News Roundup 16 March 2023
Mar 16, 2023 • 4 min Read
Justice for the dead in Duterte drug war hangs as gov’t seeks to shut ICC down | INQUIRER.NET –MANILA, Philippines—The government is consistent in its defense against a looming International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into the previous administration’s bloody campaign against drugs, but for a lawyer representing the victims’ families, the ICC’s intervention is warranted.
Last Monday (March 13), the latest in a string of efforts to halt the possible investigation, the Philippine government officially requested the ICC to reverse its Jan. 26 decision that allowed the resumption of the investigation into the killings, which, based on government data, had claimed 6,248 lives.
The ICC Appeals Chamber, in a 50-page document, was asked to “grant suspensive effect pending resolution of this appeal, reverse the ‘authorization pursuant to Article 18 (2) of the Statute to resume the investigation,’ and determine that the Prosecution is not authorized to resume its investigation in the situation in the Republic of the Philippines.”
Full Story at: Justice for the dead in Duterte drug war hangs as gov’t seeks to shut ICC down | Inquirer News
CIDG-NCR chief, 12 subordinates sacked over alleged corruption — PNP | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Thirteen police officers from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR), including its chief, were sacked from their positions due to corruption allegations, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday.
According to PNP spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo, CIDG-NCR chief Police Col. Hansel Marantan was relieved from his post to give way to the authorities investigation into the questionable raid the group conducted in Manila.
“Nung makarating po ang police operatives sa area natyempuhan nila itong 13 individuals in the act, that prompted [authorities] to arrest them,” Fajardo said in a media briefing.
(Police operatives caught the 13 individuals in the act, which led to their arrest.)
“With regard to Col. Hansel, he voluntarily offered na i-relieve na po muna siya pansamantala sa kanyang posisyon to [avoid] insinuation that he might influence yung gagawin investigation na gagawin sa kanyang tauhan,” she added.
(Marantan offered a courtesy resignation to avoid insinuations that he might influence the police investigation on his staff.)
She added that reports on the operation’s irregularities led CIDG director Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat to relieve the involved police personnel from the group’s NCR unit.
Full Story at: CIDG-NCR chief, 12 subordinates sacked over alleged corruption — PNP | Inquirer News
Maguindanao councilor arrested For violating Anti-Terror Law | PHILSTAR.COM – COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur has been arrested in connection with the bombing of a polling precinct during the general elections in May last year.
Abdulwadod Sangki, 23, president of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation in Ampatuan, was apprehended upon his arrival at the airport in Datu Odin Sinsuat on Monday.
Sangki had just attended a national convention of the Philippine Councilors League in Pasay City.
Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) police director, said Sangki’s arrest was based on a warrant for violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act issued by a court in Iligan City on Oct. 7 last year.
Sangki was placed under the custody of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
Full Story: Maguindanao councilor arrested For violating Anti-Terror Law | Philstar.com
CHR: Increasing threats against rights defenders justifies bill to protect them | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights reminded the government’s anti-communist task force on Thursday that rights defenders have repeatedly been subject to abuse, intimidation and even attempts against their lives, which makes the passage of a law that protects them necessary.
Days after the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict expressed opposition to the Human Rights Defenders’ Protection Act, the human rights body expressed its support for the measure in light of the mounting incidents it has monitored against Filipino human rights defenders.
“The CHR’s inquiry on the situation of human rights defenders in the Philippines published in 2020 revealed that for standing up for the rights of the weak, vulnerable, and marginalized, human rights defenders often face vilification, red-tagging, violence, and even death,” the human rights body said.
Full Story at: CHR: Increasing threats against rights defenders justifies bill to protect them | Philstar.com
