Mindanao communities put up stiff resistance vs US mining companies
- Published: 15 July 2022 15 July 2022
Indigenous lumad, Moros and local farmers in the communities of the Far South Mindanao region continue their resistance against land grabbing and plunder by US mining companies and the repression of the Manila government protecting these foreign mining interests.
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ICC Prosecutor pushes resumption of probe on Duterte government
- Published: 30 June 2022 30 June 2022
International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan requested the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber on 24 June to allow his office to resume its investigation on crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Philippines, despite a request for deferment from the Duterte government. In his 53-page request, ICC Prosecutor Khan declared that the Manila government has not shown that “it has investigated or is investigating” crimes within the ICC’s jurisdiction.
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Government ban on online media critics denounced
- Published: 30 June 2022 30 June 2022
The Duterte government’s order to block Philippine online users from visiting 25 websites it deemed “to be affiliated to and are supporting terrorists and terrorist organizations” drew widespread condemnation. Included in the list of banned websites are those of the Communist Party of the Philippines, National Democratic Front of the Philippines and its allied organizations, CPP Founding Chairman Jose Maria Sison, local online news organizations and local community and activist organizations. Also included are websites of international organizations and news blogs.
NPA defends Lumad and Moro communities in Sultan Kudarat
- Published: 30 June 2022 30 June 2022
The Communist Party of the Philippines praised the New People’s Army in Sultan Kudarat province, in southern Mindanao Island, for defending the indigenous Lumad and Moro communities in Palimbang town against landgrabbers and armed attacks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. From 15 – 20 June, units of the NPA mounted three successful armed offensives against the 28th Infantry Battalion of the AFP in the villages of Balwan and Molon.
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‘Anti-Terrorism Council’ labels Jalandoni, 5 others as terrorists
- Published: 15 June 2022 15 June 2022
“I am not a terrorist,” declared Luis G. Jalandoni, upon learning of his designation as a terrorist by the Duterte government’s ‘Anti-Terrorism Council’. He added, “I have worked for more than three decades for a just and lasting peace in the Philippines.” Jalandoni is a Senior Adviser of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines Negotiating Panel in peace talks with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. Prior to 2016, he served as Chairperson of the NDFP peace panel for more than 20 years.
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Tarlac police arrest 97 farmers, supporters
- Published: 15 June 2022 15 June 2022
The Philippine National Police arrested 97 agrarian reform beneficiaries and their advocates in a hacienda in Tarlac province, northern Philippines, on 9 June 2022. Among those arrested are six farmer beneficiaries, four minors, two senior citizens, 45 farmer advocates, 30 students, 11 social researchers and three drivers. The police accused them of membership in the New People’s Army and charged them with obstruction of justice, some with malicious mischief.
Marcopper Mining ordered to pay mining disaster victims
- Published: 15 June 2022 15 June 2022
After a legal battle of 21 years, the Marinduque Regional Trial Court in central Philippines ruled on 16 May 2022 to grant the damages plea of 30 complainants against the Marcopper Mining Corporation for causing the one of the country’s worst mining disasters in December 1993. The court ordered Marcopper to pay PhP200,000 (US$3,800) in temperate damages and PhP100,00 (US$1,900) in moral damages to each of at least 30 plaintiffs that filed the case in 2001. Marcopper was also ordered to pay PhP1 million (US$19,000) in exemplary damages to all the plaintiffs.
Read more: Marcopper Mining ordered to pay mining disaster victims