Candidates bat for resuming GRP-NDFP peace talks
- Published: 31 March 2022 31 March 2022
Vice President and candidate for President Maria Leonor Robredo reiterated her commitment for the resumption of peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, if she wins in the 9 May 2022 elections. Robredo spokesperson Atty. Barry Gutierrez made the assurance on 23 March, during the Peace and the Presidentiables interview series organized by the Citizens Alliance for Just Peace.
Anti-communist vandals deface Metro Manila bookstores
- Published: 31 March 2022 31 March 2022
In the early hours of 22 March, unknown vandals defaced the signage and doors of two prominent Philippines bookstores, Popular Bookstore and Solidaridad, with red painted graffiti of ‘NPA’ and ‘terrorist’. NPA stands for New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Read more: Anti-communist vandals deface Metro Manila bookstores
Community teachers, health worker killed in Davao
- Published: 15 March 2022 15 March 2022
Community volunteer school teachers Chad Booc and Gelejurain Ngujo II, community health worker Elegyn Balonga and their accompanying drivers Tirso Añar and Robert Aragon were killed by Armed Forces of the Philippines troopers in New Bataan town, Davao de Oro province on 24 February 2022. Families, colleagues and human rights groups condemn the massacre of the ‘New Bataan 5’ and called on the Commission on Human Rights and other groups to conduct further investigation.
Read more: Community teachers, health worker killed in Davao
Human rights group condemns search warrant abuses
- Published: 15 March 2022 15 March 2022
Philippine human rights alliance Karapatan on 9 March welcomed the dismissal by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court of illegal possession of firearms charges against trade union organizer Dennise Velasco, who was arrested on 10 December 2020 along with six others social activists. Among those arrested with Velasco were fellow trade union organizer Rodrigo Esparago and Manila Today editor Lady Ann Salem, whose cases were dismissed by a Mandaluyong court on 5 February 2021.
Read more: Human rights group condemns search warrant abuses
Duterte names new COMELEC Chairman, Commissioners
- Published: 15 March 2022 15 March 2022
The government of President Rodrigo Duterte announced on 8 March the appointment of Saidamen Pangarungan as the new Chairman of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), replacing Sheriff Abas who retired on 2 February. Duterte also appointed two new COMELEC Commissioners, George Erwin Garcia and Aimee Torrefranca-Neri, replacing former Commissioners Antonio Kho and Rowena Guanzon who also retired on 2 February. With the new appointments, the election body is now composed entirely of Duterte appointees.
Read more: Duterte names new COMELEC Chairman, Commissioners
Duterte security forces kill 2 children in Samar
- Published: 28 February 2022 28 February 2022
Operating troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines fired their weapons indiscriminately on a group of peasants in Roxas village, Catubig, Northern Samar province on 8 February. Two children, aged 12 and 9 years old were killed. Another child was seriously wounded. The children were with their parents tending their coconut kiln when fired upon by the AFP troopers.
EU Parliament calls halt to arms exports to Duterte regime
- Published: 28 February 2022 28 February 2022
The European Parliament passed a resolution anew on 17 February deploring the “deteriorating human rights situation under President Rodrigo Duterte” and called this time on EU Member States “to refrain from all exports of arms, surveillance technology and other equipment that can be used for internal repression” by the Duterte regime.
Read more: EU Parliament calls halt to arms exports to Duterte regime