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BATO DARES ICC ‘I am here, arrest me!’
By: Ann JEnireene Gomez and Alvin Murcia With GLEN JACOB JOSE, Tiziana Celine Piatos AND JOM GARNER, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa warned of “big trouble” if the International Criminal Court comes to the Philippines to arrest him or anyone else. “I already expected that, their insistence on meddling in our domestic affairs. Let them, let them do what they want,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino in an interview with Frontline Tonight. “I’ll be here, I am not hiding. If they have a warrant of arrest, let them serve the warrant,” Dela Rosa said, with one caveat — that he’ll only allow himself to be arrested by Philippine authorities and not by any foreigner ordered to do so by the ICC. Dela Rosa was responding to a statement of Senate President Miguel Zubiri that the government will have no choice but to turn over anyone to the ICC if the arrest warrant will be coursed through local courts and will be served by local authorities. “We are still a sovereign country, and they (accused) are still citizens of this country. They do that with many other countries. However, the danger there is if Senator Bato dela Rosa goes to a country that is friendly to the ICC, then they will arrest him. Here in the Philippines, the process is they must coordinate with the local courts,” Zubiri said. The ICC’s Appeals Chamber voted 3-2 on Tuesday to deny the Philippines’ appeal to stop the ICC Office of the Prosecutor from resuming its investigation. “There’s no problem if the Philippine government would be the one to arrest me, but not the foreigners,” he said. “If it’s the government of the Philippines that would decide to arrest me, what can I do? But if they (ICC) would come here to take me, our government would have none of that.” “There’s going to be big trouble if they would insist on coming here against our government’s expressed will. That would be too blatant an interference and they would be treating us like fools,” he added. Chill Meanwhile, Senator Francis Tolentino, who offered to stand as legal counsel for a fellow lawmaker in the ICC probe, advised Dela Rosa to “Just chill”. “I accept the proposal of Sen. Dela Rosa to a lawyer for him. I am now speaking as the counsel for Senator Dela Rosa,” said Tolentino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, in an online press conference yesterday. He said nothing has changed in the Philippines’ position on the dismissal of the ICC Pre-Chamber in the country’s appeal regarding the probe of the “war on drugs.” The ICC, he added, has no jurisdiction in the Philippines. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday advised former president Rodrigo Duterte and Dela Rosa to stay away from countries where the ICC has influence. Dela Rosa is accused of implementing the alleged iron-fist policy of Duterte as a Davao regional police official and later as Duterte’s first Philippine National Police chief in 2016. “They are citizens of the republic who also need our protection,” Remulla said, adding that Duterte and Dela Rosa should refrain from going to countries in Europe. Why Sara? But even before Remulla came out with his advice, Dela Rosa had already said he would not deliver himself to the ICC. “I will make sure not to go to those countries that are friendly with the ICC,” he said. He also brushed aside efforts to involve Vice President Sara Duterte in the ICC probe, calling the move politically motivated against one who could become the country’s next president. He reiterated that the Vice President’s name was never mentioned in proceedings that looked into the alleged activities of the so-called Davao Death Squad. On Wednesday, the Department of Justice maintained that the ICC has no jurisdiction to investigate the extrajudicial killings allegedly committed during the Duterte administration’s so-called war on drugs. The DoJ expressed deep disappointment and strong disagreement with the denial by the ICC of the Office of the Solicitor General’s appeal to stop the probe on account of the Philippines having withdrawn from the ICC, and its having a fully functioning justice system. It said the rejection of the appeal was based on the ICC’s flawed interpretation of its jurisdiction as a court of last resort — that it could only assume jurisdiction when a member country showed it was not capable of investigating and prosecuting crimes within its borders. The DoJ pointed out that the principle of complementarity, enshrined in the Rome Statute that created the ICC, recognizes the jurisdiction of local courts to try crimes within their respective countries. “The dissenting opinions of two esteemed justices out of the five-judge panel highlight the grave errors in the majority decision,” the DoJ said in a statement. “These dissenting justices rightly recognized the Philippines’ commitment to upholding the rule of law and maintaining an independent and effective legal system.” “Their dissenting opinions underscore the existence of a legitimate difference of legal interpretation, casting doubt on the majority’s ruling,” it added. Remulla had lambasted the ICC for meddling in Philippine affairs and said the government would not honor any arrest warrant issued by the ICC. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his predecessor, Duterte, had been firm in saying the ICC had no jurisdiction over events that transpired in the Philippines. PNP no ICC lackey Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police said it would not be dictated to by the ICC as it recognizes the stance of the government that the international tribunal has no jurisdiction over the conduct of the drug war probe. “The PNP is under the executive department and we will follow the lead of the national government that there is a question with respect to sovereignty and jurisdiction of the ICC,” PNP spokesperson P/Col. Jean Fajardo said. Duterte, as Davao City mayor from 2011 to 2016 and as the country’s president from 2016 to 2022, is seen as the ICC prosecutor’s primary target, along with his former police chief, Dela Rosa. Government data showed that about 6,200 people died in “legitimate” anti-drug operations during the Duterte presidency, including law enforcement officers killed in action. Government critics claim as many as 15,000 to 30,000 were killed. Meanwhile, Vice President Duterte appeared to have been included in the complaints filed with the ICC prosecutor, along with her father’s long-time aide, the now Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. “No comment,” was the terse reply of the Vice President’s camp on her alleged inclusion in the ICC complaints. Go, on the other hand, said the ICC had no “business meddling in our internal affairs, where our courts remain fully functional and free from political interference.” “Probes into the war on drugs are presently being conducted by the competent authorities. Filipinos should be judged by fellow Filipinos before Philippine courts operating under Philippine laws,” Go said. With the ICC ruling, the DoJ vowed to continue to defend the sovereignty and integrity of the nation’s legal system and strongly urged the ICC to reconsider its decision and recognize the Philippines’ unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the pursuit of justice. “Furthermore, we would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to the well-being and support of all victims affected by the drug war,” Remulla’s department said. “The DoJ, in collaboration with other relevant agencies, is willing and able to assist those who had suffered harm or loss during this challenging period. We encourage all individuals with evidence and witnesses to come forward and share their testimonies with us,” it added. Former president Duterte, through his former spokesperson Harry Roque, shrugged off the ICC decision. In a Facebook post, Roque said Duterte has always maintained that as an independent and sovereign state, only Philippine courts can try any crime committed in Philippine territory. “He has time and again said that because of this, he will face all his accusers anytime but before Philippine courts and before Filipino judges only,” Roque said. In a television interview, Zubiri said the upper chamber would “not give up” Dela Rosa should the ICC issue a warrant of arrest against the latter. “Without the local warrant of arrest issued by the courts, then as far as I’m concerned, he is still a working member of the Senate and accorded of course that respect, similar to Senator De Lima and Senator [Antonio] Trillanes,” he said. “Only when the warrant of arrest was issued, then we allowed or we agreed that he may be taken in custody,” he added. The post BATO DARES ICC ‘I am here, arrest me!’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl judge steps down from jailed Duterte critic’s case
