Tag Archives: CNN Philippines

[From the web] EU body flags grave concern over human rights, ‘shrinking’ media freedom in PH -CNN Philippines

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) — The European Commission flagged “grave” concerns over drug war deaths, attacks on human rights defenders, and shrinking media freedom in the Philippines.

The body, which evaluates the grant of duty-free exports for Philippine companies sending their goods to the European Union, pointed out pressing issues in the country.

“The conclusions from the mission showed a mixed picture with continuing violations of civil and political rights and some positive developments in the socio-economic and environmental fields,” the commission said in the report published Monday.

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[In the news] ‘Religion is not an excuse to hate’: Catriona Gray defends support for LGBTQ+ community -CNN Philippines

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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 the beauty queen, who also has been public about her Christian background.

“My belief as a Christian does not limit me from fighting for the rights of others,” Gray argued. “Religion is never an excuse to hate, put down or act indifferent to the suffering of others.”

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[In the news] Lesbian couple viciously beaten in homophobic attack on London bus -CNN Philippines

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Four teenagers have been arrested in connection with a homophobic attack on two women on a London bus that prompted widespread condemnation in the UK.

The attack took place on a night bus on May 30 as the couple, Melania Geymonat and her partner Chris, were traveling home from an evening out together.

Geymonat posted a photograph on Facebook of the aftermath of the attack, showing the pair sitting on the bus, covered in blood.

In the accompanying account of the attack, in English and Spanish, Geymonat said that at least four men began harassing the couple when they saw them kissing. The group made lewd comments, demanded that they kiss and eventually assaulted and robbed them, Geymonat said.

“They started behaving like hooligans, demanding that we kissed so they could enjoy watching, calling us ‘lesbians’ and describing sexual positions,” she wrote.

Geymonat said she started making jokes in an attempt to defuse the situation. But the men “kept on harassing us, throwing us coins and becoming more enthusiastic about it.”

“The next thing I know is that Chris is in the middle of the bus fighting with them,” Geymonat said. “On an impulse, I went over there only to find her face bleeding and three of them beating her up. The next thing I know is I’m being punched.”

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[In the news] Climate change could pose ‘existential threat’ by 2050: report -CNN Philippines

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Twenty days of lethal heat per year. Collapsed eco-systems. And more than one billion people displaced.

Those are all probable scenarios that could devastate societies by 2050 if swift and dramatic action isn’t taken to curb climate change, according to a think tank report backed by a former Australian military chief.

The paper, by the Melbourne-based Breakthrough National Center for Climate Restoration, is not a scientific study, but an attempt to model future scenarios based on existing research.

It paints a bleak future in which more than a billion people are displaced, food production drops off and some of the world’s most populous cities are left partially abandoned.

Its foreword is written by Chris Barrie, a retired admiral and former head of the Australian Defense Force, who said that “after nuclear war, human-induced global warming is the greatest threat to human life on the planet.”

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[In the news] Anti-discrimination bill fails to hurdle Congress -CNN Philippines

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It’s back to square one for the bill prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression — after the Senate failed to tackle the longest-running bill in the period of interpellations in the upper chamber at the end of the 17th Congress session.

After 902 calendar days since Senator Risa Hontiveros sponsored it, and having languished at second reading, the counterpart SOGIE equality bill at the Senate was not approved.

On the last day of Senate sessions, Hontiveros lamented at the pace the Senate attended to the bill.

“It was one of the first bills sponsored in 2016. Should we still debate about something as basic as equality? For three years? Really?” Hontiveros said.

The SOGIE bill, which was first drafted 19 years ago, was passed by the House of Representatives in 2017 with unanimous support from 198 lawmakers without abstentions or dissent. SOGIE refers to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression.

Its Senate version was first filed in August 11, 2016. Hontiveros sponsored the measure in December 14 of the same year.

