The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism has responded to what it called President Rodrigo Duterte’s “broadsides” aimed at PCIJ’s recent reports on the Duterte family’s wealth, saying there was no reason for the President to “lose his cool”. “The PCIJ report was built on the Dutertes’ own declarations in their SALNs (Statements of Assets, Liabilities,…
Negros Oriental residents terrified in wake of killing of 14 Residents terrified by the killing of 14 persons in coordinated police and military operations in Negros Oriental on Saturday have been sleeping in the middle of sugarcane fields, plantations, and in other people’s houses. Citing a report from a priest in the community, San Carlos…
Foster the empowerment of women and children There is a rising tide of “people power” in the world today, and it is female power. Women are standing up and speaking out as never before and more people are sitting up and listening to what they have to say. Their message is basic, straightforward and its…
Press Freedom Part 1 | Threats In this short video, journalists Ezra Acayan, Ed Lingao, JC Gotinga, Pia Ranada, Jason Gutierrez and Inday Espina-Varona speak of the attack against the free press, and what will stop them from reporting. #DefendPressFreedom Submit your contribution online through HRonlinePH@gmail.com Include your full name, e-mail address and contact…
PMPI Statement on the ICC complaint against President Xi Jinping The Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) lauds the move of Filipino fisherfolk and former top government officials for filing a complaint against Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Chinese officials for crimes against humanity. On March 15, Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea together…
Justice for Jerwin Roj Royupa! Migrante Australia, a national alliance of organisations advocating for Filipino migrants mourns the death of Jerwin Roj Royupa, a 21-year old newly arrived Filipino migrant worker. Jerwin came to Australia just 5 weeks ago on a traineeship visa. He died on 15th of March 2019 after allegedly jumping from a…
ICC exit removes protection for Filipinos-iDEFEND The Philippines’ withdrawal from its membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC) means that an important legal mechanism enforcing some of the most advanced international cooperation for justice will be out of reach for Filipinos, especially those working in dangerous and conflict-ridden countries. Although withdrawing from the ICC will…
Labor Rights Group Calls for the Immediate Release of Union Leader Eugene Garcia The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) denounces the illegal arrest and calls for the immediate release of Eugene Garcia, Union President of Pioneer Float Glass Manufacturing Inc. (formerly Asahi Flat Glass Corporation). On March 19, Garcia who just came…
Nestlé and Unilever identified as top plastic polluters in Philippines waste audits. Here’s what that looks like The sun sets behind the mountains of Dumaguete City, Philippines. The landscape here is beautiful, but it has become a dumping ground for the world’s plastic pollution. It’s one thing to talk about the plastics pollution crisis, but…
Honesty in gov’t still a crucial poll issue — bishop While inflation, jobs and economy are major concerns, there’s one issue that a Catholic bishop still think is more important today: honesty in government. Speaking at the National Migrants’ Sunday celebration, Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga reminded the public that honesty and integrity are the…
Civil society coalition slams anti-poor Manila Bay reclamation project Manila Bay Para sa Tao slams anti-poor reclamation project A group composed of fisherfolk, non-government, women, urban poor, student organizations, and other civil society groups marched to the Department of Agriculture (DA) office today to campaign against the over 24,000-hectare reclamation of Manila Bay that is…
Outspoken Senator Arbitrarily Detained Two Years Drop Politically Motivated Charges against Leila de Lima The Philippine government should drop the politically-motivated charges against Senator Leila de Lima, a prominent critic of President Rodrigo Duterte’s abusive “war on drugs,” Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and FORUM-ASIA said today. De Lima has been arbitrarily detained inside the…
Politically Motivated Arrest of Philippine Journalist Criminal Libel Case is Latest Attack on Maria Ressa, Rappler On Wednesday, Philippine National Bureau of Investigation agents arrested Maria Ressa, the founding editor of news website Rappler, in the latest assault on media freedom by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. The arrest follows a libel case filed…
Workers, Labor Rights Advocates Look Back at 2018, Slam Duterte Admin for Rampant Labor Rights Violations On January 31, 2019, more than 200 workers, Church people and students gathered at the Iglesia Filipina Independiente National Cathedral to tackle the situation of workers’ and human rights in the country. The activity is hosted and organized by…
ES Transport workers score strike victory Nearly hundred ES Transport workers now back at work only two days after they went on strike. The strike which only started on January 31, 2019 has reached a successful resolution after the management agrees to reinstate the suspended workers and return the bus trips to its original schedule…
Jail 9-year-olds? Psychologist details why it’s ‘morally, neurologically’ wrong A psychologist on Wednesday offered several points against holding children aged 9 and above criminally liable, a proposal that is moving forward at the lower chamber of Congress. The House justice committee on Wednesday approved a bill seeking to lower the age of criminal responsibility to…
4Ps and Human Rights Series Part 2: 4Ps’ Impact on Children’s Rights and Women’s Rights by Isaac Linco ABOUT THIS SERIES: It has been over 11 years since the inception of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). This three-part series examines the ways it has or has not addressed the progressive realization of human rights…
The Bloody Mendiola Massacre Took Place 32 Years Ago Today Black Thursday happened 32 years ago. Until now, farmers have yet to receive the fairness that they’ve been asking for. The media used to dub it “Black Thursday.” Now, it’s referred to as the “Mendiola Massacre,” a diplomatic protest that turned into a bloody mess…
Child rights group to Congress on age of criminal liability: Why the turnaround? Back in 2006, Congress passed what would become Republic Act No. 934 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (JJWA) that set the minimum age of criminal liability at 15 years old. It was signed into law by former president and now…
Green advocates call for “clean, green” elections Candidates urged to veer away from waste, violence and embrace green platform Civil society organizations gathered to call for a ‘clean and green’ election season, urging candidates to minimize waste, refrain from ‘dirty’ tactics such as political violence, as well as pledge to support genuinely positive reforms on…