The lawyers for jailed Philippine human rights activist Leila de Lima vowed to win her freedom after a judge who recently denied her bail quit the trial on Friday. De Lima, one of the most outspoken critics of former president Rodrigo Duterte and his deadly anti-drug war, has been in prison for more than six years on narcotics-related charges. She says the three charges -- two of which have been dismissed -- were fabricated to silence her. Romeo Buenaventura, the judge in the trial over the remaining charge, stepped down on Friday, saying his decisions in the case are "vulnerable to charges of bias and partiality", according to a copy of the ruling seen by AFP. The case will now be assigned to a new court that de Lima's lawyers said will hopefully grant bail, which Buenaventura had denied on 7 June. De Lima's lawyer Filibon Tacardon told AFP that the campaigner is "steadfast in her resolve that her vindication is near". Buenaventura faced calls from de Lima and other defendants to recuse himself on the grounds that he had failed to disclose that his brother had served as a lawyer for a prosecution witness who had since recanted his testimony. The judge has rejected allegations of bias. De Lima, 63, is accused of taking money from inmates inside the largest prison in the Philippines to allow them to sell drugs while she was the justice minister from 2010 to 2015. Multiple witnesses, including prison gang bosses, died or recanted their testimonies, resulting in the dismissal of two charges against de Lima. The mother of two still faces life in prison if she is convicted on the remaining charge. Since President Ferdinand Marcos came into office in June last year, there have been renewed calls from human rights groups, foreign diplomats and politicians for de Lima's release. While in jail, she suffered various health problems including one that required surgery. In October 2022, she was briefly taken hostage during an attempted breakout by three detained Islamist militants. Before her arrest in February 2017, de Lima had spent a decade investigating "death squad" killings allegedly orchestrated by Duterte during his time as Davao City mayor and in the early days of his presidency. The post Phl judge steps down from jailed Duterte critic’s case appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ex-Quiboloy follower: Duterte, Sara left KOJC’s ‘Glory Mountain’ with guns
Working as a landscaper at KOJC, a witness recounts how Quiboloy would allegedly arrive at Glory Mountain on a chopper with large bags containing firearms of different calibers.....»»
Ping blasts flip-flopping Vice President Sara accuser
Coming from a “flip-flopping witness,” the accusation of retired police officer Arturo Lascañas against Vice President Sara Duterte linking her to extrajudicial killings in Davao City lacks credibility and “cannot withstand the standards of a fair trial,” former senator Panfilo Lacson said yesterday......»»
Senate committee cites Socorro ‘cult’ leader, 3 others in contempt
Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. leader Jey Rence Quilario alias Senior Agila and three others were cited in contempt by the Senate committee during a public hearing on Thursday. Senator Risa Hontiveros made the motion after Quilario and the others repeatedly denied that forced marriages of minors happened and were facilitated by the Socorro Bayanihan Service Inc. despite the testimonies of child witnesses present at the hearing. “I respectfully move to cite in contempt Jey Rence Quilaro, Mamerto Galanida, Janeth Ajoc and Karren Sanico,” Hontiveros said. With no objection from the members of the committee, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, ordered the detention of the four individuals at the Senate premises. Speaking at the hearing, a member of the alleged cult group, alias Jane, narrated how she was forced to marry a fellow member at the age of 14. Jane directly pointed to Quilario as the one who chose her 18-year-old husband. She added they were forced to have sex after being married, or they would be accused of disobeying God. Jane likewise said her mother, despite being married to her father, was forced to marry another member. She said she decided to run away from the village due to the unwanted marriage and forced labor she had experienced throughout her stay in Sitio Kapihan under Quilario's leadership. Another member, Lovely Novie Savandal, also narrated how her 12-year-old sister was forced to marry someone she didn’t know personally. Savandal said Quilario was forcing every married couple to have sexual intercourse under pain of punishment. Quilario denied that forced marriages were happening in their group. “Hindi po, hindi po nangyayari (no, that did not happen),” he said. Ajoc also denied that there were child marriages, although a witness in the hearing earlier said that Ajoc's own child was among those who were married at the age of 12. Galanida, meanwhile, said he was not aware of such happenings. “I do not know anything about mayroong ganyang nangyayari sa Kapihan… Walang child marriages kasi po kung meron man, meron dapat ‘yung parents mismo ‘yung magko-complain,” he said. The panel’s investigation came after Hontiveros filed Proposed Senate Resolution 797 seeking a Senate investigation into the cases of rape, sexual abuse, forced labor and child marriage allegedly perpetrated by the group. Dela Rosa also introduced Senate Resolution 796, which aims to look into the alleged presence and operation of a shabu laboratory and a heavily armed private army at the group's premises in Surigao del Norte. The post Senate committee cites Socorro ‘cult’ leader, 3 others in contempt appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P75-M PAGCOR mess: CIDG launches manhunt vs. suspect
The Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has launched a nationwide manhunt for the primary suspect in the P75-million controversy in the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) after he and four others were able to elude arrest during a recent raid in their lair in Loac, Pangasinan. The PNP-CIDG director, Major General Romeo Caramat, identified the primary suspect as Jewel Castro. He and certain Ethan Eleazar, Norbert Escalante, Enrico San Miguel, and Rebecca Ferolina managed to escape even before the operatives swooped down a secluded illegal online sabong operation in Loac. Castro and his cohorts in PAGCOR are the subject of a top-to-bottom investigation ordered by PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco in connection with the missing P75-million cash performance bond exposed by an investor and officer of a corporation, an erstwhile franchisee of the disbanded e-sabong operation. The raid conducted by CIDG coincided with the lodging of a graft complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman by one Joaquin Sy, against a former and two top officials of PAGCOR and three private individuals headed by Jewel Castro. Sy, who is the treasurer and the chairman of the board of Kamura Highlands Gaming and Holdings Inc., in his complaint