An organization of human rights lawyers on Monday sought the Supreme Court’s protection from alleged continuing harassment and “red tagging” of their members by the military and the police. In a 23-page petition, the officers and members of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) sought the Supreme Court’s help by filing a petition for…
In a unity declaration protest held on Saturday, April 13, in Bacolod City, youth leaders urged the public to be on the lookout for national and local candidates’ environmental platforms. They stressed that the youth must choose candidates who are for the protection of the environment – by opposing the use of coal energy and…
Thousands of human rights victims during the martial law period are set to receive $1,500 each starting next month after a federal judge in New York affirmed the settlement agreement that will divide some $20 million worth of the Marcoses’ ill-gotten assets that were recovered in the United States. American human rights lawyer Robert Swift,…
A starving child crawling to an empty pot in the middle of a temporary shelter while its mother looks on helplessly is a scene that Muy (not his real name) constantly encounters in his work. Scenes like this prompted the young nurse from the northern part of the country to work as a lay missionary…
The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) said on Thursday, April 4, that initial drug war documents showed a lack of effort to investigate the killings committed under the mantle of Oplan Tokhang. “Investigation leaves much to be desired. While all cases indicate that investigations are ongoing, it appears that not much effort has been placed…
Cynthia Avelino will bury her father Ismael and uncle Edgardo Avelino on Monday morning at the Canlaon City Cemetery in Negros Oriental. Ismael, 53, will be entombed on top of the tomb of their mother, Criscenciana, while Edgardo will be buried on top of the tomb of their brother-in-law, Joel Gallenero. The city government gave…
Five United States senators introduced a bipartisan resolution highlighting human rights concerns in the Philippines and urging the Duterte administration to respect freedom of expression. US Sens. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) this week filed the six-page resolution, which specifically raised the cases of…
Another group of former political prisoners during the martial law regime of President Ferdinand Marcos has questioned the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for blocking what should have been the third payout of reparation claims granted human rights victims by a Hawaii District Court. In a statement, Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at…
Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David was temporarily banned from Facebook on Thursday after his criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte went viral. A report by CBCP News said the prelate lost access to his Facebook account for about 2 hours after the social media giant accused him of “phishing” or fraudulently attempting to acquire sensitive information.…
A petition was filed before the Supreme Court on Thursday to temporarily stop the implementation and eventually void the allegedly onerous irrigation project loan deal between the Philippines and China. Members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives asked the high court to issue a temporary restraining order to halt the ₱3.69-billion Chico…
Makabayan Chairman Neri Colmenares and several progressive groups asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to block a $62-million loan from China to fund the construction of the Chico River Dam. The petitioners argued the deal was unconstitutional because it contained a confidentiality clause that violates the Filipino public’s right to information on foreign loans. The…
Free Legal Assistance Group lawyers on Thursday said the small fraction of police reports on the war on drugs they have reviewed bore a “strikingly” similar and almost “cut-and-paste” style of accounts of the killings. Incomplete records, lapses in police procedure, and unidentified assailants also marked FLAG’s findings from reports on 29 cases related to…
CHR identifies ‘common patterns’ in police ops that killed 14 in Negros The Commision on Human Rights-Central Visayas has identified common patterns in the deaths of 14 individuals during police operations in Negros Oriental. Based on their initial probe, CHR-Region 7 Investigation Chief Leo Villarino said that most of the slain individuals were moved out…
Top cop sacked over farmers’ killing also tagged in 2013 ‘hitman’ slay A police chief who was recently removed from his post over the killing of 14 farmers in Negros Oriental was also involved in a controversial arrest effort that killed an alleged hitman 6 years ago, a congressman said Wednesday. Erstwhile Negros Oriental police…
Supreme Court orders release of all ‘Tokhang’ police reports The Supreme Court has ordered the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to release all ‘Oplan Tokhang’ police reports to human rights groups and victims that questioned the legality of the government’s war on drugs. “The Court just ordered the Solicitor General to submit the police…
Wife relates killing of husband, brother in PNP, Army ops Ismael Avelino was sleeping at home with his wife Leonora and two young children in Barangay Panubigan in Canlaon City in Negros Oriental on Saturday. At around 2:30 a.m., they were roused from sleep when at least six heavily armed men wearing masks barged into…
Cartoonists showcase work on human rights More than a hundred cartoonists from around the world have gathered in the central Philippine city of Cebu this week to showcase their work. This year’s exhibition focused on the issue of human rights and how they are being abused or respected in different parts of the world. Bern…
‘Kaliwa Dam project will destroy us, our homes’ —Dumagat tribe Indigenous People’s (IP) group in Infanta, Quezon province and in Tanay, Rizal traveled to the city to air their grievances against the construction of the controversial Kaliwa Dam project. The Kaliwa Dam project is being eyed as a solution to the recurring problems in water…
Residents, including tribe, oppose China-funded Kaliwa Dam construction Residents including an indigenous group living near the site of China-funded Kaliwa Dam in Infanta, Quezon said Thursday they are strongly opposing the project. Members of the Dumagat tribe residing at the foot of Sierra Madre mountains in Tanay, Rizal fear that they may lose their ancestral…
Green Scorecard to keep tabs on environment policies A coalition of environmental groups launched Tuesday its “Green Scorecard” for the 2019 elections, aimed at raising awareness of the voting public on the proposed environmental policies of senatorial candidates. “Green Thumb Coalition’s Green Scorecard aims to bring forth environmental issues at the center stage of electoral…
