News Roundup 25 June 2024
Jun 25, 2024 • 4 min Read
House panel to summon Rodrigo Duterte to drug war probe | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The House human rights committee on Tuesday approved a motion to invite former President Rodrigo Duterte to its investigation of the drug war.
If the panel pushes through with its invitation, this will mark the first time that any legislative body has summoned the former chief executive over his so-called war on drugs.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the panel also approved motions to invite former Sen. Leila de Lima and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, former chief of the Philippine National Police and the architect of Duterte’s violent anti-illegal drugs campaign.
The motion was made by Rep. Arlene Brosas (Gabriela Party-list).
Rep. Bienvenido Abante (Manila, 6th District), chair of the committee, said that he has changed his mind about not inviting the former president and Dela Rosa after hearing the testimonies of drug war victims, many of whom recounted grim experiences in dealing with the police, who often covered for each other’s missteps.
“As much as I want to give the due courtesy to the former President and Senator Dela Rosa, because of the gravity of the statements, they should face these people and hear their complaints,” Abante added.
This marks a departure from Abante’s statement during the first House drug war hearing, where he said that he would exclude Duterte and Dela Rosa from the investigation out of courtesy.
In the last three hearings, victims’ families recounted similar instances of government inaction and reluctance to cooperate in their quest for justice — stories that have already been surfaced by human rights groups and the media years prior.
Full Story at: House panel to summon Rodrigo Duterte to drug war probe | Philstar.com
Davao court acquits red-tagged IP leader of trafficking cases | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A court in Tagum City, Davao del Norte has dismissed the qualified trafficking cases of a tribal leader as the court granted his motion for demurrer to evidence.
In a decision dated June 21, Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 2 in Tagum City, Davao del Norte granted the motion for the demurrer of indigenous peoples’ rights advocate Datu Benito Bay-ao as the “prosecution failed to establish the elements of the crime” being charged.
“Glaringly, the prosecution failed to prove that the purpose of accused Bay-ao in accompanying the children to Cebu was for the exploitative purpose for them to join and engage in armed activities of the New People’s Army but only as their guardian in their quest to continue their studies,” the court’s decision read.
A demurrer is a motion filed on the grounds that the evidence presented by the prosecutors is insufficient for a criminal conviction.
He was arrested in May 2021 on two human trafficking charges for escorting displaced Lumad children from Mindanao to a school for evacuees in Cebu City.
Following the court decision, the tribal chieftain was released from detention
Full Story at: Davao court acquits red-tagged IP leader of trafficking cases | Philstar.com
West Philippine Sea: China Coast Guard inching closer to Zambales – report | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines—The China Coast Guard (CCG) is reportedly inching closer to a coastal town in Zambales amid its unilateral fishing ban and anti-trespassing policy, which encroach on the West Philippine Sea.
Citing reports from fisherfolk in the area, Leonardo Cuaresma, president of the Zambales-based New Masinloc Fishermen Association, told INQUIRER.net on Tuesday that CCG ships were spotted 30 nautical miles away from the coast of Masinloc town over the weekend.
According to Cuaresma, before this, Chinese vessels could only be spotted around 40 nautical miles away from Masinloc’s shores.
“As of present, they are now coming closer and closer to our shores,” Cuaresma said in Filipino in a phone interview.
While the CCG ships are inching closer to Zambales, they are still outside its 12-navigational-mile territorial sea, a red line that, once crossed by Beijing, could be seen as a direct threat to Manila’s sovereignty.
Full Story at: West Philippine Sea: China Coast Guard inching closer to Zambales – report | INQUIRER.net
AFP confirms, hits China’s ‘intrusive patrols’ in West Philippine Sea | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday confirmed the presence of China Coast Guard’s “monster ship” near a naval outpost in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
AFP Spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the ship’s presence near BRP Sierra Madre is part of “intrusive patrols” of China.
“The presence of this 12,000-ton CCG ship near BRP Sierra Madre is part of a broader pattern of intrusive patrols aimed at asserting unlawful claims over areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” Padilla said in a statement.
Padilla said the AFP is “closely monitoring” all activities in the West Philippine Sea.
“Our forces will continue to monitor and report any developments in the West Philippine Sea in the performance of our mandate,” Padilla said.
“We call on all nations to respect international law and to refrain from actions that escalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea.”
Full Story at: AFP confirms, hits China’s ‘intrusive patrols’ in West Philippine Sea | INQUIRER.net
