News Roundup 11 May 2024
May 11, 2024 • 4 min Read
CHR lauds SC decision calling red-tagging ‘threat to life, liberty and security’ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomed the recent decision of the Supreme Court (SC) declaring red-tagging, vilification, labelling and guilt by association as threatening to one’s right to life, liberty, or security.
Following activist Siegfried Deduro’s petition and his experience of red-tagging by military officers, the high court identified the issuance of a writ of amparo as a remedy to address threats stemming from such acts. This legal recourse also extends to cases involving enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
“In a society built on the rule of law, every citizen is entitled to the protection of their fundamental rights,” said the commission in a statement on Saturday.
“The SC’s decision underscores the importance of protecting these rights against any form of unwarranted harassment or intimidation. Red-tagging and similar practices not only violate the inherent dignity of individuals but also undermine the fabric of democracy and the rule of law.”
The issuance of a writ of amparo serves as a mechanism to ensure accountability by empowering individuals to seek legal protection against actions that threaten their safety and well-being.
Full Story at: CHR lauds SC decision calling red-tagging ‘threat to life, liberty and security’ | Philstar.com
No need for loyalty checks among police, military – President Marcos | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Amid claims of destabilization plots against his administration, President Marcos does not see the need to conduct loyalty checks among the active members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
In an interview in General Santos City on Friday, the President expressed his trust and confidence in the PNP and the AFP.
“I don’t see… we don’t have any reports in the ranks. Those who are retired may have, they are those who move, join the destab that are being orchestrated (against the administration),” Marcos said partly in Filipino when asked whether he intends to do a loyalty check on the PNP.
“But among our (active) policemen, especially the officer corps, we don’t see them engaging in politics,” Marcos said, adding that loyalty checks would not prove anything.
“I don’t know what loyalty check really is. What do you say to that person? ‘Are you loyal to me?’ Of course, the answer would be, ‘yes,’ isn’t it? Even if he’s not loyal to you. But we will look at the records,” the President said.
Marcos, meanwhile, has called on members of the PNP and AFP to remain professional and stay true to their sworn duties.
Full Story at: No need for loyalty checks among police, military – President Marcos | Philstar.com
QCPD files criminal charges vs Manibela chair due to violations during protest | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Criminal charges have been filed against Manibela Chairman Mar Valbuena and two other individuals over alleged violations during their protest rally last May 6, the Quezon City Police Department (QCPD) said on Saturday.
Police said that Valbuena, Reggie Manlapig, and Alvin Reyes are facing raps in violation of Batas Pambansa 880 (Public Assembly Act of 1985), violation of Article 155 of the Revised Penal Code (Alarm and Scandal), and violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code (Resistance and Disobedience) at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.
QCPD said that the rally caused “grave public inconvenience and disturbance,” prompting the Batasan Police Station to dispatch its personnel to ensure peace and order in the rally.
“Subsequently, said personnel asked for their permit, but unfortunately, they failed to present any documents or permits from the Quezon City Local Government which violated the law for public assembly,” the police said.
Full Story at: QCPD files criminal charges vs Manibela chairman due to violations (inquirer.net)
Gov’t ready to sell 50% SCTEx stake to MPTC for at least P20B | INQUIRER.NET – The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is willing to sell to the Metro Pacific group its 50-percent stake in the country’s longest highway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), for more than P20 billion—an amount that will enable the government agency to extinguish debts while registering a windfall.
BCDA President and CEO Joshua Bingcang said tycoon Manuel Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) had expressed intent last week to buy out the shares held by the government-owned and -controlled corporation in the 93.77-kilometer expressway.
Their 30-year concession—eight years of which had been realized—sets a 50:50 revenue sharing from the tollway operations.
“[For] the remaining 22 years, they want to prepay all the projected future shares of BCDA,” Bingcang said in an event in Tarlac on Friday.
The parties created a technical working group to come up with the appropriate valuation for the transaction, which is targeted to be finalized by next month.
Full Story at: Gov’t ready to sell 50% SCTEx stake to MPTC for at least P20B (inquirer.net)