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[From the web] Before ‘same-sex unions,’ let’s talk about the Anti-Discrimination Bill first -CNN Philippines

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On May 17, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to pass marriage equality into law. A few days later, Congress released an online poll on its website asking citizens whether they are in favor of legalizing “same-sex unions as civil partnerships” in the Philippines. Suddenly, social media was abuzz with varying opinions on the poll.

Conservatives expressed their staunch disapproval, pushing the poll’s results to lean heavily towards “no.” Meanwhile, within the LGBTQ+ community, there was no general consensus on the poll. Some were angered by the phrasing of the options (Why was “personal opinions” an acceptable basis for answering “no”?). Others were wary of the use of “unions” rather than “marriage.” There were also those who, though dismayed by the results but hopeful for change, clamored for more LGBTQ+ members and allies to vote.

But how much do these online polls affect public policy anyway? And how crucial is it for the local LGBTQ+ community to bring it into the spotlight?

According to Jeff Crisostomo, communications officer of outgoing Representative and Governor-Elect Kaka Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands, the online poll has “very little to no” bearing on policy. Gov. Kaka Bag-ao is the principal author of the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB), also known as the SOGIE Equality Bill.

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[In the news] Supreme Court urged to stop, void PH-China irrigation loan deal -CNN Philippines

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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 River Pump Irrigation Project, which has a loan component with a 2 percent interest rate. They said the project, which will begin construction in July, violates the Constitution.

The petitioners, led by Makabayan senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares, said the loan deal has a confidentiality clause “violative of the Constitution that provides for the right to information of the Filipino people on foreign loans contracted by the government.” They said the loan deal was approved after the fact by the Monetary Board, which does not conform to the law that requires prior concurrence.

The group said the loan agreement binds the Philippines to a Chinese arbitration tribunal, which will be officiated by Chinese arbitrators using Chinese laws.

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[In the news] Residents, including tribe, oppose China-funded Kaliwa Dam construction -CNN Philippines

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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 domain because of the dam that is seen as an alternative source of water for Metro Manila.

Octavio Pranada, leader of the tribe, estimates that the project may leave about 11,000 of its members homeless.

Pranada fears that the water from the dam will destroy their farmlands, homes, and places of worship.

With this, he said they will do the best to oppose the project and refuse any offer of relocation.

“Kasi nabubuhay po kami sa bundok talaga, sa sariwang hangin, sa tubig, doon po talaga kami sanay.. pag dadalhin po kami sa Metro Manila, talagang baka doon po kami mamatay lahat,” Pranada said.

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[In the news] NBI agents serve arrest warrant on Maria Ressa at Rappler headquarters -CNNPhilippines

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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 a story published in May 2012, months before the Anti-Cybercrime Law was passed.

The Justice department said that while the original publication of the article is not covered by the law, it cannot say the same of its February 2014 update.

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[In the news] Most Filipino voters want candidates supporting ban on single-use plastics, survey says -CNN Philippines

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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 would likely vote for a candidate who supports a law banning groceries, public markets, fast food chains and other establishments from giving out or using non-biodegradable plastic bags.

The same survey revealed that 82 percent of respondents will vote for candidates who will advocate strict implementation of solid waste management laws.

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[In the news] Congress grants third extension of Mindanao martial law until end of 2019 -CNN Philippines

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Congress grants third extension of Mindanao martial law until end of 2019

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 12) — Martial law will remain in Mindanao for another full year from January 1 to December 31, 2019 after Congress on Wednesday granted President Rodrigo Duterte’s request.

In the final joint session vote, 235 senators and representatives were for it, 28 were against, and 1 abstained.

Senators Tito Sotto, Gringo Honasan, Ping Lacson, Migz Zubiri, Richard Gordon, Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe, Koko Pimentel, JV Ejercito, Sonny Angara, Win Gatchalian, and Manny Pacuqiao voted ‘yes.’ Senators Chiz Escudero, Franklin Drilon, Kiko Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, and Risa Hontiveros voted against, while Senator Ralph Recto was the lone abstention.

In the House of Representatives, 223 voted for the extension and 23 voted ‘no.’

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