CEBU CITY, Philippines – Human rights has deteriorated in the Visayas, human rights defenders and leaders from the Catholic Church said here on Tuesday, December 10. “It’s deteriorating on all fronts,” Fr. Jose Bagadiong, a Catholic priest of the Society of the Divine Word, told Rappler on the sidelines of Task Force Detainees of the…
A string of criminal charges were filed Monday against a policeman who allegedly killed 23-year-old construction worker Kim Ramos and wounded his friend Lauro Lagarde in Marikina City in October. Lawyer Ansheline Bacudio told reporters that charges of murder, frustrated murder, and planting of evidence were filed before the Marikina City Prosecutors’ Office against Police…
Interfaith organization Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) expressed overwhelming fear over the list of alleged “front organizations of local Communist terrorist groups (CTG)” as presented by the Department of National Defense (DND). The list included the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP). The list was presented on November 5 by Major General Reuben…
Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate said on Thursday evening that combined forces of the police and military have raided the regional offices of Bayan Muna, Gabriela, and the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) in Bacolod, Negros Occidental. According to information from Zarate, elements from the Philippine Army wrongly alleged that 57 persons, including…
Human rights group Karapatan has denounced the alleged “raid” that were conducted in the offices of some groups in Bacolod City on Thursday afternoon. In a statement, Karapatan claimed that authorities had used a search warrant to target the offices of Gabriela, Bayan Muna as well as the National Federation of Sugar Workers in the…
Officials of the new regional autonomous government in Muslim Mindanao are conducting a separate probe into reports that seven youths, including several minors, were massacred by government troops on October 23 amid an outpouring of anger on social media in southern Philippines provinces, towns and villages. Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Spokesperson and…
The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for a new law that penalizes catcalling, wolf-whistling, sexist and homophobic slurs, unwanted sexual advances and other forms of sexual harassment in public spaces, workplaces, schools, and online were signed on Monday. Members of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and the Technical Drafting Committee (TDC) led the signing…
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressed concern over alleged faked consultation and approval from affected indigenous communities to push through the construction of Kaliwa Dam in Quezon CHR spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said the free prior and informed consent (FPIC) is necessary to activities that affect indigenous peoples’ (IPs) ancestral lands, territories and…
The University of the Philippines Visayas’ Student Council and other student organizations over the weekend said they “strongly condemn” the harassment received by UPV organization the Skimmers after their cheer critical of the Duterte administration’s policies went viral. “With the increased instances of red-tagging by this oppressive state whenever the University raises awareness and action…
MANILA, Philippines — A British filmmaker is urging President Rodrigo Duterte and his supporters to watch his documentary on the war on drugs before dismissing it as mere ‘black propaganda’. James Jones said his team did not come to the Philippines with a biased notion of the Duterte administration’s drug war, contrary to recent statements…
The decision to keep secret the venue of the latest advance screening of “On the President’s Orders” says a lot about the atmosphere of fear in the country, a human rights advocate said on Wednesday night. “Haven’t we pondered if our situation today is not normal? The fact that we have to hide, that we…
ON THE PRESIDENT’S ORDERS Drug war killings must be told, says Emmy winner director Jones “On The President’s Orders” could pass as an action film about the murky world of drugs, politics and crime that people looking for thrilling entertainment watch, except that some of its scenes were real-life happenings. A CCTV footage used in…
Youth activist and human rights worker Alexandrea Pacalda denied confessing to be a New People’s Army member and surrendering to the military, refuting an earlier statement made by the Army. “I really did not surrender,” Pacalda said in a short video message sent to Inquirer by her lawyer, Maria Sol Taule. “It’s only the Armed…
As the country is set to commemorate the declaration of martial law tomorrow, the Human Rights Victims Claims Board (HRVCB) has warned that “revisionists” could block the establishment of the planned martial law memorial. HRVCB executive director Carmelo Victor Crisanto said they are aware that some groups are blocking their efforts to memorialize the terrors…
The In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement on Friday characterized the United Nations Human Rights Council’s decision to investigate President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs as a “huge victory” for the families of victims of extrajudicial killings. Interviewed on Balitanghali on Friday, iDEFEND spokesperson Ellecer “Budit” Carlos said his organization, as well as…
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Monday, June 24, expressed concern over the “extraordinarily high number of deaths” in the Philippines in the context of President Rodrigo Duterte’s continuing anti-illegal drugs campaign. “Even the officially confirmed number of 5,425 deaths would be a matter of most serious concern for any country,”…
A network of civil society organizations remains in solidarity with the 22 fishermen from San Jose town in Occidental Mindoro who figured in an incident with a Chinese trawler in Recto Bank at the West Philippine Sea. “The fisherfolk sector provides food in our table, with the farmers, they are the backbone of our society.…
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray has expressed strong support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) community, shrugging off criticism that such stance betrays her Christian faith. Gray posted on Instagram on Saturday a photo promoting “Pride Month”, a month-long celebration dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community. Some Instagram users immediately threw negative comments at…
A member of a left-wing organization of farmers was gunned down outside his house at Barangay Halapitan, San Fernando town in Bukidnon province on Saturday (June 16) in what appeared to be another attack on the Left. Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Philippine Peasant Movement or KMP) said one of its members, Nonoy Palma, was killed…
When a Chinese vessel rammed and sank their ship on June 9 near Recto Bank, the Filipino crew and their captain saw hope from afar. “Meron pong natanaw na ilaw mga limang milya po ang layo (We spotted light 5 miles away),” said Junel Insigne, the captain of Fishing Boat Gem-Ver. He was telling reporters…
