Philippines: Human Rights News 04/20/2023
TOP NEWS: #MorePHKillings; New case vs de Lima?; #politicalviolence: task force formed, military entry eyed; fewer #terrorism attacks in PH; #ricecrisis: Marcos eyes imports; PH as springboard for US?
EXTRAJUDICIAL / SUMMARY / ARBITRARY / QUESTIONABLE KILLINGS
Maguindanao electric co-op exec slain in gun attack | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1758621/maguindanao-electric-co-op-exec-slain-in-gun-attack
Riding-in-tandem gunmen strike in Toledo City, kill tricycle driver - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1958906/cebu/local-news/riding-in-tandem-gunmen-strike-in-toledo-city-kill-tricycle-driver
Rebels tagged to deaths of two more ‘military assets’ - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/rebels-tagged-to-deaths-of-two-more-military-assets/
2 men killed in Cavite shooting | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/04/20/news/regions/2-men-killed-in-cavite-shooting/1887859
Admin charges filed vs army official, 6 others involved in killing of Plaza - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1958989/davao/local-news/admin-charges-filed-vs-army-official-6-others-involved-in-killing-of-plaza
ICC
DFA refuses to send invitations to ICC execs to attend Senate inquiry, citing Marcos | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867472/dfa-refuses-to-send-invitations-to-icc-execs-to-attend-senate-inquiry-citing-marcos/story/
DFA no longer a go-between for Senate and ICC | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1758577/fwd-dfa-no-longer-the-middleman-of-senate-icc-talks
“DRUG WAR” / POLICE CORRUPTION
Bato disappointed over cops' alleged involvement in Degamo case | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/20/23/bato-disappointed-over-cops-alleged-involvement-in-degamo-case
LEIL DE LIMA
De Lima bucks DOJ move to present new witness | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/04/20/2260170/de-lima-bucks-doj-move-present-new-witness
De Lima camp opposes prosecution's move to reopen case as judgment nears https://www.rappler.com/nation/de-lima-camp-opposes-prosecution-move-reopen-case-judgment-nears/
POLITICAL VIOLENCE / NEGROS ORIENTAL
POLITICAL VIOLENCE | Marcos orders security agencies to address rising political violence https://news.tv5.com.ph/politics/read/political-violence-marcos-orders-security-agencies-to-address-rising-political-violence
DOJ: 20 cases filed over Negros killings | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867444/doj-found-probable-cause-to-file-20-cases-over-negros-killings/story/
Remulla orders creation of special task force to handle 23 political killings in Negros Oriental | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867440/remulla-orders-creation-of-special-task-force-to-handle-23-political-killings-in-negros-oriental/story/
Senators cite 2 cops in contempt during hearing on Negros Oriental political killings https://www.rappler.com/nation/senators-cite-cops-contempt-hearing-negros-oriental-political-killings/
Military control, postpone polls? Senators suggest Negros Oriental measures | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/20/23/military-control-postpone-polls-senators-suggest-negros-oriental-measures
AFP sees no need to place Negros Oriental under military control for now amid political killings https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/4/19/AFP-military-Negros-Oriental-political-killings-.html
Politician tagged in vice mayor ambush | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/04/20/news/regions/politician-tagged-in-vice-mayor-ambush/1887863
CHR condemns killings of village officials in Maguindanao | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/04/19/news/regions/chr-condemns-killings-of-village-officials-in-maguindanao/1887672
COMMUNIST INSURGENCY
Multiple raps to be filed against CPP-NPA leader - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1958879/davao/local-news/multiple-raps-to-be-filed-against-cpp-npa-leader
Gov't vows to beat 2 remaining rebel fronts in Eastern Visayas https://www.rappler.com/nation/visayas/philippine-army-vows-beat-remaining-rebel-fronts-eastern-visayas/
Rebels tagged to deaths of two more ‘military assets’ - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/rebels-tagged-to-deaths-of-two-more-military-assets/
Suspected NPA rebel killed in Moises Padilla clash - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/suspected-npa-rebel-killed-in-moises-padilla-clash/
ATTACKS AGAINST ACTIVISTS
Party-list slams abrogation of PUP-DND accord banning military inside campus | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1758496/party-list-slams-abrogation-of-pup-dnd-accord-that-bars-military-inside-campus
CONFLICT / TERRORISM
Terror in PH: Fewer deaths, softer impact seen | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1758435/terror-in-ph-fewer-deaths-softer-impact-seen?utm=inqfocus
2 militiamen killed in gun attack - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1958923/zamboanga/local-news/2-militiamen-killed-in-gun-attack
Dawlah Islamiyah behind Sultan Kudarat bus blast - military probers https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/military-investigation-group-behind-bus-blast-isulan-sultan-kudarat/
