Super Tekla goes viral due to alleged sexual abuses
She claimed that Tekla also forced her to make love with him even in the presence of their nephew and baby......»»
Senate orders Quiboloy’s arrest; DOJ files sex raps
After snubbing the Senate investigation into alleged sexual abuses of Apollo Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed son of God, the upper chamber officially ordered yesterday the arrest and detention of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader for contempt......»»
AMLC to be invited in next Senate hearing on Quiboloy s alleged abuses
The Senate women and gender equality committee has invited the AMLC to attend the next hearing as the panel seeks to determine the extent to which Quiboloy siphoned funding from KOJC followers through money laundering......»»
Senator seeks arrest warrant vs Quiboloy
Sen. Risa Hontiveros yesterday sought the arrest of Apollo Quiboloy for defying the Senate’s summons to attend the hearing on alleged sexual abuses in Quiboloy’s ministry......»»
How long can Quiboloy hide from Senate inquiry?
Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJOC) and “spiritual adviser” of former President Rodrigo Duterte, remains in hiding as he refuses to appear in a Senate inquiry looking into alleged abuses of his former members......»»
Hontiveros asks Senate leadership to approve subpoena for Quiboloy
Sen. Risa Hontiveros appealed to the Senate leadership to approve her subpoena that would compel controversial pastor Apollo Quiboloy to attend her committee investigation into the alleged abuses within the Kingdom of Jesus Christ ministry......»»
Cameroon s 'MeToo Moment
Over the past ten days, the #MeToo movement has seen a resurgence in Cameroon as scores of women and men have taken to social media to report their experiences of sexual harassment, assault, and other abuses, all at the hands of the same alleged predator.On January 19, Cameroonian whistleblower @N'ZUI MANTO shared an anonymous account from a victim accusing well-known b.....»»
FPRRD opposes disguised Charter change initiative
Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte has vehemently opposed the disguised People’s Initiative for Charter change, denouncing the cash-for-signature campaign as repugnant and a disgraceful act during a YouTube interview with Banateros Brothers on January 22, 2024. Duterte emphasized his disapproval of the initiative, urging for it to be halted, particularly criticizing the payment of individuals to sign the documents. He warned that such actions could lead to a new Constitution that might destroy the nation and open avenues for political abuses. Duterte stressed the importance of democracy in the Philippines, asserting that those seeking to remain in power should go through the electoral process. He highlighted that a well-performing and non-corrupt individual would retain power, while those with poor performance would be ousted through the electoral process. Expressing satisfaction with the current Constitution, Duterte argued that it has contributed to stability, reducing conflicts with groups like the New People's Army (NPA). He strongly advised against meddling with the Constitution, cautioning that it would only bring trouble to the country. Duterte pledged active opposition to the initiative, stating that he would campaign against it. Additionally, residents of Calinan District, Vice President Sara Duterte, and Representatives Isidro Ungab and Paolo Pulong Duterte have also voiced opposition to the People's Initiative for Charter Change. Margarita Atty. Migs Nograles, the representative of the Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Partylist, alleged to have started the cha-cha signature campaign, has yet to issue an official statement on the matter as of the latest update. Related stories include the denouncement of alleged `vote buying’ in signing the petition for Cha-cha by Davao City lawmakers, Vice President Duterte's condemnation of the cash-for-signature drive, and a prayer rally against PI’s Cha-cha on Jan 28......»»
Senate panel summons Quiboloy after probe snub
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, said that the panel sent two invitations to Apollo Quiboloy for a probe in the alleged abuses committed by him and KOJC, but was snubbed. .....»»