said that on 4 April 2022, he personally posted cash for the performance bond at PAGCOR's office in Malate, Manila on behalf of their corporation. He provided two manager’s checks payable to PAGCOR and drawn against his personal bank accounts. In return, PAGCOR issued official receipts and other documents proving the posting of a bond by the corporation. Under PAGCOR’s guidelines, only a corporation can apply to be a franchisee of e-sabong operation. Sy, however, said that when then-president Rodrigo Duterte disbanded the e-sabong on May 2022, he requested PAGCOR in writing of the intention of his corporation to withdraw the cash performance bond but to no avail. He added that later on, he was told by PAGCOR's Assistant Vice President for Finance Lolita Gonzales that a P75-million Land Bank check was already issued to one Jewel Castro sometime in July 2022. Meanwhile, in a press statement, the newly-appointed PAGCOR chair said, “We have launched an internal investigation and we are trying to re-create the sequence of events since the department allegedly involved, the E-Sabong Department, has already been disbanded.” Tengco hinted that the release of a check in the name of an individual not to the corporation that posted it, could not be possible without the connivance of personnel within PAGCOR. “We will bring the perpetrators to justice if indeed there was any anomaly,” he stressed. On the other hand, a confidant of Castro in his clandestine e-sabong operation who refused to be identified said that Castro expressed his intention to cooperate with PAGCOR’s ongoing investigation but fears for his safety, considering the persons and the amount of money involved in the anomaly. Castro is considered the key figure to unlock the mystery of the missing P75-million cash performance bond. The post P75-M PAGCOR mess: CIDG launches manhunt vs. suspect appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Red-tagged individuals have only themselves to blame
These human rights groups and activists have been haranguing the government for every perceived action that threatens their democratic space or their existence as an organization. They are always at the forefront, slamming the government and its officials who do not conform to their progressive and radical views. They rev up people into a frenzy and rally them against certain policies and programs that will neutralize the revolutionary activities of the armed left and its front organizations. They organize protest marches and rallies and call on the people to reject government initiatives to eradicate the more than 50-year-old communist urgency, like the establishment of the NTF-ELCAC, which has successfully stopped the resurrection of the communist rebels. The NTF-ELCAC is an ingenious program commenced in the previous Duterte administration, institutionalizing the government’s “whole of nation” approach in confronting the ongoing communist rebellion and against groups that are front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines or CPP. The socio-economic program of the NTF-ELCAC at the barangay level succeeded in dismantling the communist hold on the depressed and neglected barangays. It led to hundreds of NPAs surrendering and returning to the law’s fold. These left-leaning individuals and aggregations exhibit their nationalist pretensions by embroiling themselves with national issues related to the people’s needs and sufferings, picturing themselves as victims of human rights violations committed allegedly by the government against them. They use social media to whip up support for them and use compelling political propaganda subjects like alleged summary killings, unlawful arrests, tortures, and harassment of political activists and progressive groups. Their comrades in Congress who managed to be elected have become effective political mouthpieces against the government. They are good at using the mass media, which is just too happy to accommodate them to boost their sales. Some have infiltrated the government bureaucracy and used their positions and offices to advance their political ideologies in the guise of good government. They have been successful, too, in recruiting young students of impressionable minds to embrace their causes, who end up either young NPA rebels, leading student activists, or dead resulting from government clashes with government troops. These self-proclaimed nationalists have peppered the air with accusations of extrajudicial killings against the government and have defended suspected terrorists and subversives when arrested and prosecuted. They readily proclaim their innocence. They have taken the cudgels of citizens murdered by common criminals or political warlords — but they are deathly silent when the communist armed rebels waylay, ambush, and murderously assault military men and women as well as civilians engaged in humanitarian missions during the occurrence of natural disasters. Even when they are confronted with this telling inconsistency and dared to condemn these terrorist atrocities, these leftists remain tight-lipped. They have never condemned the New People’s Army for its terroristic and undemocratic activities. Given this implied but glaring support to the enemies of the state by their deafening silence, can we reasonably accuse the government officials of classifying or describing them as supporters of the NPA or closeted members of the armed rebellion? Certainly not. They have only themselves to blame for being tagged as red supporters. Why should they be afraid, ashamed, or embarrassed to be called communists or communist supporters? The Anti-Subversion Law, where being a member of the CPP is a crime, has long been repealed. So why the fear or shame of being called a communist advocate or supporter? These democratic pretenders must unclothe themselves of their camouflage and join the parliamentary struggle. They should publicly articulate the virtues of communism against democracy and seek elective posts based on their true ideological selves. They should not use the Bill of Rights to undermine the authority of the constituted authorities, remaining as secret enemies of democracy while masquerading as its champions. It is about time they unmask themselves and be proud of their ideological beliefs. They should put an end to their pretense. They should be principled enough to present themselves as ideologues of communism — own to their loyalty to such ideology — and profess it publicly. Let the people judge who — and what they are — and not what they pretend to be. The post Red-tagged individuals have only themselves to blame appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CHR to cooperate with ICC on drug probe
The Commission on Human Rights maintained a steadfast stance in its commitment to work with the International Criminal Court to probe the country's war on drugs on the watch of then-President Rodrigo Duterte. In the deliberations for the department's budget for 2024 before the House Committee on Appropriations, CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc assured lawmakers the agency would cooperate with the ICC by furnishing evidence it gathered in its past investigation. "As you may recall, the CHR has investigated extra-judicial killings in relation to the drug war before. And out of that investigation, the CHR has generated a report on EJK in relation to the drug war," Palpal-latoc said. The confirmation came following a question by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman about the extent of cooperation the human rights watchdog intends to grant to the ICC as it previously declared that they are "willing to cooperate" into the drug war probe, which has resulted "in thousands of extra-judicial killings, particularly the impoverished and marginalized drug suspects." About 7,000 people were killed under Duterte's drug war, based on the government's data, the majority of whom were from low-income families. However, local and international human rights