Philippines: Human Rights News 03/27/2023

TOP NEWS: Govt says guerrilla fronts down to 5; City "adopts" Duterte for #drugwar; UN expert: Pass rights defenders bill; US law tying aid to rights reforms reintroduced; #redtagging; menstrual leave

EXTRAJUDICIAL / SUMMARY / ARBITRARY KILLING

2 BIFF members suspected of spying for authorities shot dead by companions | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/03/25/2254430/2-biff-members-suspected-spying-authorities-shot-dead-companions

Kidnapping victim found dead in Tanza, Cavite | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/865100/kidnapping-victim-found-dead-in-tanza-cavite/story/

“DRUG WAR”

Religious group: Drug-related killings continue under Marcos govt. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/videos/2023/3/24/Religious-group--Drug-related-killings-continue-under-Marcos-govt.-.html

Philippine human rights advocates ask int’l community to help stop killings | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/864976/philippine-human-rights-advocates-ask-int-l-community-to-help-stop-killings/story/

Drug war critics boo city hall for making Duterte Cagayan de Oro’s ‘adopted son’ https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/drug-war-critics-boo-city-hall-making-rodrigo-duterte-adopted-son-cagayan-de-oro/

Cagayan de Oro declares Duterte, Go as ‘adopted sons’ | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1748118/cagayan-de-oro-declares-duterte-go-as-adopted-sons

TORTURE

Raps filed vs. 7 suspects in alleged hazing death of Cebu student | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/865047/raps-filed-vs-7-suspects-in-alleged-hazing-death-of-cebu-student/story/

ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE

Cebu abduction survivor to UNHRC: ‘Help us seek justice’ https://www.rappler.com/nation/visayas/cebu-abduction-survivor-dyan-gumanao-message-united-nations-human-rights-council/

Missing sabungeros case: DOJ probes ‘visits’ to victims’ kin | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/03/26/2254571/missing-sabungeros-case-doj-probes-visits-victims-kin

RIGHTS DEFENDERS

UN expert urges law protecting human rights advocates | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/25/23/un-expert-urges-law-protecting-human-rights-advocates

US lawmaker reintroduces bill seeking to tie US gov't aid to PH human rights reforms - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/03/24/us-lawmaker-reintroduces-bill-seeking-to-tie-us-govt-aid-to-ph-human-rights-reforms/

UN expert presses PH gov't to protect rights defenders, probe missing community organizer | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1748077/un-expert-presses-ph-govt-to-protect-rights-defenders-probe-missing-community-organizer

REDTAGGING / ATTACKS AGAINST ACTIVISTS

Philippines: Activists abducted, harassed and arrested on fabricated charges while climate of impunity persists - Civicus Monitor https://monitor.civicus.org/explore/philippines-activists-abducted-harassed-and-arrested-on-fabricated-charges-while-climate-of-impunity-persists/

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Pamphlet in NICA orientation bears wrong definition of red-tagging - VERA Files https://verafiles.org/articles/vera-files-fact-check-pamphlet-in-nica-orientation-bears-wrong-definition-of-red-tagging

COMMUNIST INSURGENCY

No sign of peace talks: Military campaign to finish off NPA continues https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/military-campaign-finish-off-new-peoples-army-continues-2023/

DND: Only 5 active NPA guerilla fronts nationwide | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/25/23/dnd-only-5-active-npa-guerilla-fronts-nationwide

More rebels surrender, PNP claims - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/more-rebels-surrender-pnp-claims/

Former Pasaka leader surrenders - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1957055/davao/local-news/former-pasaka-leader-surrenders

CONFLICT / TERRORISM

Army uses truck-mounted howitzers vs IS terrorists in Maguindanao | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1748160/army-uses-truck-mounted-howitzers-vs-is-terrorists-in-maguindanao

POLITICAL VIOLENCE

Killing a king: Degamo slay stirs Negros Oriental movement to end impunity https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/killing-king-degamo-slay-stirs-negros-oriental-movement-end-impunity/

Degamo case could revive probe of past Negros Or. slays https://www.panaynews.net/degamo-case-could-revive-probe-of-past-negros-or-slays/

More arms, explosives dug up in Teves sugar mill | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/27/2254746/more-arms-explosives-dug-teves-sugar-mill

ENVIRONMENT / CLIMATE

34,553 families affected by Oriental Mindoro oil spill, says NDRRMC | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1748443/34553-families-affected-by-oriental-mindoro-oil-spill-says-ndrrmc

Debate heats up over South Cotabato's open-pit mining ban after CA ruling https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/debate-open-pit-mining-south-cotabato-after-court-ruling/

SouthCot gov vows to appeal CA ruling allowing open-pit mining in Tampakan | MindaNews https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/03/southcot-gov-vows-to-appeal-ca-ruling-allowing-open-pit-mining-in-tampakan/

Environment scientist: Oriental Mindoro oil spill effects may last years | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/865046/environment-scientist-oriental-mindoro-oil-spill-effects-may-last-years/story/

LAND RIGHTS

Jimmy Tadeo, peasant leader and 1987 Constitution framer, dies https://www.rappler.com/nation/jaime-tadeo-death-obituary/

WOMEN

Proposed menstrual leave in PH draws mixed reactions online https://www.rappler.com/nation/filipinos-online-reactions-proposed-menstrual-leave-gabriela-party-list-philippines/

Gabriela urges Lacson to empathize, refrain from insensitive remarks on menstrual leave | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/865023/gabriela-urges-lacson-to-empathize-refrain-from-insensitive-remarks-on-menstrual-leave/story/

Ping: Paid menstrual leave may do more harm - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/national/314317380/ping-paid-menstrual-leave-may-do-more-harm.html

POVERTY

Fisherfolk, farmers, rural communities poorest in 2021 — PSA | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1748408/fisherfolk-farmers-rural-communities-poorest-in-2021-psa-data

HEALTH

HIV patients urged to get treatments - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/national/314317396/hiv-patients-urged-to-get-treatments.html

LABOR

Marcos appoints new PEZA director | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/26/2254537/marcos-appoints-new-peza-director

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Ambassador Beaufils: UK to act as observers in Balikatan exercise | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/865048/ambassador-beaufils-uk-to-have-observers-in-balikatan-exercise/story/