CHR welcomes murder charges vs. cops linked to Jemboy Baltazar’s death
The Commission on Human Rights on Saturday welcomed the filing of murder charges against six police officers in connection with the “unjust killing” of 17-year-old Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar Navotas City in August. In a statement, the CHR likewise commended the Department of Justice for “conducting a comprehensive review” of Baltazar’s slay case, which has led to the decision to file murder charges against police officers allegedly involved in the killing. “This swift development on the case is an important step towards ensuring justice and accountability, especially as it involves law enforcement agents,” it said. The human rights body said the “senseless death” of Baltazar “underscored the importance of holding law enforcement agents” accountable for their actions to curb violations and abuses that breach fundamental rights. CHR firmly stressed that positions of authority, including law enforcers, “are not above the law. “Those who committed alleged violations must be held responsible considering that they made an oath to serve in accordance with the rules and standards required of police officers," it added. CHR hopes that the filing of murder charges against the suspects "will serve as a strong message that any alleged human rights violations by law enforcement officers will not be tolerated in our society.” “Aside from its crucial importance in delivering justice to Jemboy and his family, it can also help restore public trust in our law enforcement agencies,” it further stated. "The Commission also expects that the case amplifies the importance of abiding with established rules of operations that adhere to human rights-based policing to prevent violations that denigrate human rights, especially the utmost right to life.” CHR likewise urged the Philippine National Police to continue strengthening its programs and training “that will imbue its personnel with a renewed commitment to human rights practice” and values in the conduct of their duty. The commission said it will continue monitoring the case and provide support “in aid of ascertaining justice.” “As we mark this positive development, it is equally important to ensure continued commitment to due process, transparency, and accountability throughout the legal proceedings," it said. After the issuance of the warrant of arrest, the six police officers turned themselves into the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Lucena City in Quezon last Wednesday. They will be facing murder charges and are not entitled to bail. Eight policemen, including the six who were ordered arrested by the court, were dismissed due to serious grave neglect of duty. Since then, their benefits have been forfeited and their eligibility was revoked. While they were perpetually disqualified from holding any other government posts. The post CHR welcomes murder charges vs. cops linked to Jemboy Baltazar’s death appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tesla sued after Black workers called ‘monkey’
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against Tesla for alleged racism at its Silicon Valley car plant. Black workers at Tesla’s factory in Fremont, California, have routinely endured stereotyping, racial insults and hostility since at least 2015, according to the suit filed on Thursday. Tesla also retaliated against Black workers who opposed such abuse, according to the lawsuit. “The racial misconduct was frequent, ongoing, inappropriate, unwelcome and occurred across all shifts, departments and positions,” the commission said. The commission said Black workers routinely endured racist slurs including variations of the “N-word,” along with “monkey” and “boy.” Racist graffiti at the plant included swastikas, nooses and threats, according to the suit. Some of the graffiti was allegedly on vehicles rolling off the production line. Black Tesla workers who complained of racist treatment found themselves switched to undesirable duties or shifts, written up unjustly or even discharged, the lawsuit maintained. Tesla supervisors and managers witnessed racial abuses but did not intervene, and Tesla failed to take steps to address the misconduct, according to the suit. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages along with compensation for wronged Black workers and an order that Tesla curb racism at the factory. WITH AFP The post Tesla sued after Black workers called ‘monkey’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dela Rosa lambasts Socorro Bayanihan for preventing children to study
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa was irked after child witnesses said they were not allowed to study in schools while staying under the custody of Socorro Bayanihan Services Incorporated. During Thursday’s investigation of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on the alleged abuse and illegal activities of the SBSI, Dela Rosa expressed disappointment over “Why can’t they go to school? That I cannot forgive. I will never allow it,” Dela Rosa asked SBSI President Jey Rence Quilario and Vice-President Mamerto Galanida, who is also the eldest member of the group. Quilario denied the allegations. Galanida, who was a former mayor and the town’s ex-education superintendent, maintained he was not aware that children in Sitio Kapihan are not allowed to be educated. Dela Rosa dismissed Galanida’s answer. The latter, then, blamed the parents saying: “They chose not to let their children go to schools.” “How can you say that parents won’t allow their children to study?”, Dela Rosa said. “ I don’t believe that parents would not allow their children. I don’t buy your explanation.” The Commission on Human Rights said it has already initiated an initial investigation on the allegations of human rights violations and infringement of the right to education of children. The CHR confirmed that violations of human rights, movements, and rights to education were clearly drawn in the initial probe. Meanwhile, Lawyer Richard Dano, legal consultant of Socorro Task Force Kapihan, said the “culture of fear” has prevented more than 1,000 other child victims from testifying against the human rights abuses perpetrated SBSI group. The post Dela Rosa lambasts Socorro Bayanihan for preventing children to study appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Total lawfare’: Ukraine’s other front in the war
