Today's News 28 April 2021
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Urgent Appeal - the Observatory
URGENT APPEAL - THE OBSERVATORY PHL 005 / 0820 / OBS 095 Killing The Philippines August 18, 2020 The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and FIDH, requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in The Philippines. Brief description of the situation: The Observatory has been informed by Karapatan - the Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights - about the killing of Ms. Zara Alvarez, Karapatan Paralegal in Negros Occidental Province and Research and Advocacy Officer of the Negros Island Health Integrated Program (NIHIP). According to the information received, on August 17, 2020, at around 8pm, Ms. Zara Alvarez was fatally shot by unknown individuals along Santa Maria Street in Eroreco in Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City. Ms. Zara Alvarez was a well-known human rights defender who received repeated threats and was subjected to harassment as a result of her human rights work. She was detained from October 30, 2012, to July 22, 2014, on trumped-up murder charges, which were dismissed for lack of evidence, on March 4, 2020. She was also among the frequently red- tagged activists in Negros Island, and in 2018 she was tagged as “terrorist” along with more than 600 individuals in a case filed by the Department of Justice1. Her name and that of many others were subsequently removed from the list, but the threats against her continued. The Observatory condemns in the strongest terms the killing of Ms. Zara Alvarez and urges the authorities of the Philippines to carry out an immediate, thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into her murder, to identify all those responsible, bring them before an independent tribunal, and sanction them as provided by the law. -
News Monitoring
DATE o1-0l-2M irffp , .• DAY Wed nesday MELTIF-7, INTEWS Strategic Comaiimicatioll and Initiative Sex-vice ^ !‘: I COMMUNICATION rik“i „71 INITIATIVE5 CARItiON ••••••••••""r sooty Sit 1111' ,„,„nomompor- VI I_ I, MANILAVAULLETIN TIRE NATION'S LEADING NEW:WA PER 69 -07-20. PAU Manila Bay rehab remains DENR's top priority By ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ "Our effort to restore Manila Bay The Department of Environment is now in full swing and we hope to and Natural Resources (DENR) on sustain the momentum of restoring Tuesday said the rehabilitation of it to its former glory in the coming years," Cimatu said. Manila Bay remains its top priority in the next two years. The rehabilitation is currently in DENA Secretary Roy Cimatu, who its first phase, which is the cleanup and water quality monitoring. chairs the Manila Bay Task Force (MBTF), said more needs to be done The next two phases will be relo- to achieve the ultimate goal of mak- cation and rehabilitation, and educa- tion, protection and sustainment. ing the bay fit again for swimming Over and other forms of contact recre- 2.3 million kilograms of ation. solid wastes through cleanups, trash boats, and garbage traps have been The Manila Bay rehabilitation kicked off in January, collected in Metro Manila, Central 2019. Luzon, and Southern Luzon. A us c,m: oI i mt ALE I irNT i l A.1 ior4 I IC LT) OMR PAGE I BANNER tOlIORIAlCl CARTOONLI] mama %TORY SUM g INITIATIVES s . rAnv 10,1111 11000011011610,„sposiongir . !PAW( E Standard 15112. 01".. 20 DATE Cimatu say Manila Bay restoration on track By Rio N. -
Petition for Certiorari
Republic of the Philippines } ' City of Cebu } S.S. JOINT VERIFICATION AND JOINT CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING We, the undersigned petitioners, all of legal age, Filipinos, members of student political parties and youth organizations in Cebu, and with the following addresses provided below: Name Address I. HENDY ABENDAN (Center for Youth Participation and Cebu City, Cebu Development Initiatives) 2. CALVIN DHAME LAGAHIT Cebu Normal University, Osmei\a Blvd., (Students Democratic Party- SDP) Cebu Ci ty, Cebu s. CHRISTI~STRISIMOJ2 Cebu Normal University, Osmei\a Blvd., (Students Repu 1c Party - SRP)1 ' • Cebu Ci ty, Cebu 4. BENN A LYN RIZON Cebu Normal University, Osmei\a Blvd., (Reformative Leaders Party - ReLead) Cebu City, Cebu 5. LYRNIE REGIDOR University of the Philippines Cebu, (Union of Progressive Students - UPS) Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu Ci ty, Cebu 6. HANNSON KENT J. NAMOC University of the Philippines Cebu, (Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante - Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City, Cebu NKE) 7. GILBERT G. APURA, JR. University of San Carlos -Talamban (Student Power Party - SPP) Campus, Talamban, Cebu Ci ty, Cebu 8. DAVID C. SUICO University of San Carlos -Talamban (Student Alliance for Nationalism and Campus, Talamban, Cebu City, Cebu Democracy - STAND ) 9. MARY THERESE T. MAURIN University of Cebu School of Law, (University of Cebu Law Student Society Banilad, Cebu City, Cebu -UCLASS) After having been duly sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose a.nd state: I. That we are the petitioners in the above-entitled case; 2. That we have caused the preparation of the foregoing pleading; S. That the allegations in the foregoing pleading are true and correct based on our personal knowledge, or based on authentic documents; 4. -
