers in 2023 | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/864824/deped-plans-to-hire-9-650-new-teachers-in-2023/story/

CHILDREN

3 minors rescued from bars in Angeles | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/03/24/news/regions/3-minors-rescued-from-bars-in-angeles/1884063

WOMEN

Remembering Jabidah Massacre and the Bangsamoro women’s role in the struggle for liberation - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/03/23/remembering-jabidah-massacre-and-the-bangsamoro-womens-role-in-the-struggle-for-liberation/

ENVIRONMENT / CLIMATE

Banks keep funding and profiting from fossil fuel https://pcij.org/article/10038/banks-keep-funding-and-profiting-from-fossil-fuel

93% of Pinoys experienced impact of climate change – SWS | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/24/2254057/93-pinoys-experienced-impact-climate-change-sws

Philippines facing water crisis – Marcos | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/24/2254060/philippines-facing-water-crisis-marcos

DETENTION

Tulfo files bill seeking security monitoring inside prison cells | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198034

HEALTH

Expert: Treat HIV like a communicable disease | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198092

DISPLACEMENT

Marawi board hopes to start compensating 17,800 families by May | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/864847/marawi-board-hopes-to-start-compensating-17-800-families-by-may/story/

LABOR

Workers press for double minimum wage | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1746870/workers-press-for-double-minimum-wage

Berlin exhibit trains spotlight on Filipino women migrants in Germany https://www.rappler.com/nation/berlin-exhibit-trains-spotlight-filipino-women-migrants-germany/

2 Filipinos hurt in Qatar building collapse https://www.rappler.com/nation/overseas-filipinos/qatar-building-collapse-updates-march-22-2023/

POLITICS

Kin of Imelda douse rumors of her death - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/314316595/kin-of-imelda-douse-rumors-of-her-death.html

Imelda Marcos ‘still strong and kicking,' says kin amid death rumors | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1747332/update-1-strong-and-kicking-imelda-kin-dispels-ex-first-lady-death

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

War games raise curtain on EDCA enforcement | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/03/24/news/regions/war-games-raise-curtain-on-edca-enforcement/1884068