#HumanRights #ScrapTerrorLaw Diokno: Even social media posts could be considered terrorism under anti-terror law Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that even Filipinos who exercise their basic rights on social media may be considered as committing terrorism crimes under the assailed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. Diokno, one of a handful…
#HumanRights #Violence Loose firearms: Linchpin for gun-related violence THEN the loud pop-pop-pop of a gun is heard, some people in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Barrm) dive for their mobile phones. Soft tick-tick-ticks form on a glowing screen. And when the typist hits send, the words reach the Critical Events Monitoring System, or…
#HumanRights #Freedoms Duterte gov’t ends 1989 deal barring troops from UP The Duterte administration through the Department of National Defense (DND) ended the government’s decades-long accord with the University of the Philippines (UP) that prevented state forces from entering its campuses. In a letter dated January 15, DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the accord was…
#HumanRights #NoToRedTagging Angel Locsin: ‘Kung magkaiba tayo ng paniniwala, hindi ibig sabihin pwede mo na ako i-red tag’ “Kung mag kaiba tayo [ng paniniwala], hindi ibig sabihin pwede mo na ako i-red tag. Hindi tayo magkakalaban dito.” (If we have different views, that doesn’t mean you can red tag me. We are not enemies here.)…
#HumanRights #PoliticalPrisoners Groups slam ‘overkill’ police presence at baby River’s burial Various groups called for justice for baby River Nasino on Friday, October 16, the day her mother, jailed activist Reina Mae, bid her goodbye for the last time. Baby River’s burial was scheduled for 1 pm Friday at the Manila North Cemetery. Although the…
Alarm over Duterte’s new anti-terrorism bill for Philippines Proposed law includes provisions allowing for people to be held for longer without charge. The Philippine Congress moved closer on Monday towards enacting a new anti-terrorism law that would allow longer detentions without charge, and give the executive branch more power against dissent, raising alarm among rights…
QC cop who killed ex-soldier ‘followed instruction’ — PNP chief The chief of the national police defended Thursday the actions of a Quezon City cop involved in the killing of a former soldier on Tuesday afternoon, saying he was simply complying with instructions. Despite the Quezon City Police Department (QCPD) saying that the officer in…
Cebu film writer arrested over Facebook post about coronavirus in Sitio Zapatera A Cebu film writer and owner of a local bar was arrested early morning on Sunday, April 19 over a sarcastic Facebook post she made in relation to the coronavirus “contamination” of Sitio Zapatera in Cebu City. Maria Victoria Beltran’s lawyer, Vincent Isles,…
The Quezon City Health Department has started an investigation into the death of a male inmate at the Quezon City Jail, who may have been infected with the virus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to Saleema Refran’s 24 Oras report on Friday. The death certificate of the inmate states that the immediate cause of…
Residents of Sitio San Roque in Quezon City finally received on Thursday the long-awaited food packs from local authorities. Officials of Barangay Bagong Pag-asa and some City Hall staff led the distribution of aid to residents, according to a 24 Oras report by Ian Cruz. “Ngayon lang po, kung hindi kami nag-rally kahapon sa labas,…
The labor group gathers reports of unjust employer practices from 318 employees in 160 companies during the coronavirus crisis ALBAY, Philippines – A labor group released a report on unjust employer practices during the Luzon-wide lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Labor federation Solidarity of Unions in the Philippines for Empowerment and Reforms (SUPER) said…
Rappler speaks with 6 residents from different poor communities. They tell the same story: President Rodrigo Duterte promised them food. But they have received too little to nothing at all. If not by coronavirus, they believe death will come from hunger. Two weeks have passed since President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Luzon on lockdown…
Human rights group says President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement may lead to more abuses as Luzon remains in lockdown in the face of the novel coronavirus outbreak Human rights groups on Thursday, April 2, condemned President Rodrigo Duterte’s “dangerous” shoot-to-kill order against quarantine violators amid the novel coronavirus outbreak in the Philippines. Human Rights Watch (HRW)…
While the government tries to contain the COVID-19 pandemic with a Luzon-wide quarantine, a group has volunteered to help provide free fast food meals to the most affected communities. The people behind the Facebok page “Pakainin ang Buong Barangay” has partnered with Jollibee Corporation and Jollibee Foundation in a project seeking to feed residents of…
BACOLOD CITY — San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza has asked the release of political prisoners to decongest the jails in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alminaza pointed out in a statement released on Saturday, March 28, the looming possibility that coronavirus would hit the highly congested jail facilities in the country. “We must muster…
The St. Louis Hospital utility worker was passing by the public market when he was attacked by 5 individuals St. Louis Hospital in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat condemned the harassment experienced by one of its utility workers on Friday, March 27. (Editor’s note: We previously identified the hospital personnel as a nurse. We apologize for…
Umabot sa 800 face masks ang nagawa ng grupong Tabak Sangre para sa mga health workers ng lungsod. Ayon sa presidente ng Tabak Sangre na si Phem Baliwag, ito ang kanilang paraan para makapag-ambag sa pagpuksa sa pagkalat ng COVID-19. Noong Miyerkoles ng gabi, nagtungo ang grupo sa ilang ospital sa lungsod para personal na…
‘Humihingi rin po kami ng tawad kung ang impresyon na naibigay ng P500 daily allowance ay ganito lamang ang halaga na ibinigay natin sa ating health care workers. Hindi po ito mas lalayo pa sa katotohanan,’ says DOH After backlash on their offer to pay P500 a day to volunteer health care workers, the Department…
Violations made during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon “should not be automatically meted with arrest,” the Commission on Human Rights said Friday. CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia in a statement disclosed that they have received complaints of taxi drivers, a homeless senior citizen, and a number of minors being arrested for violating the curfew…
MANILA, Philippines – Manila Police arrested Monday night, March 16, a 69-year-old homeless woman after she supposedly shouted expletives at barangay officials who were roving in the area to disseminate information about the looming curfew in Manila. Dorothy Espejo, jobless and who lives on the streets in Leveriza, Malate, faces 3 charges including violation of…