organizations estimate it exceeded 30,000. According to Palpal-latoc, they are willing to supply the ICC evidence that the CHR already gathered in the previous investigation. However, he stressed that since the agency has yet to learn the details of the case filed in the ICC, the parameters of their cooperation are unknown. This, however, did not sit well with Lagman, asserting that the CHR should have been aware of this matter, taking into account the accusation made openly and publicly. According to the veteran lawmaker, CHR's pronouncement of cooperation without initiating communication with the ICC was merely a "soundbite" and a "press release" for the media. "Why don't you know? It's an open and public accusation before the ICC against the culprits in this war on drugs. Do you have a copy of the accusation brought before the ICC by some affected victims and advocates?" Lagman said. "You are fully aware that the official position of the national government is not to cooperate with the ICC and that bold statement is, in fact, a challenge to that position," he added. Palpal-latoc, on the other hand, countered that the CHR is "not a party" to the ICC investigation. Nonetheless, the CHR chief said that they are willing to provide legal assistance to the victims of human rights violations as well as witness protection pursuant to their mandate. Calls were made to cease the ICC's probe into Duterte's "war on drugs" that claimed thousands of lives during his six years of power that started in 2016. Justice Secretary Boying Remulla maintained a firm stance that the country would not engage in the ICC, claiming that the Philippine government would not let the court interfere in the country's business. Senator Bato de la Rosa, who led Duterte's anti-drug campaign, locally known as "Oplan Tokhang" previously said that he is ready in case a warrant of arrest has been served, but only by Philippine authorities and not by any foreigner directed by the ICC. The former PNP chief and Vice President Sara Duterte were the Philippine officials mentioned in the ICC prosecutor's report on the killings. The post CHR to cooperate with ICC on drug probe appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gun-toting ex-cop in viral road rage incident apologizes, claims self-defense
Wilfredo “Willie” Gonzales, the dismissed police officer in the viral road rage incident in Quezon City, has apologized for pulling out and cocking his gun at an unarmed cyclist. During Tuesday’s investigation of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs into the viral road rage incident, Gonzales admitted that he assaulted cyclist Allan Bandiola during their altercation near Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City last month. “I apologize for that part – for hitting him in his head and for pulling out and cocking my gun at him. I apologize to everyone, not just [to Bandiola], but to all of you. It was my fault. I was shocked,” Gonzales told lawmakers. The dismissed police officer, who has yet to return his separation pay despite being ordered to do so, claimed that he did such an act to defend himself from Bandiola. “In my mind, I must defend myself because I have yet to recover from my spine operation. He admitted that he attacked me. For me, it was solely to shock him so could not hit me,” he said. “If he catches me, he might kill me because I am still weak. I am yet to cover from my operation,” he added. For his part, Bandiola confirmed that he planned to retaliate after being hit by Gonzales. “It was my normal reaction because he hit me in the head. That is why I got off my bike,” he said. “He could have just talked to me.” ‘Gloves with hard knuckles’ Meanwhile, Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito asked Gonzales about his claim that Bandiola was wearing gloves with hard knuckles during their altercation last month, which the latter allegedly used to cause a dent in his car. “Mr. Gonzales claimed that Mr. Bandiola was wearing gloves for motorcycles that had knuckles. Is that correct?” Ejercito asked. Gonzales replied, “Yes.” Ejercito then asked Bandiola whether he was wearing gloves, which the latter denied. Bandiola’s claim was validated by a screencap from the now-deleted viral incident, shown during the Senate panel’s investigation. This prompted Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who presides the hearing, to interrogate Gonzales. “Mr. Gonzales, this picture won’t lie. He was not wearing any gloves. Now, you are making stories that he was wearing gloves with hard knuckles. Look at it,” Dela Rosa said. Gonzales stood by his claim that Bandiola was wearing gloves, stressing that police who responded to the incident could prove his claim. “The police who were there can prove that he was wearing gloves. I’m telling you the truth, I’m not lying,” he said. The dismissed police officer’s response angered Dela Rosa, who served as Philippine National Police chief during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. “This picture can prove that he was not wearing gloves. Mr. Gonzales, whatever you say, people who watch us will say that you are a former cop,” he said. “It will be a shame that people will always call police liars. You’re a police, I am a police. We don’t want our organization to be branded as liars,” he said. Unfazed, Gonzales insisted that Bandiola was wearing gloves in his right hand, which Bandiola denied. Ejercito supported Bandiola’s claim by showing another screencap which proved that the cyclist was not wearing any gloves. Dela Rosa, who identified himself as a cyclist, echoed Ejercito’s observation. “I am also a biker, wearing gloves with hard knuckles would make you look like a fool.” He then urged Gonzales not to manufacture stories in the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, which he chairs. After the hearing, Bandiola maintained that he would not file cases against Gonzales. “People who know me know what kind of person I am. They know the truth. I will let God take care of him,” he said. The post Gun-toting ex-cop in viral road rage incident apologizes, claims self-defense appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippine director puts women at the ‘heart’ of drug war film
Widows and mothers are at the "heart" of a gritty documentary by Philippine filmmaker Sheryl Rose Andes, who turns the camera on women left behind by former president Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug war. More than 6,000 people were killed in police anti-drug raids during Duterte's six-year term, which ended in June 2022, government data shows. Rights groups estimate the real figure was in the tens of thousands, mostly poor men living in slums who died at the hands of law enforcers, hitmen and vigilantes. Many of the victims had wives or partners and mothers, who have had to deal with the heartbreak and hardship of losing a loved one and often the family's main breadwinner. In her new documentary "Maria", Andes follows two of these women, Mary Ann Domingo and Maria Deparine, as they struggle to survive and find justice. "We have to register that this thing really happened. And now people need to see what has happened to their families," Andes told AFP in an interview. Andes said she was inspired to make the film out of fear that Filipinos could forget, or never learn, about the brutal period in their nation's history. She got a "huge wake-up call" when one of her students in a filmmaking course she teaches at Mapua University in Manila expressed surprise that the drug war was "really happening". That moment in 2020 -- four years into Duterte's drug war, which made headlines around the world and sparked an international investigation into alleged human rights abuses -- left her aghast. Three years later, "Maria" is the first full-length documentary to compete in the country's independent film festival Cinemalaya, which opened August 4. "Maria" -- a common name for women in the Catholic-majority Philippines -- focuses on the harrowing experiences of Domingo and Deparine, which Andes says gives the film "heart and emotion". The documentary shows the women doing menial jobs to support their families and making tearful visits to the tombs of their loved ones. "I zoomed in on the details because it should not just be about numbers," said Andes. "This is a story about women. I don't want this to be remembered as a drug war story." 