News Roundup 25 April 2024
Apr 25, 2024 • 4 min Read
Trillanes: ICC has put over 50 PH cops on notice in drug war probe | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — More than 50 active and former police officers who served under the previous administration are on the list of people being investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for their role in the bloody war on drugs waged by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
This was according to an update given by former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on the ICC probe that centers on Duterte, who is being accused of crimes against humanity for the brutality and impunity by which his campaign tried to quell the drug menace, leaving thousands dead in its wake.
Trillanes on Wednesday said ICC investigators had already reached out to more than 50 Philippine National Police (PNP) officials to give them an opportunity to clear their names.
“This is primarily to give these implicated PNP personnel a chance to exonerate themselves,” Trillanes told the Inquirer in a phone interview. “So it’s just a part of due process. They’ll be given the opportunity to present their side.”
Citing sources “privy to the ongoing ICC probe,” Trillanes said the “direct communication” between ICC and the policemen occurred “in the past few weeks.”
Full Story at: Trillanes: ICC has over 50 PH cops on notice in drug war probe (inquirer.net)
Padilla hits cops’ reported interaction with ICC probers | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senator Robinhood Padilla on Thursday took a swipe at police officers who allegedly communicated with International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators about the role they played in the bloody war on drugs waged by former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“Pwede naman sila tumangi. Bakit kayo magpapasailalim dyan e pulis kayo dito sa Pilipinas?,” said Padilla in a Kapihan sa Senado forum.
(They could’ve refused. Why would you subject yourself to them when you’re a police officer in the Philippines?)
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier disclosed that ICC investigators contacted more than 50 former and active police officers who served under the Duterte administration.
“Based on highly credible information, the ICC investigators have already directly communicated with more than 50 active and former PNP officials regarding their being implicated in the crimes against humanity case of Rodrigo Duterte at the ICC,” Trillanes said.
According to the former senator, this means that if these officers do not “immediately signify their intention to cooperate with the investigators, their status would be elevated to being suspects.”
Full Story at: Padilla hits cops’ reported interaction with ICC probers (inquirer.net)
DOJ eyes transfer of Quiboloy’s Davao cases to another court | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) said that it requested the Supreme Court (SC) to transfer the case of doomsday preacher and Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy from Davao City to a different court.
This has been revealed by DOJ spokesman Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano in a palace briefing on Thursday.
“Just as an update as well, we transferred the cases from Davao to Pasig City, so that the same team of prosecutors may be able to prosecute both cases together,” Clavano said.
But in an ambush interview with members of the press, the DOJ spokesman said that Quiboloy’s case might be moved to a Quezon City court due to the “heavy case load” in Pasig City.
Quiboloy and his associates have been charged with child abuse and sexual abuse offenses, with cases filed in the Davao City court.
On April 3, the said court issued a warrant of arrest against the preacher and his associates, namely Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid Canada and Sylvia Cemañes.
Full Story at: DOJ eyes transfer of Quiboloy’s Davao cases to another court | Philstar.com
Philippine court blocks GMO ‘golden rice’ production over safety fears | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine court has blocked the commercial propagation of genetically modified golden rice because it said conflicting scientific views gave rise to “severe” health and environmental safety concerns.
The Philippines was the first country in the world to approve golden rice, which is enriched with the Vitamin A precursor beta-carotene and has a bright yellow colour, in a bid to combat childhood blindness.
However, the Court of Appeals in Manila revoked a biosafety permit for commercial production of the rice granted by government regulators in 2021 after 14 opponents filed a challenge.
The court’s ruling, issued on April 17 and seen by AFP on Thursday, also applies to a genetically modified eggplant, BT eggplant, that is pest resistant.
“By reason of the conflicting scientific views and uncertainties on the risks and effects of Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant, potential severe and grave threats to the welfare of people and the environment arise,” the court said.
Commercial propagation was not allowed “until such time that the concerned respondent government agencies submit proof of safety and compliance with all legal requirements”, it said.
Full Story at: Philippine court blocks GMO ‘golden rice’ production over safety fears | Philstar.com
