@HRW: Drop cases vs Maria Ressa, Leila de Lima; probe on murder of labor organizer sought; is the Philippines ready for #harmreduction?; #drugwar #policecorruption; Marcos vows #pressfreedom
Philippines: Human Rights News 04/28/2023
HRW PRESS RELEASE
Philippines: Drop Cases Against Critics Before US Visit | Human Rights Watch https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/04/27/philippines-drop-cases-against-critics-us-visit
“President Biden should publicly call on President Marcos to end the abusive prosecutions of Leila de Lima and Maria Ressa,” said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “The White House should only have agreed to a Biden-Marcos meeting on condition that de Lima would first be released from detention.”
EXTRAJUDICIAL, ARBITRARY, SUMMARY KILLINGS / QUESTIONABLE DEATHS
Calls for probe into killing of BPO union organizer mount | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/27/2262062/calls-probe-killing-bpo-union-organizer-mount
Soldier held, then shot dead by alleged NPA rebels in Occidental Mindoro — Army | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1762163/soldier-held-then-shot-dead-by-alleged-npa-rebels-in-occidental-mindoro-army
Ex-drug offender gunned down, one injured - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/ex-drug-offender-gunned-down-one-injured/
NBI to probe murder of BPO labor leader https://visayandailystar.com/nbi-to-probe-murder-of-bpo-labor-leader/
ILLEGAL DRUGS / HARM REDUCTION
Is the Philippines Ready for Harm Reduction? https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkapez/philippines-harm-reduction-drug-policy
Crucial evidence? Solon says Bosita’s admission of PNP ‘quota system’ can be used vs Duterte in ICC | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1762002/solon-says-bositas-quota-system-admission-can-be-used-vs-duterte-in-icc
Drug war widow rejects police probe: My husband’s killer is one of their own https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/rodrigo-duterte-drug-war-widow-rejecting-investigation-killer/
Illegal buy-bust operations 'most likely' happening across PH - solon https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/4/27/illegal-buy-bust-operations-pnp-house-hearing.html
Illegal drugs still rampant – PDEA-6 https://www.panaynews.net/illegal-drugs-still-rampant-pdea-6/
Over 600 kilos of illegal drugs destroyed in Cavite | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/868344/over-600-kilos-of-illegal-drugs-destroyed-in-cavite/story/
Over P4 billion worth of illegal drugs, chemicals destroyed — PDEA | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1761757/over-p4-billion-worth-of-illegal-drugs-chemicals-destroyed
Ex-drug offender gunned down, one injured - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/ex-drug-offender-gunned-down-one-injured/
Cops grilled over drug raid in House hearing | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1761613/congressmen-grill-cops-over-drug-raid
ILLEGAL DRUGS / POLICE CORRUPTION
Probe still ongoing on PNP's 990-kg shabu haul | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/23/probe-still-ongoing-on-pnps-990-kg-shabu-haul
LEILA DE LIMA
Court to reopen De Lima drug case | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/04/28/2262172/court-reopen-de-lima-drug-case
BIDEN-MARCOS MEETING / FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Philippines: Drop Cases Against Critics Before US Visit | Human Rights Watch https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/04/27/philippines-drop-cases-against-critics-us-visit
Amnesty USA and Amnesty Philippines Make Human Rights asks to Biden and Marcos Ahead of White House Visit – Amnesty International USA https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/amnesty-makes-human-rights-asks-ahead-of-white-house-visit-philippines/
Marcos-Biden meeting to bring ‘huge dividends’ for PH – Romualdez | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1200226
PH Army holds air assault drills with US, Aussie troops in Ilocos Norte | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1761775/ph-army-holds-air-assault-drills-with-us-aussie-troops-in-ilocos-norte
[WATCH] Philippine, US troops flex interoperability in final 2023 Balikatan drill https://www.rappler.com/nation/video-philippines-united-states-troops-flex-interoperability-balikatan-drill-april-2023/
MEDIA / PRESS FREEDOM / DISINFORMATION
Marcos Jr. vows to ensure press freedom | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/23/marcos-jr-vows-to-ensure-press-freedom
Marcos: Gov’t to keep upholding press freedom, media rights and safety | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/868325/marcos-gov-t-to-keep-upholding-press-freedom-media-rights-and-safety/story/
Bongbong Marcos to media: Lead Filipinos in identifying fake news, propaganda | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1762117/bongbong-marcos-asks-media-to-lead-filipinos-in-discerning-facts-from-fake-news-propaganda
PERCY LAPID CASE | Muntinlupa court issues hold departure order vs. Bantag, ex-deputy https://news.tv5.com.ph/national/read/percy-lapid-case-muntinlupa-court-issues-hold-departure-order-vs-bantag-ex-deputy
ATTACKS AGAINST ACTIVISTS / REDTAGGING
What is red-tagging and why it is dangerous in the Philippines? · Global Voices https://globalvoices.org/2023/04/27/what-is-red-tagging-and-why-it-is-dangerous-in-the-philippines/
Heroes, martyrs of Southern Tagalog honored by progressives - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/04/27/heroes-martyrs-of-southern-tagalog-honored-by-progressives/