'It is very difficult' Deparine lost two of her sons within days of each other in September 2016. One was with a local drug dealer when they were abducted by unidentified men. They were both shot in the head and their bodies dumped under a bridge. Six days later, a second son was arrested by police at the home of a drug-dealing couple. He was later found dead under another bridge. Since their deaths, Deparine, who works in a fish cannery and voted for Duterte in 2016, has moved multiple times with her husband and surviving son as they struggle to make enough money to pay the rent. In the same month Deparine lost her sons, Domingo's partner and teenage son were killed in a nighttime police raid while the family slept in their shanty home. Later, she and three of her surviving children had to flee for fear of their safety. Lawyer Kristina Conti, who is helping Domingo seek justice for their deaths, said the four officers who allegedly shot dead her partner and son had been freed on bail and were back in uniform after serving short suspensions. That's despite the men facing a homicide trial. "As a mother who lost her partner, it is very difficult. At times I just wanted to give up, and at times I actually did," Domingo, 49, told AFP in an interview. "This (film) is our chance to show to the world what happened to us." 'Political stand' Catholic priest Flaviano Villanueva, who appears in "Maria", said widows, mothers and grandmothers endured "unimaginable" hardships to keep their remaining family members alive. Villanueva, who runs a support group for the families of the drug war's dead, said there was a "social stigma" that led to discrimination against those left behind. Orphans were "bullied" at school and widows excluded from government assistance because "her husband got killed for being a drug addict", he told AFP. Another woman who features prominently in the film is former Philippines vice president Leni Robredo, a vocal critic of the drug war who is seen consoling Domingo and Deparine. Robredo ran in the 2022 presidential election but lost by a huge margin to the son and namesake of the country's late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who has continued the drug war. Andes, who spent a decade working for a non-government organisation before turning her hand to filmmaking, refuses to shy away from difficult subjects. She said documentaries were a "powerful tool" in retelling history, but she feared that Filipinos preferred "escapism" and were not prepared to face grim reality. Despite Duterte stepping down more than a year ago and Marcos Jr vowing to take the drug war in a new direction, Andes said the killings "never stopped". "A documentary takes a political stand," she said. "We are not fiction and we are not here to titillate." The post Philippine director puts women at the ‘heart’ of drug war film appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Graft buster clears Cusi
Citing the presumption of regularity, the Office of the Ombudsman threw out the graft complaint of a New York-based billionaire against former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, other Department of Energy officials, Davao City-based executive Dennis Uy, and several others over the sale of 90 percent of the shares of the Malampaya natural gas consortium. On 18 October 2021, US-based geologist Balgamel Domingo and Filipino-American anti-Duterte leaders Rodel Rodis and Loida Nicolas-Lewis filed charges against Cusi, Uy, and the others involved in the sale of the Malampaya stake to the Udenna group of Uy. In a copy of the ruling obtained by the Daily Tribune, the Ombudsman said it could not delve into the complaint on the legality of the transaction since “the authority to make such a determination belongs to the court.” “Seemingly, this complaint is in actuality a collateral attack on the validity of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement,” it said. The decision declared that “matters of such tenor are not determinable in a preliminary investigation before the Ombudsman’s Office.” “Without any judicial determination decreeing the illegality of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement, this Office is left with nothing but to acknowledge its validity,” the ruling said. The Ombudsman cited a precedent in the case of Teresita Buenaventura vs Metrobank, in a ruling that stated: “The burden of showing that a contract is simulated rests on the party impugning the contract.” “This is because of the presumed validity of the contract that has been duly executed,” the Ombudsman ruling read. “Wherefore, the criminal charges for violation of Section 3(e) and of Republic Act 3019 against the respondents are dismissed for lack of probable cause.” The ruling was signed by members of a Special Panel of Investigators composed of Ronald Allan Ramos, Josephine Mae Rosapapan, Francisco Alan Molina and Bonifacio Mandrilla. Prime takes control The operation of the Malampaya project was recently assumed by the Razon group’s Prime Energy which bought a 45-percent stake from Malampaya Energy XP, or MEXP, of the Udenna group. MEXP had bought the shares of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V., or SPEX, in the consortium. The Department of Energy had branded the complaint a political move since the two Fil-Am lawyers in the suit were prominent in the “Oust Duterte” movement in the United States. The complaint alleged that Cusi and other energy officials had granted “unwarranted benefits and advantage” to Uy’s UC Malampaya in the buyout of Chevron’s share in the consortium. Udenna, through spokesperson Raymond Zorilla, said there is “no law requiring approval of the transfer of shares of companies that have an interest in Malampaya.” Zorilla said the transfer of Chevron and Shell shares underwent strict bidding processes and due diligence by both multinational oil and gas players. “The share sales were above board and legal and had to pass scrutiny by Philippine regulators, international lenders, and the said private multinationals involved,” Zorilla added. Cusi, in an interview with Daily Tribune, had said the DoE was not involved in choosing the buyer of the shares of Shell and Chevron in the Malampaya project. “The DoE did not get involved in the sale (of shares). We don’t know that they are selling. Our question was what their standards are for choosing Udenna. Why didn’t you choose the big companies, and why Udenna?” he said. Industry experts said the sale of shares was a private transaction that the accusers, who are US lawyers, should have been very familiar with. Cusi said the DoE, during his watch, went beyond its mandate by reviewing the technical, legal, and financial aspects of the transactions, the results of which were provided to the public. Political agenda The complaint, he said, had an underlying political agenda connected to his being the head of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP Laban. “It is not only political propaganda against me, but it also has a destabilization background… because I’m the president of the PDP.” The complaints, in turn, stemmed from the unending Senate inquiries on the Malampaya deals. The DoE said the Senate probes and the controversies that resulted from them had caused costly delays in the review process that would ultimately affect the country’s energy security. To refute a recent remark by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the DoE, in a statement said: “The inquiries of Senator Gatchalian are causing undue delay to the timeline of the consortium corporations, and