News Roundup 16 November 2022
Nov 16, 2022 • 6 min Read
Philippines playing down rights issues at UNHRC, Migrante says | PHILSTAR.COM – Statements by the Philippine government before the UN Human Rights Council are “self praise” that play down rights issues in the country, a coalition of migrant Filipino workers said Wednesday. Migrante International also said statements at the 41st session of the Universal Periodic Review showed that the Philippines has a labor export policy and that the country plans to continue the 50-year-old practice of sending laborers abroad, often in jobs where they are at risk and are prone to abuse. “The countless cases and testimonies of Filipino migrant workers who have been denied the urgent assistance and protection they need [are] a more accurate measure of the government’s sincerity in advancing their rights,” Migrante said in a statement on Wednesday. In his opening statement at the session, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla boasted of the government’s creation of the Department of Migrant Workers “as a testimony of [the government’s] advocacy for the human rights and welfare” of overseas Filipino workers.” He also added that the government remains committed to the fight against human trafficking, even mentioning the country’s Tier 1 status in the 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report of the US State Department. Hazel Decena-Valdezu, senior assistant state prosecutor at the Department of Justice, also noted that government is develeoping a chatbox to help migrant workers with their queries and to provide assistance. She also said the government is developing a more stringent process for outbound international travelers to protect workers from illegal recruitment. However, Migrante criticized the government for including in its report measures that revolve around the “training, upskilling, and retooling of OFWs” and of making the process for deploying OFWs more efficient. “These statements clearly demonstrate the government’s interest in upholding and aggressively implementing the neoliberal agenda and policy of labor export, which contrasts with its supposed protection of migrant Filipinos’ human rights and the need to create decent jobs at home,” Migrante said. In a separate statement on Tuesday, Migrante International said Remulla “tried to downplay the rampant human rights violations in the country.” “The international community’s interventions and recommendations during the UNHRC session constitute a rebuff of the Philippine government’s claims,” the group said. It further noted that states such as Australia, Ireland, and Costa Rica raised concern over the extrajudicial killings and recommended that the country’s government ensure accountability against perpetrators.
Kamala Harris to meet with Marcos, Duterte on US-PH security, economic ties | INQUIRER.NET – United States Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte in Manila during her visit to the country from November 20 to 22. Harris will arrive in Manila on Sunday evening after her participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Bangkok, Thailand. A senior US administration official, in a background briefing on Wednesday, said Harris will meet with Duterte and later have a “longer bilateral meeting” with Marcos. “The focus with President Marcos will be twofold: strengthening our security alliance and economic relationship,” the official said. Harris is expected to reaffirm the US commitment to its alliance with the Philippines on peace and stability in the South China Sea. “They will discuss upholding international rules and norms. The Vice President will also commit to work more closely with the Philippines to strengthen our economic partnership and investment ties,” the official detailed. Harris will also be meeting with civil society activists in a bid to demonstrate the US’ “continued support for human rights and democratic resilience.” She will then engage in a town hall meeting with young Filipino women about empowering them to participate in economic and civic activities. “This will be the first event of its kind she has done overseas since taking office, and it’ll be a good opportunity for direct engagement with the Filipino people, underscoring the strong people-to-people ties with the Philippines and historic ties,” the official further noted. To cap off her trip in the Philippines, Harris will visit Puerto Princesa in Palawan to meet with residents, civil society leaders, and representatives of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). “This is another historic visit, as the Vice President is the highest-ranking US official ever to visit Palawan. This visit demonstrates the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to stand with our Philippine ally in upholding the rules-based international maritime order in the South China Sea, supporting maritime livelihoods, and countering illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing,” the official said. Harris will be delivering remarks before the PCG which, the official noted, is seen to spotlight “the importance of international law, unimpeded commerce, and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.”
Ombudsman suspends NIA chief over workers’ gripes | INQUIRER.NET – The Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday ordered the suspension of National Irrigation Administration (NIA) acting chief Benny Antiporda for grave misconduct, among other charges, following a lengthy complaint filed by the agency’s employees. Antiporda confirmed to the Inquirer that the suspension order had been served on him and that his office was padlocked. He dismissed the allegations against him as “petty” and suggested that they were in retaliation for his anticorruption drive in the agency. The six-page order signed on Tuesday by Ombudsman Samuel Martires stated that Antiporda’s six-month preventive suspension was without pay. The complainants are officers and members of NIA Employees Association of the Philippines, the NIA Concerned Employees, and the agency’s lawyers. The complaint alleged that Antiporda humiliated and berated NIA employees; prohibited managers of NIA’s central office from traveling, “which is counterproductive to their work”; and reassigned and transferred some personnel “without valid grounds.” He was also accused of placing some employees on floating status; allegedly harassing NIA corporate board secretary Michelle Raymundo by placing a security guard and a closed-circuit television camera at the door of her office and locking her office then turning off electricity at 5 p.m.; and “falsely accusing” NIA legal services chief Lloyd Allain Cudal of corruption and asking Cudal and other legal services members to retire or resign, or face charges. Antiporda was also alleged to have threatened employees with nonrenewal of their appointments “if they do not side with him or do not act in consonance with his policies.” He allegedly made “bootlicking” as a basis for promotion, used flag ceremonies as an “avenue for his bullying and fake news” and maligned employees through the media. Antiporda, 52, is a former undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and one of the staunchest proponents and defenders of the much-criticized P389-million Manila Bay dolomite beach project. He was a former journalist who had served as president of the National Press Club.
