News Roundup 03 February 2024
Feb 03, 2024 • 4 min Read
Marcos’ ‘ambitious’ UN plans hinged on fixing PH human rights issues — UN expert | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government’s plan to position itself as a global leader on human rights will depend on how meaningfully it addresses rights abuses back home, United Nations Special Rapporteur Irene Khan said.
The UN expert said during a press conference on Friday that the Marcos government’s plans to head the UN Commission on the Status of Women and to become a member of the powerful UN Security Council may pressure it to first address its “grave and deep-seated human rights problems” domestically.
Khan noted that the Philippines has shown “greater willingness” to coordinate with the international body — a shift in the country’s engagement with UN human rights procedures compared to the previous administration under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The UN special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression capped her 10-day visit — which was upon the invitation of the Philippine government — during Friday’s press conference, where she shared her findings and recommendations on the human rights situation and state of press freedom in the country.
Full Story at: Marcos’ ‘ambitious’ UN plans hinged on fixing PH human rights issues — UN expert | Philstar.com
Rejection of NTF-ELCAC abolition proves Marcos as ‘enemy of free expression’ — group | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Rights group Karapatan scored the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after state officials rejected an expert’s recommendation to abolish the “outdated” anti-communist task force.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan on Friday urged Marcos to dissolve the controversial National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) following instances of red-tagging and renewal of peace negotiations with communist rebels.
“The dirty operators of the Marcos Jr. government’s counter-insurgency campaign have further unravelled themselves as the real enemies of freedom of expression, freedom of opinion, and human rights in the country,” said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay on Saturday.
“They want a continuum of their grand scheme of systematic attacks on the rights and freedoms of the people to information, expression, opinion, among other fundamental rights, through the NTF-ELCAC and their National Security Policy.”
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año on Friday rejected Khan’s proposal, saying that the “NTF-ELCAC does not encourage” red-tagging — a practice many of their past spokespersons have done against legal progressive groups and critics.
Red-tagging involves the linking of individuals or groups to underground communist rebels. Activists claim that this had resulted in harassment, abductions and even extrajudicial killings of dissidents and journalists.
Full Story at: Rejection of NTF-ELCAC abolition proves Marcos as ‘enemy of free expression’ — group | Philstar.com
BARMM chief ‘stands firm’ on peace deal; rallies support for Marcos | INQUIRER.NET – COTABATO CITY — The top official of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has called for strengthened support behind the administration of President Marcos for the sake of peace in the region.
“Let us continue to support the current administration and allow peace and civility to reign over the affairs of our land,” BARMM interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim said in a statement on Friday.
Although Ebrahim did not mention it, the statement came on the heels of the recent call by former President Duterte for Mindanao to secede from the country, an idea born out of his political tirades against President Marcos.
“As Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Government, I stand firmly on adhering to the faithful implementation of the provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) towards the right to self-determination,” said Ebrahim, who is also chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that waged four decades of rebellion in Mindanao
Full Story at: BARMM chief ‘stands firm’ on peace deal; rallies support for Marcos | Inquirer News
AFP resupplies Ayungin troops sans disturbance | INQUIRER.NET – The Philippines held a successful maritime resupply mission—the first this year—to troops at the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippines Sea, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Friday.
Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, spokesperson for the AFP, said it was “mission accomplished” after the resupply mission by sea on Jan. 20 and Jan. 21 was postponed due to a technical problem on one of the civilian supply boats.
A senior military officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, earlier said the military airdropped supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre ship after the resupply by sea was postponed.
Full Story at: AFP resupplies Ayungin troops sans disturbance | Global News (inquirer.net)