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
CA junks suit questioning appointment of local IP representative | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199720
EDUCATION
TF Davao seeks to implement culture of security in schools - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1958990/davao/local-news/tf-davao-seeks-to-implement-culture-of-security-in-schools
WOMEN
Breaking the silence: How advocacy groups are helping abused women fight back https://www.rappler.com/nation/ways-advocacy-groups-helping-abused-women-fight-back/
HEALTH
New health facility | City gov’t to open clinic for kids - Mindanao Times https://mindanaotimes.com.ph/2023/04/17/new-health-facility-city-govt-to-open-clinic-for-kids/
Marcos calls for more healthcare public-private tie-ups | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199709
Even teenage girls can have breast cancer – experts | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/20/2260245/even-teenage-girls-can-have-breast-cancer-experts
ENVIRONMENT
Bishops ask Marcos to stop Palawan mining | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/04/20/news/regions/bishops-ask-marcos-to-stop-palawan-mining/1887862
Despite pledges, PH banks continue to finance fossil fuel industry – report https://www.rappler.com/business/banks-philippines-continue-finance-fossil-fuel-industry-wfc-eff-report-2023/
FOOD
Self-sufficiency entails repeal of rice liberalization law - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/04/19/self-sufficiency-entails-repeal-of-rice-liberalization-law/
Marcos: PH may import rice to boost calamity stocks - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/314323204/marcos-ph-may-import-rice-to-boost-calamity-stocks.html
Marcos rules out rice crisis; gov't open to importation | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/19/23/marcos-rules-out-rice-crisis-govt-open-to-importation
SC orders stop to commercial release of genetically modified rice, eggplant products https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/4/19/stop-commercial-release-rice-eggplant.html
Sugar production seen falling due to El Niño | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/20/2260293/sugar-production-seen-falling-due-el-nio
DETENTION
Cebu City Jail worries over water supply - SUNSTAR https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1958958/cebu/local-news/cebu-city-jail-worries-over-water-supply
POVERTY / HOUSING
Construction of 1.2M housing units now underway - PBBM | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199756
LABOR / MIGRATION / TRAFFICKING
Labor party-list pushes wage recovery increase of P150 in workers' daily pay | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/19/2260117/labor-party-list-pushes-wage-recovery-increase-p150-workers-daily-pay
SWS: 7% of Filipino households have OFW | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867496/sws-7-of-filipino-households-have-ofw/story/
Hontiveros: Hundreds of foreigners duped into working in Manila 'scam hubs' | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/19/2260091/hontiveros-hundreds-foreigners-duped-working-manila-scam-hubs
Foreigners trafficked into crypto scam ops in Parañaque condo – Hontiveros https://www.rappler.com/nation/foreign-workers-trafficked-crypto-scam-operations-paranaque-condo-hontiveros/
Marcos Jr.: Many countries asking for PH health workers | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/19/23/marcos-jr-many-countries-asking-for-ph-health-workers
[ANALYSIS] Number of jobless Pinoy seafarers to rise over faulty labor dispute process https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/analysis-number-jobless-pinoy-seafarers-rise-faulty-labor-dispute-process/
Czechia eyes to 'expand migration for work' for Filipinos | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/17/23/czechia-eyes-to-expand-migration-for-work-for-filipinos
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Is the Philippines a Springboard for U.S. Provocations of China? - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/04/19/is-the-philippines-a-springboard-for-u-s-provocations-of-china/
EDCA sites to be used for OFW evacuation – officials | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/20/2260276/edca-sites-be-used-ofw-evacuation-officials
6 EDCA projects with US to be completed in 2023 —Manalo | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867399/6-edca-projects-with-us-to-be-completed-in-2023-manalo/story/
DFA: Australian trade minister to visit PH; boost economic ties | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199748
Chinese envoy mum when asked to clarify EDCA, OFW remarks | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/19/23/chinese-envoy-mum-when-asked-to-clarify-edca-ofw-remarks
'Better to prepare': Batanes starts planning Taiwan contingency https://www.rappler.com/nation/luzon/batanes-plans-taiwan-contingency-edca-balikatan/
Northern Luzon 'not vulnerable': Senators question choice of new EDCA sites https://www.rappler.com/nation/senators-question-new-edca-sites/
Marcos: Chinese envoy’s Taiwan statement just 'lost in translation' https://www.rappler.com/nation/marcos-chinese-ambassador-taiwan-statement-lost-in-translation/