Philippines: Human Rights News 04/17/2023

TOP NEWS: More #PHkillings; CHR revisits #drugwar effects on kids; 49 cops implicated in drug war scam; detention congestion down; 10K unpaid workers in Saudi; PH's first blind bar passer; K-12 review

SUMMARY / EXTRAJUDICIAL / ARBITRARY / QUESTIONABLE KILLINGS

3 dead, 2 wounded in Calbayog City gun attack | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1756807/3-dead-2-wounded-in-calbayog-city-gun-attack

Couple shot dead at home  - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/couple-shot-dead-at-home/

Quezon town engineer wounded in shooting incident | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1756791/quezon-town-engineer-wounded-in-shooting-incident

DRUG WAR / POLICE CORRUPTION

CHR revisits child’s death in drug war, notes PNP snub | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1756673/chr-revisits-childs-death-in-drug-war-notes-pnp-snub

Gov't will pursue drug war appeal with ICC, SolGen Guevarra says | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867006/guevarra-says-govt-will-pursue-drugs-war-appeal-with-icc/story/

49 PNP officials, personnel seen to have criminal, admin liability due to 990-kg shabu bust | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867020/47-pnp-officials-personnel-seen-to-have-criminal-admin-liability-due-to-990-kg-shabu-bust/story/

P6.7 billion shabu mess: Probers find lapses by 49 cops | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/16/2259168/p67-billion-shabu-mess-probers-find-lapses-49-cops

Romualdez: Probe on PNP execs' involvement in drug coverup must be swift, thorough | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1757134/romualdez-probe-on-pnp-execs-involvement-in-drug-coverup-must-be-swift-thorough

PNP: Ex-PDEG chief to face stiffer charges over alleged cover-up in P6.7 billion shabu bust | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867095/pnp-ex-pdeg-chief-to-face-stiffer-charges-over-alleged-cover-up-in-p6-7-billion-shabu-bust/story/

Police working on fresh leads amid probe on drug pilferage | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/16/23/police-working-on-fresh-leads-amid-probe-on-drug-pilferage

Sacked PNP anti-drug chief may face heavier raps in shabu cover-up case | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1757128/sacked-pnp-anti-drug-chief-may-face-heavier-raps-in-shabu-cover-up-case

Will Leila de Lima be released before June 12? | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/04/15/opinion/columns/will-leila-de-lima-be-released-before-june-12/1887188

COMMUNIST INSURGENCY

2 suspected NPA rebels killed in Samar clash | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1756805/2-suspected-npa-rebels-killed-in-samar-clash

40 former rebels threatened by comrades https://visayandailystar.com/40-former-rebels-threatened-by-comrades/

‘Most wanted‘ rebel falls in Negros Oriental - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/most-wanted-rebel-falls-in-negros-oriental/

POLITICAL VIOLENCE

Politics, power and private armed groups in the Philippines | East Asia Forum https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/04/14/politics-power-and-private-armed-groups-in-the-philippines/

‘Senate probe on Degamo murder may solve other slays’ | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/17/2259385/senate-probe-degamo-murder-may-solve-other-slays

DETENTION

BJMP facilities congestion rate down to 367% from 600% –spox | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867078/bjmp-facilities-congestion-rate-down-to-367-from-600-spox/story/

Former BuCor Chief Bantag, Deputy Zulueta now considered fugitives | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867099/former-bucor-chief-bantag-deputy-zulueta-now-considered-fugitives/story/

Closing down Bilibid a prison reform 'game changer' | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/04/17/opinion/editorial/closing-down-bilibid-a-prison-reform-game-changer/1887434

ACCESS TO JUSTICE

IBP to launch free legal aid portal | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/04/17/2259420/ibp-launch-free-legal-aid-portal

LABOR / MIGRATION

DMW expects to fully resolve issue of unpaid OFWs in Saudi Arabia this year https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/4/14/dmw-expects-unpaid-ofws-saudi-resolved-this-year.html

WOMEN

Temporary shelter for victims of violence against women, children pushed - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1958652/bacolod/local-news/temporary-shelter-for-victims-of-violence-against-women-children-pushed

LGBTQ

Bahaghari warns of harmful implication of LGBTQ+ in LTO priority lane | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/16/2259327/bahaghari-warns-harmful-implication-lgbtq-lto-priority-lane

CHILDREN

CHR to probe rape-slay of children | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/04/16/2259183/chr-probe-rape-slay-children

CHR condemns series of sexual abuse, violence against children in April 2023 | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/15/2259111/chr-condemns-series-sexual-abuse-violence-against-children-april-2023

EDUCATION

K to 12 curriculum should undergo review following CHR report — Binay | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867049/k-to-12-curriculum-should-undergo-review-following-report-binay/story/

Davao City Council approves anti-bullying ordinance https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/davao-city-council-approves-anti-bullying-ordinance/

DISABILITY RIGHTS

University of Baguio law graduate is Philippines' first blind Bar passer https://www.rappler.com/nation/luzon/university-baguio-graduate-anthony-mark-emocling-first-blind-bar-passer-philippines/

ENVIRONMENT

Anti-mining protesters in Brooke’s Point allegedly arrested by police | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1756893/anti-mining-protesters-in-brookes-point-allegedly-arrested-by-police

Brace for El Niño, DA, SRA urged | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/04/17/2259429/brace-el-nio-da-sra-urged

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

US Embassy: Edca is key component of alliance with PH, not about any other third country | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1756823/us-embassy-insists-that-edca-is-not-about-any-country-just-for-joint-exercises

Philippines won't use EDCA to meddle in China-Taiwan tension – DND https://www.rappler.com/nation/philippines-not-meddling-china-affairs-taiwan/

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala arrives in the Philippines https://www.rappler.com/nation/czech-republic-prime-minister-petr-fiala-arrives-philippines-april-16-2023/