this may eventually take its toll and put our energy security at risk.” The DoE’s approval of the sale of shares of stock of Chevron Malampaya LLC, one of the three corporations in the Malampaya Gas Field Project Consortium, had been dubbed by Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, as “lutong Macau.” It also backed the Udenna assessment that the deals were above-board. “When the sales were made, both Chevron Philippines, which owned Chevron Malampaya, and Shell Petroleum NV, owner of SPEX, followed rigorous global standards,” the DoE said. Nicolas-Lewis was part of a 25-person delegation from the US-Philippines Society, a private group comprising business executives and diplomats, who met with Duterte a week before his inauguration as president in 2016. Nicolas-Lewis was then accompanied by former Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia, PLDT chair Manuel V. Pangilinan, retired American diplomats, and executives of Coca-Cola, SGV, JP Morgan, and other top corporations. Nicolas-Lewis is the sister of former National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Imelda Nicolas, who was one of the “Hyatt 10” Cabinet members who turned against then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005. Imelda and most of the Hyatt 10 members ended up getting key posts in the administration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Imelda was made head of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Nicolas-Lewis plot bared In February 2018, former President Duterte bared intercepted conversations that indicated Nicolas-Lewis was behind efforts to push the International Criminal Court, or ICC, to probe his war on drugs. Duterte revealed a recorded conversation between Lewis and another political opponent whom he did not name. “I was listening to the tapes of their conversation. It was provided to me by another country, but the conversation was somewhere in the Philippines and New York,” Duterte said. He said that among the recordings was one in which Lewis allegedly told another person: “See you in the headquarters when the case is filed.” Duterte then said in a public address that he was aware of developments on the ICC case and that lawyer Jude Sabio, the main complainant in the case, was a paid hack of Magdalo Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Rep. Gary Alejano, both failed putschists. Sabio withdrew his complaint before the ICC and revealed that the case was the handiwork of the dirty tricks factory of Trillanes. In 2016, Duterte pointed to Lewis as the financier of an alleged destabilization plot against his administration. Nicolas-Lewis invested heavily in the failed presidential campaigns of Liberal Party bets Mar Roxas in 2016 and Vice President Leni Robredo in 2022. The post Graft buster clears Cusi appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Government vs ICC: Confrontation possible
The government may resort to “outright confrontation” in dealing with prosecutors from the International Criminal Court who might insist on entering the country to investigate thousands of extrajudicial killings allegedly committed by security forces in the conduct of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, a ranking justice official said yesterday......»»
PBBM: Phl done with ICC
President Ferdinand R. Marcos on Friday said discussions with the International Criminal Court have come to an end after it denied the government’s appeal against the investigation into the drug campaign. “As far as the Philippines is concerned, we are done with the ICC,” Marcos said in a media interview in Zamboanga Sibugay, reiterating the government’s refusal to cooperate with the ICC. “Our discussions with the ICC are already concluded. As we have stated from the beginning, we will not cooperate with them in any way, shape, or form,” the President said. He added: “They (ICC prosecutors) are talking about Filipinos. Their alleged crimes are here in the Philippines, the victims are Filipino, so why should (they) be taken to The Hague? It should be handled here,” Marcos said. The government, he said, will also continue to question the ICC’s authority to conduct investigations in the Philippines. Marcos emphasized that the ICC no longer has jurisdiction over the Philippines since it had cut its ties to the tribunal on 17 March 2019, a year after then-president Rodrigo R. Duterte ordered the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute that created the ICC as its former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda continued with the preliminary examination. “That’s it, we have no appeals pending. We have no more actions being taken. So, I suppose that puts an end to our dealings with the ICC,” Marcos said. No legal obligation Meanwhile, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said the Philippine government has no legal obligation to cooperate with the International Criminal Court or ICC even if it resolves to resume its drug war investigation launched during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. He made the remark when asked yesterday about his earlier pronouncement that the government will disengage from the ICC as the rendering of judgment by the ICC Appeals Chamber had come to an end. “Considering that the ICC appeals chamber did not resolve the issue of jurisdiction, the state takes the position that it has no legal duty to cooperate with the ICC investigation,” Guevarra said. “Instead, the Philippine government will focus on its own investigation and prosecution of crimes in relation to the war on drugs,” he added. Guevarra said he would leave the matter to the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Immigration as to whether ICC investigators would be allowed to enter the country. He earlier said the disengagement by the government from the ICC had been relayed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Guevarra said he called the President from Washington, D.C. and advised him about full disengagement and he agreed. He said the Philippines’ appeal against the resumption of ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan’s probe was the country’s last involvement with the court. The idea of disengaging from the ICC was broached by Mr. Marcos as early as March this year. The President said the Philippine government would not cooperate with the ICC investigation due to “very serious questions” on the court’s jurisdiction, interference, and “attacks on the sovereignty” of the Philippines. No jurisdiction The appeal of the Philippine government which was filed by Guevarra argued that the ICC had no jurisdiction over the Philippines since it withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019. The ICC responded that it still had jurisdiction over crimes committed before the Philippines’ withdrawal. On 17 July, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the government will not execute any arrest warrants the ICC may issue. The ICC investigation covers killings committed from 1 July 2016 to 16 March 2019 and includes the so-called Davao death squad murders between 1 Nov. 2011 and 30 June 2016 when Duterte was either the mayor or vice mayor of Davao City. Government records showed that during the drug war, at least 6,200 people were killed in police operations, but human rights groups said the actual death toll could be from 12,000 to 30,000. @tribunephl_alvi @tribunephl_tiz The post PBBM: Phl done with ICC appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ICC Ruling Opens Way to Investigation on Killings in Philippines
Amsterdam - Appeals judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday rejected an attempt by the Philippines to block an investigation into thousands of killings in the country during former President Rodrigo Duterte's 'war on drugs.'In September 2021, the ICC approved a formal investigation into possible crimes against humanity allegedly committed under Duterte's leadership, but it suspended its probe.....»»
