Philippines: Human Rights News 03/28/2023
TOP NEWS: ICC appeals chamber junks PH bid to suspend investigation; rights abuses continue in PH, groups tell UNHRC; Army claims NPA fronts decimated; cops in kidnapping case used #drugwar as cover
“DRUG WAR”
ICC appeals chamber junks PH bid to suspend drug war probe | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/865213/icc-appeals-chamber-rejects-philippines-to-suspend-probe-on-drug-war-killings/story/
Accepting UN members’ recommendations without rejoining ICC not enough, watchdog says | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/27/2254870/accepting-un-members-recommendations-without-rejoining-icc-not-enough-watchdog-says
Philippines Human Rights Violations Continue Under Marcos Jr.; Hundreds Still Die In 'Tokhang': Watchdog https://www.ibtimes.com/philippines-human-rights-violations-continue-under-marcos-jr-hundreds-still-die-tokhang-3680588
Probe sought into ‘connections’ of cop in P6.7-B shabu bust | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198269
Barbers warns vs. delay in probe of top cop linked to drugs | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/865204/barbers-warns-vs-delay-in-probe-of-top-cop-linked-to-drugs/story/
PDEA-6 declares 19 villages as ‘drug-free’ - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/pdea-6-declares-19-villages-as-drug-free/
EXTRAJUDICIAL / SUMMARY / ARBITRARY KILLING
Illegal drugs seen as motive in two ‘salvage’ cases in Iloilo - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/illegal-drugs-seen-as-motive-in-two-salvage-cases-in-iloilo/
PRO-6, IPPO order probe on ‘summary execution’ cases https://www.panaynews.net/pro-6-ippo-order-probe-on-summary-execution-cases/
Muslim fisherman shot in Zamboanga | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/03/28/news/regions/muslim-fisherman-shot-in-zamboanga/1884581
COMMUNIST INSURGENCY
67 guerrilla fronts dismantled as AFP ramps up drive vs. Reds | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198271
NGO cashier convicted of terrorist financing for NPA | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/28/2254974/ngo-cashier-convicted-terrorist-financing-npa
AFP intensifies visibility amid rebel attacks in Masbate | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/27/23/afp-intensifies-visibility-amid-rebel-attacks-in-masbate
AFP insists it has upper hand in campaign against NPA rebels - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/national/314317781/afp-insists-it-has-upper-hand-in-campaign-against-npa-rebels.html
PNP heightens offensive vs. Reds in Bicol | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198293
VP Sara slams ACT's 'unrealistic' demands amid NPA attacks | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198297
POLITICAL VIOLENCE
Remulla: Major player in Degamo slay also involved in two failed assassinations vs. governor https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/3/27/Roel-Degamo-assassination-attempts.html
NegOr was drenched in blood even before Pamplona massacre - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/negor-was-drenched-in-blood-even-before-pamplona-massacre/
RIGHTS DEFENDERS
Rights violations continuing in PH, groups tell UN | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/27/23/rights-violations-continuing-in-ph-groups-tell-un
Human Rights Council Adopts Universal Periodic Review Outcomes of India, Finland, and the Philippines | OHCHR https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2023/03/human-rights-council-adopts-universal-periodic-review-outcomes-india-finland-and
ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE
Cagayan de Oro cops in kidnapping case used drug war as defense https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/cagayan-de-oro-cops-eking-fernandez-kidnapping-drug-war-defense/
DETENTION
Catapang to reshuffle all prisons, penal farms personnel - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/314317701/catapang-to-reshuffle-all-prisons-penal-farms-personnel.html
CHILDREN
Landmark law for children with disabilities still unimplemented a year since passage | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/27/2254876/landmark-law-children-disabilities-still-unimplemented-year-passage
ENVIRONMENT / CLIMATE
Why green energy can’t gain ground in the Philippines https://pcij.org/article/10019/why-green-energy-cant-gain-ground-in-the-philippines
LABOR / MIGRATION
Ople to brief UN on PH migration governance | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198328
CONFLICT / TERRORISM
Government secures first conviction for terrorism financing | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1748931/government-secures-first-conviction-for-terrorism-financing
7 ‘terrorists’ slain in Army offensives | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/03/28/2254989/7-terrorists-slain-army-offensives
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Biggest Balikatan to highlight 'whole-of-alliance' defense approach — analysts | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/27/2254855/biggest-balikatan-highlight-whole-alliance-defense-approach-analysts