Philippines: Human Rights News 04/19/2023

TOP NEWS: Case vs Leila de Lima wraps up; Arrest of "top communist leader" Casilao; NPA kills another "military asset"; police denies #drugwar coverup; #politicalviolence: "reign of terror" in Negros

EXTRAJUDICIAL / SUMMARY / ARBITRARY / QUESTIONABLE KILLINGS / ATTEMPTED KILLINGS

Maguindanao town councilor gunned down | MindaNews https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/04/maguindanao-town-councilor-gunned-down/

\Rebels claim killing of NegOr ‘military asset’ - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/rebels-claim-killing-of-negor-military-asset/

Pampanga legal officer hurt in gun attack | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/04/18/2259729/pampanga-legal-officer-hurt-gun-attack

“DRUG WAR” / POLICE CORRUPTION

PNP chief denies cover-up of P6.7-B shabu mess https://www.rappler.com/nation/pnp-chief-rodolfo-azurin-jr-denies-cover-up-shabu-mess/

Abalos to Azurin: The video in itself is a statement of what transpired | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867244/abalos-to-azurin-the-video-in-itself-is-a-statement-of-what-transpired/story/

Azurin admits PNP's morale plummeted due to drug cover-up allegations | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1757380/azurin-admits-pnps-morale-now-is-low-amid-drug-cover-up-allegations

Result of panel reviewing cops' resignations out soon: Marcos | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/18/23/result-of-panel-reviewing-cops-resignations-out-soon-marcos

49 cops in alleged drug raid cover-up disarmed | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/867342/49-cops-in-alleged-drug-raid-cover-up-disarmed/story/

Abalos: Public deserves truth on PNP drug bust | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/19/2259969/abalos-public-deserves-truth-pnp-drug-bust

LEILA DE LIMA

2nd drug case vs De Lima now up for decision — lawyer | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/17/2259556/2nd-drug-case-vs-de-lima-now-decision-lawyer

Muntinlupa City court wraps up case vs Leila de Lima; decision set on May 12 | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1757463/muntinlupa-city-court-wraps-up-case-vs-de-lima-decision-set-on-may-12

COMMUNIST INSURGENCY

Alleged NPA leader Eric Jun Casilao arrested in Malaysia https://www.rappler.com/nation/alleged-npa-leader-eric-jun-casilao-arrested-malaysia/

AFP: Arrest of Eric Casilao guarantees collapse of insurgency in Davao region | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/18/2259854/afp-arrest-eric-casilao-guarantees-collapse-insurgency-davao-region

Arrested in Malaysia, NPA leader Casilao now detained at CIDG-Davao | MindaNews https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/04/arrested-in-malaysia-npa-leader-casilao-now-detained-at-cidg-davao/

NDFP condemns PNP for calling alleged NPA leader Casilao ‘terrorist’ | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1758169/ndfp-condemns-pnp-for-calling-alleged-npa-leader-casilao-terrorist

2 NPAs killed in Samar clash, AFP seizes high-powered firearms https://www.rappler.com/nation/visayas/afp-npa-clash-samar-april-14-2023/

Rebels claim killing of NegOr ‘military asset’ - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/rebels-claim-killing-of-negor-military-asset/

NPA kangaroo court head killed in gun battle https://visayandailystar.com/npa-kangaroo-court-head-killed-in-gun-battle/

Suspected NPA rebel killed in Moises Padilla clash - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/suspected-npa-rebel-killed-in-moises-padilla-clash/

3 rebels surrender to police in Zambales | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1757505/3-rebels-surrender-to-police-in-zambales

POLITICAL VIOLENCE

Victims detail Negros Oriental 'reign of terror' on 2nd day of Degamo inquiry https://www.rappler.com/nation/senate-probes-reign-terror-negros-oriental/

DOJ urged to form special panel of prosecutors on Negros killings | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867303/doj-urged-to-form-special-panel-of-prosecutors-on-negros-killings/story/

Degamo's widow says Teves ruled Negros Oriental with impunity | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/18/23/degamos-widow-says-teves-ruled-negros-oriental-with-impunity

IN NUMBERS: Attacks on elected officials in Negros Oriental since 2016 | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1757705/in-numbers-gun-attacks-killings-of-elected-govt-officials-in-negros-oriental-since-2016

Remulla digs out anti-terror card in Degamo killings https://www.rappler.com/nation/department-justice-remulla-anti-terrorism-law-degamo-killing-senate-hearing-april-2023/

PRIVACY / MEDIA FREEDOM

Why some groups are challenging mandatory SIM card registration before SC https://www.rappler.com/nation/reasons-why-some-groups-challenge-mandatory-sim-card-registration-before-supreme-court/

Poe says SIM card registration law has enough safeguards amid SC petition | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1757892/poe-says-sim-card-registration-law-has-enough-safeguards-amid-sc-petition

DETENTION

BJMP prepares for ‘summer-related diseases’ in jails | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867289/bjmp-prepares-for-summer-related-diseases-in-jails/story/

Up to 20 Bilibid guards may face raps | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/04/18/2259732/20-bilibid-guards-may-face-raps

CONFLICT / TERRORISM

3 killed in Zamboanga grenade blast | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/04/18/2259728/3-killed-zamboanga-grenade-blast

At least 7 people injured after explosion in bus at Sultan Kudarat terminal https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/explosion-sultan-kudarat-bus-terminal-april-17-2023/

RIGHTS OF OLDER PEOPLE

Tolentino mulls revising penal code on elderly assault | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/18/23/tolentino-mulls-revising-penal-code-on-elderly-assault

LABOR / MIGRATION

Study: Manning Agencies Exploit Seafarers with Illegal Recruiting Fees https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/study-manning-agencies-exploit-seafarers-with-illegal-recruiting-fees

ENVIRONMENT

President orders creation of team to mitigate El Niño impact | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1758246/bongbong-marcos-orders-creation-of-team-to-mitigate-el-nino-impact

CHILDREN

The best child protection laws but little church accountability, 2 https://www.panaynews.net/the-best-child-protection-laws-but-little-church-accountability-2/

Solon asks government do study on students’ mental health | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1758186/solon-asks-government-do-study-on-students-mental-health

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

In Zambales, 18-day fishing ban during Balikatan ‘highly unacceptable’ - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/04/17/in-zambales-18-day-fishing-ban-during-balikatan-highly-unacceptable/

'Democracy champion, patriot': Former PH foreign secretary Albert del Rosario mourned https://www.rappler.com/nation/former-philippine-foreign-secretary-albert-del-rosario-mourned/

China’s foreign minister to visit Philippines this week https://www.rappler.com/nation/china-foreign-minister-qin-gang-visit-philippines-april-2023/

PH gets US trade representative backing for GSP reauthorization | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199674