ICC greenlights Phl drug probe
The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court has dismissed the Philippine government’s appeal to stop the ICC investigation into the extrajudicial killings and other crimes allegedly committed during the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs. ICC Presiding Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut announced the chamber’s decision during an open court hearing in the Netherlands. Also covered by the greenlighted probe are alleged drug-related killings in Davao City from 2011 to 2016 during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s incumbency there as mayor. Reacting to the decision, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, who represents the country before the ICC, said the Philippines cannot file any more appeals to stop the ICC Office of the Prosecutor from probing the alleged crimes. Guevarra said the ICC could indict certain individuals over the drug war killings if there is sufficient evidence. Won’t comply Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, however, said the Philippine government will not comply with any arrest warrants the ICC may issue against personalities within its borders. “We are hospitable but if they (ICC) will meddle, we will not allow it. We have our own justice system that they cannot impede or ignore. They should not try to interfere here,” Remulla had said on Monday. The ICC Appeals Chamber said it rejected Guevarra’s appeal “in the absence of persuasive reasons.” The ICC has no police powers. It can only rely on the cooperation of countries to arrest and turn over wanted persons to its jurisdiction. Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stressed that as the country does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction, the government will not cooperate with its probe or other proceedings. The Philippines officially withdrew from the ICC in 2018, but the court said it still had jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was still a state party to the Rome Statute from 1 November 2011 up to 16 March 2019, when its withdrawal from the treaty that established the ICC took effect. The government has pointed out that it has been investigating the alleged crimes and that jail terms had been meted out on those found guilty. As a sovereign nation, the Philippines asserted that the ICC could not just inject itself into alleged cases committed in the country. Official government data showed that about 6,200 people died in the course of the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign, but its critics claimed that as many as 12,000 to 30,000 were killed. Guevarra said the Philippines must agree to the ICC probe. Still, even without government cooperation, he had earlier said that the ICC could proceed with its investigation. The ICC opened its probe in 2019 but suspended it in November 2021 after the Philippine government said it was re-examining the complaints. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan had asked to restart the inquiry, saying the Philippine government had not provided evidence it was carrying out thorough inquiries. The ICC authorized the reopening of the inquiry in January 2023. The post ICC greenlights Phl drug probe appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Drug trafficking charge against De Lima dismissed
Jailed Philippine human rights campaigner Leila de Lima was acquitted Friday on one of two remaining drug trafficking charges filed against her under the Rodrigo Duterte administration, court officials said, putting her a step closer to freedom. De Lima, a former senator, and justice minister, has been detained since February 2017 on charges she and human rights groups say were fabricated as payback for going after Duterte and his deadly war on drugs that left thousands dead. About 50 supporters chanted "Free Leila Now" and "Junk the Fake Evidence" as they gathered outside the heavily guarded courtroom, which was off limits to the media. The former senator and justice minister, 63, and another defendant "are hereby acquitted of the crime charged on the ground of reasonable doubt," said a written copy of the ruling released by regional trial court judge Abraham Alcantara. "Glorious day," a relieved de Lima told reporters as police escorted her back to a police coaster after the court session, describing the result as the "beginning of my vindication". Despite the acquittal, she will stay in jail as her trial in the other criminal case continues. She has applied for bail and is waiting for the judge's decision. De Lima, 63, faces life in prison if convicted of the remaining charge. She is accused of taking money from inmates inside the country's largest prison in exchange for allowing them to sell drugs while she was justice minister from 2010-2015 under then-leader Benigno Aquino. But the prosecution's case has been falling apart as two of their witnesses died and one of the three charges against her was dismissed. Multiple witnesses have recanted their testimonies, claiming they were coerced into making allegations against de Lima. A UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded in 2018 that de Lima's detention was "arbitrary given the absence of a legal basis" and that her right to a fair trial had not been "respected". Since President Ferdinand Marcos took power, there have been renewed calls from diplomats and rights defenders for de Lima to be released. Before her arrest in 2017, de Lima had spent a decade investigating "death squad" killings allegedly orchestrated by Duterte during his time as Davao City mayor and then in the early days of his 2016-2022 presidency. She conducted the probes while serving as the nation's human rights commissioner, and then from 2010 to 2015 as justice secretary in the Benigno Aquino administration that preceded Duterte's rule. De Lima won a Senate seat in 2016, becoming one of the few opposition voices as the populist Duterte enjoyed a landslide win. But Duterte then accused her of running a drug trafficking ring with criminals. The charges were an act of "vengeance" by Duterte to silence her and warn others not to oppose him, de Lima told AFP previously. Campaigning from behind bars, de Lima made a failed bid for re-election to the Senate in last year's elections. The lawyer and mother of two has been held in a compound for high-profile detainees, rather than in one of the Philippines' overcrowded jails. It is not unusual for court cases to drag on for years in the creaky justice system, which is overburdened, underfunded and vulnerable to pressure from the powerful. The post Drug trafficking charge against De Lima dismissed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trump found liable for sexually abusing writer
A New York jury found Donald Trump liable Tuesday for sexually abusing and defaming an American former magazine columnist and ordered the ex-president to pay her $5 million in damages. The nine jurors rejected E. Jean Carroll's accusation of rape but unanimously upheld her other complaints in the closely watched civil trial, following less than three hours of deliberations. It marks the first time Trump has faced legal consequences over a string of sexual assault allegations dating back decades -- and the former leader immediately rejected the verdict as a "disgrace." Carroll, 79, sued Trump last year, alleging that he raped her in the changing room of the luxury Bergdorf Goodman store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue in 1996. The former columnist for Elle magazine also claimed that Trump defamed her when he called her "a complete con job" after she went public with the allegation in 2019. Trump, the 76-year-old frontrunner for the Republican nomination in next year's presidential election, called her case a "hoax" and "a lie." The jury determined that Carroll had proved sexual abuse -- effectively sexual contact without consent -- by a preponderance of the evidence and awarded her $2 million. The six men and three women on the jury also said Trump should pay Carroll nearly $3 million for defamation. Following the verdict, Carroll left the Manhattan federal court smiling but did not speak to reporters. "We're very happy," said her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan. Trump slammed the outcome on his social media platform Truth Social. "I have absolutely no idea who this woman is," he wrote, using all capital letters. "This verdict is a disgrace -- a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time." Trump's 2024 campaign team said in a statement that the case was a "political endeavor" intended to derail Trump's bid to regain the White House, and that he would appeal. Carroll told the two-week-long civil trial that the assault had left her feeling "ashamed" and unable to have romantic relationships. She said it took her more than 20 years to go public because she was "frightened" by Trump. Her lawyers called to the witness stand two other women who testified that Trump sexually assaulted them decades ago. Former businesswoman Jessica Leeds said that Trump groped her in the business class section of a flight in the United States in the 1970s. Journalist Natasha Stoynoff said Trump kissed her without her consent during an interview at