Pilgrims for Peace demand transparency on Ka Oris, Ka Pika killings
- Published: 15 November 2021 15 November 2021
The Pilgrims for Peace alliance of Philippine religious leaders and academics called on the Duterte government on 12 November for the release of “the full, complete, and authentic information and documentation in the killing of Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos and Eighfel “Ka Pila” dela Peña.
Read more: Pilgrims for Peace demand transparency on Ka Oris, Ka Pika killings
Philippine rural villages experience ‘Rain of Terror’
- Published: 15 November 2021 15 November 2021
In a span of 12 weeks, from mid-August to early November, the Armed Forces of the Philippines have been dropping bombs, rockets and artillery shells in various villages in the Philippine countryside. There is at least one bombing operation every two weeks. Despite AFP claims that these are aimed at killing New People’s Army members and destroying NPA camps, many of the bombs land in villages and kill the civilian population.
Read more: Philippine rural villages experience ‘Rain of Terror’
Condemnation widens against Duterte regime’s book purging
- Published: 15 November 2021 15 November 2021
The biggest book industry alliance in the Philippines recently joined the many human rights defenders, academe, youth and activist organizations expressing outrage over the purging of ‘subversive’ materials from state university libraries by security forces of the Rodrigo Duterte regime.
Read more: Condemnation widens against Duterte regime’s book purging
River dredging masks illegal black sand mining in Cagayan
- Published: 15 November 2021 15 November 2021
Environment activists, fishers, religious leaders and local town officials in the northern province of Cagayan are crying foul over the ‘river dredging operations’ being conducted by Chinese vessels at the mouth of the Cagayan River, saying the operations are a smokescreen to illegal black sand or magnetite mining. The Manila government has ruled in 2016 that any offshore mining activity within 500 meters of the shoreline and any inland mining activity within 200 meters from the shoreline are prohibited.
Read more: River dredging masks illegal black sand mining in Cagayan
Unarmed NPA official, medic murdered
- Published: 31 October 2021 31 October 2021
The Communist Party of the Philippines announced on 31 October the killing of New People’s Army Spokesperson Jorge Madlos and NPA medic Eighfel dela Peña on Friday, 29 October, in the town of Impasug-ong, Bukidnon province in the southern island of Mindanao. Madlos, popularly known as Ka Oris, and Dela Peña were last known to be on board a motorcycle en route for Ka Oris’ medical treatment.
CPP Spokesperson Marco Valbuena said the two were both unarmed and were not killed in a gunfight, contrary to statements of Duterte government officials.
Philippine nurses resign en masse
- Published: 31 October 2021 31 October 2021
Nurses in the Philippines are resigning en masse, because they are underpaid and have long working hours in the frontlines of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Their demands for better working conditions and higher pay have been rejected by the government, despite the hospitals having fulfilled all the requirements for the release of the pandemic compensatory funds.
Philippine police massacre civilians in Masbate
- Published: 31 October 2021 31 October 2021
Armed elements of the Philippine National Police killed five civilians in their home in Bugtong village, Mandaon town, Masbate province in the early hours of 24 October. The PNP named only one of their victims, Ernie Rosero, claiming that he was a New People’s Army official and that all five were killed in a “gunfight” with the police.