When Big Business and Farmers' Interest Collide
When big business and farmers’ interest collide: A discussion of the drivers and effects of farmland conversion in the Province of Bulacan, Philippines Prepared by Ma. Cristina Arceo-Dumlao with Elvira Baladad Nathaniel Don Marquez Denise Hyacinth Joy Musni Marianne Jane Naungayan1 For the Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC) April 2021 1 With assistance from Mark Joseph Jose, Petronilo Bernardo, Marciano Mananghaya, Faustino Mananghaya, Mario Pacheco, Romeo Bautista, and Cecilia Maniego ACKNOWLEDGMENT Special thanks to Ka Elvie and Mark Joseph for assistance in the focus group discussions with farmers in Bulacan, including the Samahan ng mga Nagkaka-isang Magsasaka ng Sta Barbara, on 5 August 2020. Appreciation goes to the participants of the focus group discussion last 8 March 2021 for their inputs in finalizing the paper. Thanks to Fair Finance Philippines through the Initiatives for Dialogue & Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services, Inc. (IDEALS, Inc.) for the financial support for the conduct of this study. DISCLAIMER The views cited in this study do not necessarily reflect those of Fair Finance Philippines and IDEALS, Inc. CITATION Arceo-Dumlao, M.C., Baladad, E., Marquez, N.D., Musni, D.H.J., Naungayan, M.J. (2021). When big business and farmers’ interest collide: A discussion of the drivers and effects of farmland conversion in the Province of Bulacan, Philippines. Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC) and Fair Finance Philippines (FFP). When big business and farmers’ interests collide Contents List of Acronyms Used 5 Introduction 6 Shrinking agricultural lands in Central Luzon and Bulacan 10 Drivers of land conversion in Bulacan 13 Two Case Stories of Land Conversion in Bulacan, Philippines 14 CASE 1: The case of Sta. -
Senate, House Locked in Stalemate Over Constitutional Amendment
STEALING FREE NEWSPAPER IS STILL A CRIME ! AB 2612, PLESCIA CRIME Probe into why more abused Pinoy Domestic helps in Kuwait WEEKLY ISSUE 70 CITIES IN 11 STATES ONLINE Vol. IX Issue 459 1028 Mission Street, 2/F, San Francisco, CA 94103 Tel. (415) 593-5955 or (650) 278-0692 January 25 - 31, 2018 Senate, House locked in stalemate PH NEWS | A2 over constitutional amendment By Daniel Llanto | FilAm Star Correspondent De Lima asks Facebook to take down fake news The uncalled-for sense of urgency adamant on convening the House in the effort of the House of Repre- into a constituent assembly and then sentatives to change the system of proposing changes to the Constitution government to federalism is gone but by itself, without the Senate. the collision between the House and This is because the Senate refuses the Senate over the manner of carry- to participate in such a constituent as- ing out the constitutional amendment sembly and insists on a constitutional seemed unavoidable. convention instead. The senators Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez took want to vote separately for the pur- back the House’s original plan to rush pose while the House, suspecting that the measure by holding a plebiscite some senators have their own ideas on PH NEWS | A2 simultaneous with the barangay and Charter change (Cha-cha), pushes for Sangguniang Kabataan elections on a joint effort since the congressmen May 14 this year. But he remained TO PAGE A7 Duterte will ‘slap’ Joma (L-R) House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel (Photo: www.rappler.com) DFA accuses -
TIMELINE: the ABS-CBN Franchise Renewal Saga
TIMELINE: The ABS-CBN franchise renewal saga Published 4 days ago on July 10, 2020 05:40 PM By TDT Embattled broadcast giant ABS-CBN Corporation is now facing its biggest challenge yet as the House Committee on Legislative Franchises has rejected the application for a new broadcast franchise. The committee voted 70-11 in favor of junking ABS-CBN’s application for a franchise which dashed the hopes of the network to return to air. Here are the key events in the broadcast giant’s saga for a franchise renewal: 30 March, 1995 Republic Act 7966 or otherwise known as an act granting the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation a franchise to construct, install, operate and maintain television and radio broadcasting stations in the Philippines granted the network its franchise until 4 May 2020. 11 September, 2014 House Bill 4997 was filed by Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao and there were some lapses at the committee level. 11 June, 2016 The network giant issued a statement in reaction to a newspaper report, saying that the company had applied for a new franchise in September 2014, but ABS-CBN said it withdrew the application “due to time constraints.” 5 May, 2016 A 30-second political ad showing children raising questions about then Presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte’s foul language was aired on ABS-CBN and it explained it was “duty-bound to air a legitimate ad” based on election rules. 6 May, 2016 Then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s running mate Alan Peter Cayetano files a temporary restraining order in a Taguig court against the anti-Duterte political advertisement. -