his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2005. Around a dozen women accused Trump of sexual misconduct ahead of the 2016 election that sent him to the White House. He has denied all the allegations and has never been prosecuted over any of them. No criminal case can stem from Carroll's lawsuit. Trump did not testify during the proceedings, nor did his defense team call any witnesses. A video of a sworn deposition he gave in October was played to the jury. In it, Trump called Carroll "a liar" and "really sick person." His lawyers argued that Carroll invented the allegation "for money, for political reasons, and for status." She filed her lawsuit under a New York law that gave victims of sexual assault a one-year window to sue their alleged abusers decades after attacks may have occurred. The burden of proof in civil proceedings is lower than in criminal trial cases when prosecutors must prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was one of several legal challenges threatening to complicate Trump's bid to regain the presidency -- although the Republican's supporters have broadly stayed loyal to their champion up until now. Last month, Trump pleaded not guilty to criminal charges related to a hush-money payment made to a porn star just before the 2016 vote -- allegedly to cover up an affair. Trump is also being investigated over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the southern state of Georgia, his alleged mishandling of classified documents taken from the White House and his involvement in the storming of the US Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021. The post Trump found liable for sexually abusing writer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fugitive Teves claims ‘persecution’
Suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnie Teves claimed that the military and police raided one of his properties in Bayawan City without a search warrant. “This is real persecution already. This is too much. It’s not right anymore. It’s wrong. The trampling on human rights is too much. Shouldn’t you have freedom and peace in your home and community? Now it’s gone,” he said in Filipino in a press briefing conducted remotely yesterday. Teves is a suspect in the 4 March 2023 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. One of Teves’ lawyers, Ferdinand Topacio, said his client is being subjected to “harassment” as government forces also raided a poultry farm that Teves owns in Bayawan even during the celebration of Eid’l Fitr or the Feast of Ramadan on Friday. Approximately 15 short and high-powered firearms, explosives, and ammunition were found during the initial raid on Teves’ property and two other homes allegedly owned by his relatives on 10 March. Teves’ camp decried as illegal the raid on his properties by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on 25 March. The authorities have linked his younger brother, former governor Pryde Henry Teves, to the killing of Degamo. The embattled lawmaker talked with the media through his Facebook page, where he said he hoped the raiders did not plant evidence. Teves also sought the help of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to stop government agents from raiding his properties without a search warrant. The President, however, had refused to be drawn into Teves’ problems, saying the legislator should just return home to face the charges. Suspension from House His plea to Marcos came days after he revealed in an interview that he had also sought the help of a colleague in returning home after he had insisted on remaining abroad because he did not feel safe. Last 22 March, the President urged the embattled lawmaker to return to the country, assuring him of tight security upon arrival. Teves is also facing charges over loose firearms and a series of killings in the province in 2019. He has been out of the country since 28 February and his failure to return home to perform his congressional duties and face the allegations leveled against him prompted his two-month suspension by the House ethics panel. PDP, Beijing party solidify ties The meeting was aimed at strengthening economic and cultural cooperation between China and the Philippines. Members of the major political party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP Laban yesterday met with their counterparts in the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China or IDCPC at the Sheraton Hotel in Pasay City. Former president and PDP Laban chairman Rodrigo Duterte joined the meeting via Zoom, along with vice chairman Alfonso Cusi, Senator Robinhood Padilla, Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Secretary General Melvin Matibag, and the party’s Council of Elders and national executive committee. The meeting was aimed at strengthening economic and cultural cooperation between China and the Philippines. The party leaders and the IDCPC delegation, led by the Director-General of the Asian Bureau Peng Xiubin, discussed methods for strengthening their relationship. Given his high approval rating of over 80 percent even upon his retirement, the conference was significant because former President Duterte’s influence within the party could affect its future direction. In addition, the meeting highlighted the growing relationship between the Philippines and China, as both countries have made efforts in recent years to strengthen trade and investment ties. China has made significant contributions to infrastructure and exchange programs in the cultural and educational realms. The Philippines’ strategic location and swiftly expanding economy in Southeast Asia make it a key player in the region. Therefore, establishing strong alliances with other nations, particularly China, is crucial for its future growth and development. The meeting signified a turning point in Philippine politics. It emphasizes the importance of international relations and political parties working together to influence the country’s future, as well as in the strengthening of “people-to-people” ties. The post Fugitive Teves claims ‘persecution’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bato: Ex-Pres. Duterte says Teves clan pressured Gokongwei group to give up land
MANILA, Philippines — Apart from the spate of killings and attempted murders allegedly involving the Teves family in Negros Oriental, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Wednesday said that even the Gokongwei group was pressured into surrendering a land title to the Teveses. Dela Rosa made the revelation, citing the information from former President Rodrigo […] The post Bato: Ex-Pres. Duterte says Teves clan pressured Gokongwei group to give up land appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Boying forms Negros slay task force
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has ordered the creation of a special task force that will handle the 23 cases of unsolved killings in Negros Oriental. The cases to be probed will include the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight others on 4 March. The task force’s creation was revealed by Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres shortly after the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs asked the DoJ to create a special panel of prosecutors to look into killings in the province. Andres told the panel during the continuation of the hearing yesterday that Remulla has already directed them to create a task force that will handle all of the 23 political killings. “We will make sure that there will be no miscarriages of justice,” Andres added. Senator Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, chairman of the panel, thanked Remulla for acceding to the panel’s request. Andres said that for the convenience of the witnesses and the complainants, the task force hearings can be held either in Cebu or in Manila, depending on the request of the witnesses. Senator Ronal de la Rosa, chairman of the panel, thanked Remulla for acceding to the panel’s request to create a special panel of prosecutors. He said they will provide a venue in Cebu, which is still within Region VII, in accordance with the DoJ rules wherein cases that cannot be handled directly by the provincial prosecution office can be transferred to the nearest, original prosecution office within the region for their own convenience. The DoJ official added that several witnesses who appeared before the Senate panel were already assisted by the DoJ through its Witness Protection Program. Andres said the task force might be composed of five prosecutors who will “see the prosecution of the cases up to their logical conclusion, not only with respect to the preliminary investigation, but even to the conduct of the trial proper for all of the cases.” “This is our insight where we cannot allow the cases to be transferred to people who do not have any idea of the case build-up. We want those who are part of the case build-up to actively prosecute and participate in the conduct of the trial,” Andres said. On the other hand, Sen. Francis Tolentino said to ensure the sustainability and the existence of the task force, he will propose a separate budgetary appropriation for it for fiscal year 2024. The post Boying forms Negros slay task force appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»