Motorcycle groups score as poll bets back covenant Several candidates signed a covenant on Sunday dubbed the “Rider’s Agenda” that included, among other demands, a vow to legalize motorcycle taxis — a thorny issue with a slim chance of being resolved by the current Congress despite widespread public support. A set of reforms meant to…
Families of desaparecidos slam PH plan to delist cases from U.N. Families of victims “strongly object” to the move of the Philippine government to have official records of enforced disappearances deleted from the United Nations (UN). In a statement, the Free Jonas Burgos Movement called the plan “insulting” to many families who are striving to…
Tuburan hospital under fire: Suspect left to die? CEBU, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Central Visayas and Cebu Provincial Health Office (PHO) are investigating a viral video showing a blood-soaked man being allegedly abandoned by the staff of Tuburan District Hospital late Friday night last week. The patient, a drug suspect…
NUJP slams arrest of Rappler’s Ressa The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) decried the arrest of Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa over a cyber libel case, calling it a “shameless act of persecution by a bully government.” The group questioned the charge against Ressa, which it said, was not yet in…
Bato’s ‘lips to lips’ remark ‘normalizes’ sexual harassment, Chel Diokno says Opposition candidate Chel Diokno rebuked fellow candidate and former Philippine National Police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who commented that the fastest way to learn Kapampangan was to kiss a Pampanga local “lips to lips.” “Sabi nila, ang pinakamabilis daw na paraan para matuto…
NBI agents serve arrest warrant on Maria Ressa at Rappler headquarters National Bureau of Investigation agents served an arrest warrant on Rappler chief executive officer and executive editor Maria Ressa at the online news site’s office in Pasig City on Wednesday, according to Rappler. The arrest warrant is in connection with a cyberlibel case over…
LOOK: Child rights groups stage protest at Senate to oppose lowering MACR Different child rights groups have staged a protest outside the Senate complex on Monday to oppose the proposed law that would lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) for minors. Groups such as the Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns, Philippine Alliance of…
Karen Gallman: 12 ‘still too young’ as minimum age of criminal liability Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman started her media blitz this week after winning the country’s first ever title in the pageant. The questions weren’t easy – she was asked her view on a number of hot issues in the Philippines. In an interview…
Doctors unite to oppose bill lowering age of criminal liability The country’s leading alliances of pediatricians, child psychologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, and medical specialists have united to express their strong opposition to the bill seeking to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility. Before the press on Thursday, the following medical organizations declared they are backing…
Anne Curtis saddened by proposal to lower age of criminal liability Actress Anne Curtis has expressed her stand on lowering the age of criminal liability from 15 to nine years old. “Nakakalungkot isipan na ibaba nila ang criminal responsibility to the age of 9. At that age, they are still very much children,” Curtis wrote…
Mga child advocate, NGO sa CDO, tutol sa pagpapababa ng edad ng pananagutan CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Sabay-sabay na nagsindi ng kandila at nanumpa ang mga child advocate at non-government organization sa Kiosko Kagawasan, Cagayan De Oro City Martes ng gabi. Simbolo ito ng kanilang pagtutol sa inaprubahang panukalang batas sa House Committee on…
UN’s Callamard slams lowering age of criminal liability; Palace reacts United Nations Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard took to Twitter to criticize the bill in the House of Representatives seeking to lower the age of criminal responsibility to nine years old. Callamard on Monday called the proposal “shameful” and “potentially deadly” after the House justice committee…
CHR to gov’t: Address conditions pushing children to commit crimes The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) urged the government to address the problems that push children to commit crimes, instead of “confining” kids as young as 9 and holding them liable. “We urge the government to address conditions that push children to such circumstances, rather…
Lower age of criminal liability dead in the Senate —Bam Aquino The measure seeking to lower the age of criminal liability to nine years old will not pass the Senate, Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV declared on Monday. Aquino made the bold remark after the House Committee on Justice on Monday approved the substitute bill…
Senators disagree on lowering age of criminal liability Senators are divided on the move to lower the age of criminal liability, even as Senate President Tito Sotto maintained that majority of the upper chamber’s members are in favor of the move. Sotto said senators would only have to discuss the minimum age it would be…
Children in conflict with the law are victims too — rights groups MANILA, Philippines — A children’s rights group on Friday again voiced opposition to proposals lowering the age of criminal liability as a House panel is set to finalize proposed legislation which to hold minors accountable for breaking the law. In a statement, Salinlahi…
UNICEF: Lowering age of criminal liability ‘act of violence against children’ The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) opposed Friday fresh calls to lower the age of criminal liability, saying it is an act of violence against children. “Children in conflict with the law are already victims of circumstance, mostly because of poverty and exploitation by…
Most Filipino voters want candidates supporting ban on single-use plastics, survey says A new Social Weather Stations poll commissioned by environmental group Greenpeace found that most Filipino voters will opt for 2019 election candidates who will ban single-use plastics. In the survey conducted in the third quarter of 2018, 73 percent of respondents said they…
Drug users in Philippine parish get new lease of life Jonathan Padrones has been hooked on illegal narcotics for years but is trying to “redeem” himself with the help of his parish church, he says. Padrones, 44, said he first tried hydrochloride, a methamphetamine commonly known by its street name “shabu” in the Philippines, out…
Opposition solon scores SEC’s profiling, witch-hunt of foundations, NGOs An opposition lawmaker scored Tuesday the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for profiling and witch hunting foundations and non-government organizations. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the supposed “criminal profiling” of SEC is “prone to abuses” and violates the basic human rights and fundamental freedoms. “This is…