Volume II, Number 14. 15 July 2020. Legalizing
UPDATES PHILIPPINES Released by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines Amsterdamsestraatweg 50, 3513AG Utrecht, The Netherlands T: : +31 30 2310431 | E: [email protected] | W: updates.ndfp.org vol iI no 14 15 July 2020 EDITORIAL Legalizing repression, justifying mass murder With the signing into law of the ‘Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020’, President Rodrigo Duterte has added yet another lethal weapon in suppressing criticism and opposition to his tyrannical rule. The assurances of Duterte officialdom and loyalist trolls to observing universal norms on human rights ring very hollow. The law’s chief implementers, after all, will be Gen. Esperon, Gen. Delfin Lorenzana, Gen. Eduardo Año, Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Menardo Guevarra. These are the same officials who have been resolute in justifying the Duterte administration’s deadly repression, including the continued incarceration of opposition senator Leila de Lima, the suppression of ABS-CBN media network, online news outfit Rappler and its publisher Maria Rezza, the bombardment and destruction of Marawi City, the communist witch-hunt and murder of human rights defenders and the murder of more than 25,000 Filipinos in the guise of their ‘war on drugs’. With a rubberstamp legislature, a compliant judicial system, mercenary poll surveys, social media trolls and now with extraordinary police and military powers, Duterte and his cronies now have unassailable official authority. At the expense of the people’s civil rights and sovereignty, the regime has arrogated absolute authority for selling off the national patrimony, ravaging the natural environment, smuggling illegal drugs and other contraband, amassing personal wealth and for silencing those who dare question its authority. -
BY AIRMAIL H.E. Rodrigo Duterte President of the Republic Malacañang Palace, JP Laurel St., San Miguel MANILA, PHILIPPINES E-Ma
BY AIRMAIL H.E. Rodrigo Duterte President of the Republic Malacañang Palace, JP Laurel St., San Miguel MANILA, PHILIPPINES E-mail: [email protected] Amsterdam, 13 August 2019 Your Excellency, Lawyers for Lawyers is an independent and non-political foundation which seeks to promote the proper functioning of the rule of law by pursuing freedom and independence of the legal profession. We support lawyers worldwide who face reprisals, improper interferences or unreasonable restrictions in the execution of their profession. Lawyers for Lawyers was granted Special Consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council in July 2013. Lawyers for Lawyers has been closely monitoring the situation of lawyers and the legal profession in the Philippines for many years. We are deeply concerned about the increasing attacks against lawyers, the labelling of lawyers as ‘enemy of the State’, and the oppressive working environment they face since the start of your administration. We have reason to believe that these attacks are connected to their legitimate activities and professional duties as lawyers. On July 23, 2019, our colleague Atty. Anthony Trinidad, was killed in an attack by unidentified motorcycle-riding men in Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental. He was on his way home from a court hearing. Prior to being attacked, Atty Trinidad had been receiving death threats in connection to the cases he was handling, some of which are that of political prisoners in the region. Atty. Trinidad had also been tagged as a supporter of communist rebels on Negros Island. Earlier in 2018, his name was said to be included in a ‘hit list’ of an alleged anti-communist group called Kawsa Guihulnganon Batok Komunista (KAGUBAK). -
“License to Kill”: Philippine Police Killings in Duterte's “War on Drugs
H U M A N R I G H T S “License to Kill” Philippine Police Killings in Duterte’s “War on Drugs” WATCH License to Kill Philippine Police Killings in Duterte’s “War on Drugs” Copyright © 2017 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-6231-34488 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Human Rights Watch is an independent, international organization that works as part of a vibrant movement to uphold human dignity and advance the cause of human rights for all. Human Rights Watch is an international organization with staff in more than 40 countries, and offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Goma, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Tunis, Washington DC, and Zurich. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org MARCH 2017 ISBN: 978-1-6231-34488 “License to Kill” Philippine Police Killings in Duterte’s “War on Drugs” Summary ........................................................................................................................... 1 Key Recommendations ..................................................................................................... 24 Methodology .................................................................................................................... 25 I. -
