Human rights groups: Stop the killings!

A total of 103 civil society, religious organizations and concerned individuals signed a joint open letter on 7 June addressed to the Philippine Supreme Court and Department of Justice, expressing “profound and urgent concern on the recent extrajudicial killings, judicial harassment, arbitrary arrests and detention and threats through red-tagging against human rights defenders, human rights lawyers, trade unionists and public sector unions, and organizers of community pantries in the Philippines.”

Read more: Human rights groups: Stop the killings!

Revolutionary forces to investigate accidental killing of two civilians

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines on 11 June expressed its sincere condolences to the family of Kieth Absalon, 21, and his uncle, Nolven Absalon, 40, who were killed in Masbate City on 6 June by an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated by the New People's Army. The Communist Party of the Philippines in a June 8 statement admitted the error of the military action and expressed deep remorse over the deaths of the two. Both were unarmed civilians not taking part in the armed conflict.

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Fake NPA surrenders source of military corruption -- CPP

The Communist Party of the Philippines on 2 June denounced the “farcical numbers” reported by the Duterte government’s National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) of New People’s Army rebels who have surrendered. CPP Chief Information Officer Marco Valbuena said the report is a “desperate bid to make the public believe Duterte is winning the war against the revolutionary movement, in the hope of securing billions upon billions of pesos more funds for the military.”

Read more: Fake NPA surrenders source of military corruption -- CPP

AFP soldiers abduct 4-year old boy

Four-year old MJ was forcibly abducted by armed elements of the 203rd Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on 12 May in Rizal town, Occidental Mindoro. About 10 soldiers broke into the home of the Fernandez family, guardians of MJ, at around 7:00pm, aimed their guns at family members and forcibly grabbed the boy. The soldiers overpowered the Fernandez family and hastily drove away, almost running over the guardians.

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NDFP forces denounce intensifying attacks against Dumagats

Macario Liwanag, Rizal province spokesperson of the New People’s Army, reported how local police forces and the 80th Infantry Battalion – Armed Forces of the Philippines summoned 30 indigenous Dumagats on 29 April to Antipolo City to supposedly receive financial aid from the Duterte government. The Dumagats, however, were promptly arrested and charged with ‘association’ with the revolutionary movement in Rizal province.

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Four years after Marawi War, hundreds of thousands still homeless

The people of Marawi, four years after the Duterte terrorist war and bombing in May 2017, still suffer with more than 320,000 people remaining homeless. They remain in evacuation centers without the basic needs for health and protection against Covid-19.

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Canadian Parliament holds briefing on Philippines rights situation

Acting on increasing concerns of Canadians and the international community on the deteriorating human rights situation in the Philippines, the International Human Rights Subcommittee of the House of Commons of Canada conducted a briefing on 4 May 2021 with experts and human rights advocates from the Philippines and Canada.

Read more: Canadian Parliament holds briefing on Philippines rights situation