COMMUNIST INSURGENCY
Soldier held, then shot dead by alleged NPA rebels in Occidental Mindoro — Army | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1762163/soldier-held-then-shot-dead-by-alleged-npa-rebels-in-occidental-mindoro-army
Rights groups call for probe on killing of peace consultant - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/04/27/rights-groups-call-for-probe-on-killing-of-peace-consultant/
AFP chief backs amnesty grant to former rebels - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/national/314325672/afp-chief-backs-amnesty-grant-to-former-rebels.html
Army extends sympathy to slain rebel leader’s kin https://visayandailystar.com/army-extends-sympathy-to-slain-rebel-leaders-kin/
3 soldiers hurt after clash with rebels in Northern Samar | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1762065/3-soldiers-hurt-after-clash-with-rebels-in-northern-samar
Ex-Red fighter yields in Tarlac | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1761833/ex-red-fighter-yields-in-tarlac
ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES
16th anniversary of abduction of Jonas Burgos | BusinessMirror https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/04/28/16th-anniversary-of-abduction-of-jonas-burgos/
POLITICAL VIOLENCE
Bato mulls strong law vs. private armies, death penalty for erring security aides after Degamo slay probe | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/868229/bato-mulls-strong-law-vs-private-armies-death-penalty-for-erring-security-aides-after-degamo-slay-probe/story/
NBI seeks to file murder raps vs. Arnie Teves by next week —Remulla | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/868301/nbi-seeks-to-file-murder-raps-vs-arnie-teves-by-next-week-remulla/story/
LGBT
K-12 revisions tackle same-sex unions, gender discrimination | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1761599/k-12-revisions-tackle-same-sex-unions-gender-discrimination
World’s first trans exclusive model agency opens Asia office in Manila - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/lifestyle/314325544/worlds-first-trans-exclusive-model-agency-opens-asia-office-in-manila-2.html
HEALTH / COVID
COVID-19 positivity rate in PH rises to 12.9% | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1761814/covid-19-positivity-rate-in-ph-increases-to-12-9
Iloilo, Bacolod cities reimpose mask mandates as COVID-19 cases rise https://www.rappler.com/nation/visayas/iloilo-bacolod-cities-reimpose-mask-mandates-covid-19-cases-rise-april-2023/
COVID cases in Davao City still going up | MindaNews https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/04/covid-cases-in-davao-city-still-going-up/
CHILDREN
DOH, LGUs urged to work on high number of ‘unprotected’ children | Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1200277
IRR on cyber sexual abuse of minors set for IACAT approval - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/national/314325648/irr-on-cyber-sexual-abuse-of-minors-set-for-iacat-approval.html
Davao del Norte grieves murder of 2 girls | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1761999/davao-del-norte-grieves-murder-of-2-girls
EDUCATION
‘A grave attack on academic freedom,’ PUP decries termination of Prudente-Ramos accord - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/04/27/a-grave-attack-on-academic-freedom-pup-decries-termination-of-prudente-ramos-accord/
EDUCATION REFORM | Arroyo proposes ‘K + 10 + 12’ to replace K-12 education program https://news.tv5.com.ph/national/read/education-reform-arroyo-proposes-k-10-12-to-replace-k-12-education-program
Arroyo bill: 4 years of high school, 2 more years to get into college | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/27/2262011/arroyo-bill-4-years-high-school-2-more-years-get-college
Government mulls revamp of K-12 program | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/28/2262289/government-mulls-revamp-k-12-program
ENVIRONMENT
In Ilocos Sur where illegal sand mining ran unabated, fisherfolk pay the price https://pcij.org/article/10069/in-ilocos-sur-where-illegal-sand-mining-ran-unabated-fisherfolk-pay-the-price-2
Environmental damage from oil spill may reach P7 billion – DENR chief https://www.rappler.com/nation/denr-yulo-loyzaga-response-estimate-damage-oriental-mindoro-oil-spill/
Increase in social dev't fund of mining firms sought | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/23/increase-in-social-devt-fund-of-mining-firms-sought
LABOR / MIGRATION
Over 400 Filipinos evacuated from Sudan https://www.rappler.com/nation/overseas-filipinos/filipinos-evacuated-sudan-april-27-2023/
Calls for probe into killing of BPO union organizer mount | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/27/2262062/calls-probe-killing-bpo-union-organizer-mount
Cebu labor groups petition for temporary P100 wage hike https://www.rappler.com/nation/visayas/cebu-labor-groups-petition-temporary-wage-hike/
FFW calls for end to discrimination vs. workers, civil servants | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/868347/ffw-calls-for-end-to-discrimination-vs-workers-civil-servants/story/
4 Filipino workers killed in Taiwan factory fire: MECO | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/23/4-filipino-workers-killed-in-taiwan-factory-fire-meco
CONFLICT / DISPLACEMENT
Fighting between MILF groups displaces 17,000 | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/04/28/news/regions/fighting-between-milf-groups-displaces-17000/1888981