Justice for Jerome Succor Aba April 21, 2018
Call to Action: Justice for Jerome Succor Aba April 21, 2018 Earlier this week, human rights defender, 25-year old Jerome Succor Aba, was detained at SFO International Airport for 28 hours while interrogated by the US Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP). Jerome was invited by church groups and people’s organizations in the US to speak at the Ecumenical Advocacy Days in Washington D.C., at a Luncheon Forum organized by the Office of International Justice and Peace of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, and at US Congressional offices about the human rights situation in the Philippines, particularly his native Mindanao. He also was to join other human rights defenders from the Philippines for the People’s Caravan for Peace & Justice in the Philippines organized by the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP). When he arrived to the US on April 18, Jerome had a valid 10-year multiple entry visa. Despite this, the CBP told Jerome that he had “no business on US soil.” Jerome is a human rights worker that is accustomed to documenting gross violations of civil and political rights of individuals and communities throughout Mindanao. However, this is the first time, he said, that he was the direct victim of human rights violations. “Like everyone else entering the United States,” Jerome shared, “I fell in line at [Immigration]. When it was my turn, they took my passport, and they looked at my visa that says 10 years, multiple entry to the US. Unlike the other people, an officer of CBP approached me. -
30 APRIL 2021, FRIDAY Headline STRATEGIC April 30, 2021 COMMUNICATION & Editorial Date INITIATIVES Column SERVICE 1 of 2 Opinion Page Feature Article
30 APRIL 2021, FRIDAY Headline STRATEGIC April 30, 2021 COMMUNICATION & Editorial Date INITIATIVES Column SERVICE 1 of 2 Opinion Page Feature Article DENR breathes down Manila Bay polluter's neck Published April 29, 2021, 7:47 PM by Ellson Quismorio The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is going after the owner of a vessel that had been pinpointed as the source of the untreated wastewater that was dumped in Manila Bay over the weekend. DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu (Screengrab from Zoom meeting) A notice of violation will be slapped against the owner of MV Sarangani, a statement from the DENR said Thursday, April 29. It was only last Monday, April 26, when DENR Sec. Roy A. Cimatu visited the priority area of the Manila Bay rehabilitation and discussed the incident with representatives of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the local government of Manila, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), Manila Bay Coordinating Office, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB). “After the investigation, if the shipowner is found liable, the DENR will impose fines. Additionally, the owner has to rehabilitate the vessel to avoid destruction to the environment, and the pollution of our waters,” said Cimatu. “We hope to get to the bottom of this issue during the investigation,” he stressed. The samples taken from the actual discharge area showed an effluent fecal coliform count of 1,700 most probable number per 100 milliliters (MPN/100 mL) based on the report of EMB, DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas R. -
Downloaded from the Think Tank Webpage
ASIA MAIOR Vol. XXX / 2019 CENTRO STUDI PER I POPOLI EXTRA-EUROPEI “CESARE BONACOSSA” - UNIVERSITÀ DI PAVIA Foreword Torri, Mocci, Boni, Asia in 2019 XXX Essays 2019 S. Menegazzi, China 2019: Xi Jinping’s new era and the CPC’s agenda B. Onnis, China 2019: Xi Jinping’s summit diplomacy Boni (eds.) Nicola Mocci, Filippo Michelguglielmo Torri, tensions and authoritarian involution Asia in 2019: Escalating international ASIA MAIOR A. Berkofsky, Mongolia 2019: Crisis, obstacles & achievements Vol. XXX / 2019 M. Milani, Korean peninsula 2019: The year of missed opportunities G. Pugliese & S. Maslow, Japan 2019: Inaugurating a new era? A. Tritto & A. Abdulkadir, Hong Kong 2019: Anatomy of a social mobilisation through the lenses of identity and values Asia in 2019: A. Insisa, Taiwan 2019 and the 2020 elections: Tsai Ing-Wen’s Triumph Escalating international tensions S. Iglesias & L. Ordenes, The Philippines 2018-2019: Authoritarian consolidation under Duterte and authoritarian involution R. Graça Feijó, Timor-Leste 1945-2019: From an almost forgotten colony to the first democratic nation of the 21st century S. Saleem, Malaysia 2019: The politics of fear and UMNO’s renewed relevance N. Mocci, Vietnam 2019: Pursuing harmonious labour relations Edited by and consolidating its reliable international role M. Fumagalli, Myanmar 2019: «The Lady and the generals» redux? Michelguglielmo Torri D. Maiorano, India 2019: The general election and the new Modi wave Nicola Mocci M. Torri, India 2019: Assaulting the world’s largest democracy; Filippo Boni building a kingdom of cruelty and fear Y. Joshi, India 2019: Foreign policy dilemmas and their domestic roots M. Miele, Nepal 2019: Attempts at mediation in domestic and foreign policies M.