News Roundup 24 April 2024
Apr 24, 2024 • 4 min Read
EJK remains a ‘serious problem’ in the Philippines — U.S. State Department | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A report from the United States (U.S.) Department of State said that extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in the Philippines remain a “serious problem”.
In a 58-page Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the agency said that the human rights situation in the Philippines has “no significant changes”.
However, the report said that the number of incidents of arbitrary and extrajudicial killings and “some other abuses by government agents” decreased in 2023.
The U.S. State Department attributed the EJKs to the “arbitrary or unlawful killings by police in connection with antidrug operations” as the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continued the war on drugs started by his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Compared to Duterte’s method, which saw thousands of casualties as recorded by local and international human rights organizations, the agency pointed out that the current administration focused on “treatment and rehabilitation, due process, and rule of law-based investigations.”
Citing data from the non-governmental organization Dahas PH, the agency said that there were 209 killings related to anti-drug operations from January to August 2023.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) also looked into 51 new complaints of alleged EJKs, as reported by the agency.
These incidents, which affected 82 victims, reportedly involved six personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), two members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, seven insurgents, four civilians and 33 unidentified individuals.
Full Story at: EJK remains a ‘serious problem’ in the Philippines — U.S. State Department | Philstar.com
Amnesty urges Marcos to end ‘drug war’ as killings persist | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Human rights group Amnesty International has called on the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to adopt a clear and unequivocal policy ending the “war on drugs” and extrajudicial killings.
In a report released on Wednesday, Amnesty International stressed that extrajudicial executions in the context of the government’s campaign against illegal drugs persisted throughout the second year of the Marcos presidency.
There have been over 600 drug-related killings since Marcos took office in June 2022, according to the Dahas Project of the University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center.
“This shows that extrajudicial killings continue and are unabated,” Amnesty International Philippines Director Butch Olano said.
“Amnesty calls on the Marcos administration to make an explicit and categorical policy pronouncement to end the so-called ‘war on drugs’ and extrajudicial killings,” he added.
Full Story at: Amnesty urges Marcos to end ‘drug war’ as killings persist | Philstar.com
Hontiveros: Why is gov’t having a hard time taking action vs Pogos? | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Perplexed by the continued presence of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) in the country, Senator Risa Hontiveros can’t help but question why the national government still has yet to take decisive action against the firm.
“Pogos are a hotspot of fugitives. Lungga ng mga kriminal. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hanggang ngayon, hindi mapalayas nang tuluyan ang industriyang ito. Sino ba protektor ng mga ito? Bakit parang hirap na hirap ang gobyerno na kumilos?” Hontiveros said in a statement on Wednesday.
(Pogos are a hotspot of fugitives and criminals. I still don’t understand why the national government can’t eradicate this industry. Who are the protectors of Pogos? Why is the government having a hard time taking action against it?)
Hontiveros and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian conducted an ocular inspection Wednesday in the premises of Zun Yuan Technology Inc. in Bamban, Tarlac, which was the subject of a raid last March 13.
According to Hontiveros, the Pogo hub in Bamban had offices “outfitted with computer workstations, along with “instructional guides and scripts used to conduct love scams and crypto schemes.”
Full Story at: Hontiveros: Why is gov’t having hard time taking action vs Pogos? (inquirer.net)
Rene Saguisag: Human rights defender, moral compass, fierce critic | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — In the Philippine political scene where politicians often jump from their party to the ruling bloc, loyalty is regarded as a noble trait. Loyalty to a party and a cause has been used to gauge whether a candidate is worthy of people’s votes, while turncoats are frowned upon.
But some were able to maintain their integrity without really banking on loyalty — some, who, despite changes in administration, were able to command respect because their viewpoints and criticisms have been rooted in pro-people advocacies.
Such is the case for Rene Saguisag, an ordinary boy from Quezon province who became a prominent lawyer and voice for the people by making the most of his education, experience, and upbringing. For a long time, Saguisag was a moral compass for many Filipinos, as his views allowed people to check whether they were standing on the right side of history.
But on Wednesday, that moral compass pointed to its true north as Saguisag took his last breath, leaving many people to wonder whether the Philippines will still see politicians of his caliber.
Full Story at: Rene Saguisag: Rights defender, moral compass, fierce critic (inquirer.net)