On 26 February 2022, while Russian tanks were barrelling towards Kyiv, Ukrainian lawyers were fighting on a different front, submitting a case against Moscow at the International Court of Justice. The gilded halls of the Peace Palace in The Hague, where the court sits, are a world away from the trenches of Donbas but Ukraine believes its legal attacks on Russia are a critical part of the fight. What cases are open in Ukraine's campaign of all-out "lawfare" against Moscow and, with little chance of Russian compliance, what's the point? Where are the legal front lines? The Hague, Strasbourg, and Hamburg. Ukraine has dragged Russia before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which rules on disputes between nations, arguing that President Vladimir Putin abused the UN Genocide Convention when he used an alleged "genocide" in eastern Ukraine as a pretext for invasion. The final arguments in this case will be heard later Wednesday. Also in The Hague, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children, a war crime. Neither of these courts, however, can try Russian leaders, including Putin, for the crime of "aggression", defined as an attack on one state by another in breach of the UN charter. So a special group of prosecutors from Ukraine, the EU, the United States, and the ICC has been set up in The Hague with a view to establishing a special tribunal to bring senior Russians to trial. Ukraine also has cases open at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg over alleged Russian human rights abuses. Finally, Ukraine also brought cases to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg over what it says is Russia's disregard for international maritime law. Will Russia comply? It seems unlikely that Russia would comply with any ruling from an international court -- for example, in March 2022, the ICJ ordered Moscow to immediately halt its invasion. Russia didn't even turn up to the hearings in that case. But it's far from an academic exercise, said Cecily Rose, assistant professor of public international law at Leiden University. "There are examples of cases in which Russia has complied at least partially with an adverse ruling by an international court," Rose told AFP, citing a 2015 verdict in which Moscow reportedly stumped up half the cash it was ordered to. "It shows that non-compliance cannot be cynically assumed. Most of the time, states do comply with awards and judgments rendered by international courts and tribunals." What's the point? Even if Russia doesn't comply, Kyiv and most legal experts think the international community needs to draw a line in the sand. "Some countries do not comply with the law, including Russia. However, it is still important to call them out and to bring a case against them when they do breach the law," said Melanie O'Brien, assistant professor at the University of Western Australia Law School. "The case demonstrates that other countries do not view Russia's conduct as acceptable -- but rather, as unlawful," O'Brien told AFP. A ruling from the ICJ against Russia would be a further element in isolating Moscow and confirming it broke international law, she said. "It is also an important acknowledgment for victims of human rights abuses and international crimes such as war crimes that what happened to them and their loved ones was not lawful," she added. Proving that Russia's actions were in contravention of international law could also be key in future peace negotiations, including over potential reparations, noted Rose. How long will it take? The wheels of justice grind slowly. The ICJ "genocide" case is only about whether the court even has jurisdiction. A special tribunal is politically sensitive and will take a long time to establish. But the wheels of justice also grind exceedingly fine. "Just because Putin won't comply with a ruling now, he won't be in power forever," said O'Brien. "At some point, a change of regime will occur and may lead to compliance with international law." The post ‘Total lawfare’: Ukraine’s other front in the war appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Palace mum on Martial Law
Malacañang on Thursday said it had no plans to release a statement on the 51st anniversary of Martial Law, which was declared by the father and namesake of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on 21 September 1972. Asked if the Palace would issue a statement, the Presidential Communications Office told reporters in a Viber message, “Wala raw po (There is no statement).” Amnesty International data said Martial Law led to the imprisonment of over 70,000 people, the torture of 34,000 individuals, and the death of 3,200 others. Marcos Jr. had questioned the statistics in January 2022, saying he had no idea how the figures were arrived at. Amnesty International gathered the information after two missions to the Philippines in 1971 and 1981, with the reports published in 1976 and 1982. Meanwhile, the state-run Human Rights Violations Victims Memorial Commission averred that 11,103 individuals experienced human rights violations during martial law. HRVVMC said 2,326 individuals either lost their lives or went missing between the years 1972 and 1986 as a result of these violations. The issues of human rights violations are separate from the issue of ill-gotten wealth, which had been acknowledged as a legal matter by the Supreme Court in 2003, 2012 and 2017. The ill-gotten wealth is estimated to be between $5 billion and $10 billion after the Marcos family was ousted from Malacañang through the EDSA People Power Revolution. Senator Imee Marcos, on the other hand, had a lot to say about Martial Law. In a press conference at the Marcoses’ residence in the City of San Juan, Marcos, along with former members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, clarified “misconceptions” about martial law during his father’s regime. “I always hear from students about the alleged abuses, the alleged kidnappings, that there were desaparecidos. I always asked my father about it,” she said in Filipino. “My father always tells me that: ‘There are really erring cops, soldiers, and officials. We will punish them if proven true, but never did I ever order that because I will answer that to God,’” she added. She continued: “He always said that. He never intended for abuses to happen. It was never a matter of policy.” Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was in power for 20 years. The post Palace mum on Martial Law appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Imee: ‘My father did not intend for abuses to happen during ML’
Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday addressed the human rights abuses committed by the military during the martial law period in the country imposed by her late father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. In a press conference at the Marcoses' residence in San Juan City, Marcos, along with former members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, clarified “misconceptions” about martial law during his father’s regime. One of those was the human rights abuses that happened during martial law from 1972 to 1981, which many Filipinos consider the “darkest era” in the country’s history due to rampant corruption, killings and human rights violations. “I always hear from students about the alleged abuses, the alleged kidnappings, that there were desaparecidos. I always asked my father about it,” Marcos said. “My father always told me that: ‘There are really erring cops, soldiers and officials. We will punish them if proven true, but never did I order that because I will be answerable to God,’” she added. She continued: “He always said that. He never intended for abuses to happen. It was never a matter of policy.” Marcos Sr. was in power for more than 20 years and placed the country under martial law from 1972 to 1981. During that period, more than 3,000 Filipinos were killed, 34,000 people were tortured and around 70,000 people were imprisoned without warrants of arrest, according to international human rights group Amnesty International. Martial law was lifted on 17 January 1981, but Marcos remained in power until he was ousted by the historic People Power Revolution in February 1986. The post Imee: ‘My father did not intend for abuses to happen during ML’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gov’t looking for ways to address child sexual abuse
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the government is actively engaged in discussions on how to address the pervasive issue of child sexual abuse. He said the government is, at present, exploring all possible avenues, including seeking advice and guidance from the Supreme Court. Remulla said the issue of child sexual abuse is one of the problems the country is facing at the moment, which is why the government is exploring ways to address it and give importance to how to combat it and hopefully eradicate the problem. The DOJ chief has expressed deep concern over the rampant issue of child sexual exploitation in the Philippines, referring to it as an “epidemic” that has silently persisted over the years. Remulla’s remarks were prompted by the disturbing reports of alleged sexual abuses linked to a “doomsday cult” in Surigao del Norte. He said the charges against the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) are not isolated incidents; rather, they exemplify a distressing pattern that extends to other regions. Remulla revealed that a similar pattern of sexual predation had recently emerged on an island in Zamboanga, an incident that had gone unreported. “They are saying a cult in Surigao del Norte is not new. Only recently, two or three weeks ago, there was an incident reported in an isle in Zamboanga. This is an epidemic in the whole country wherein the children are the victims of sexual abuse and many of those are incestuous rape, which is really a problem,” said Remulla. The allegations against SBSI, made by Senator Risa Hontiveros, are deeply troubling. The cult is accused of sexually abusing and coercing over 1,000 children in Socorro town over the years. The senator brought these grave allegations to light and called for the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality to conduct an investigation in aid of legislation. In Senate Resolution No. 797, dated 18 September, Hontiveros stressed the urgent need for action in response to “alarming” reports of rape, sexual abuse, forced labor, and forced marriages involving minors within SBSI. The post Gov’t looking for ways to address child sexual abuse appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Saudi border guards killed hundreds of Ethiopian migrants — HRW
Saudi border guards fired "like rain" on Ethiopian migrants trying to cross into the Gulf kingdom from Yemen, killing hundreds since last year, Human Rights Watch said in a report Monday. The allegations, described as "unfounded" by a Saudi government source, point to a significant escalation of abuses along the perilous route from the Horn of Africa to Saudi Arabia, where hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians live and work. One 20-year-old woman from Ethiopia's Oromia region, interviewed by HRW, said Saudi border guards opened fire on a group of migrants they had just released from custody. "They fired on us like rain. When I remember, I cry," she said. "I saw a guy calling for help, he lost both his legs. He was screaming; he was saying, 'Are you leaving me here? Please don't leave me'. We couldn't help him because we were running for our lives." HRW researcher Nadia Hardman said, "Saudi officials are killing hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers in this remote border area out of view of the rest of the world," according to a statement. "Spending billions buying up professional golf, football clubs, and major entertainment events to improve the Saudi image should not deflect attention from these horrendous crimes," she said. Longtime Saudi ally the United States urged "a thorough and transparent investigation". "We have raised our concerns about these allegations with the Saudi government," a State Department spokesperson said. "We urge the Saudi authorities... to meet their obligations under international law," the spokesperson added. A Saudi government source told AFP that the allegations were unreliable. "The allegations included in the Human Rights Watch report about Saudi border guards shooting Ethiopians while they were crossing the Saudi-Yemeni border are unfounded and not based on reliable sources," said the source, who requested anonymity. 'Concerning allegations' The New York-based group has documented abuses against Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia and Yemen for nearly a decade, but the latest killings appear to be "widespread and systematic" and may amount to crimes against humanity, it said. Last year, United Nations experts reported "concerning allegations" that "cross-border artillery shelling and small-arms fire by Saudi Arabia security forces killed approximately 430 migrants" in southern Saudi Arabia and northern Yemen during the first four months of 2022. In March of that year, the repatriation of Ethiopians from Saudi Arabia began under an agreement between the two countries. Ethiopia's foreign ministry said about 100,000 of its citizens were expected to be sent home over several months. The HRW report said there was no response to letters it sent to Saudi officials. But the Huthi rebels who control northern Yemen alleged "deliberate killings of immigrants and Yemenis" by border guards, in response to a letter from HRW. According to the rights group, migrants said Huthi forces worked with people smugglers and would "extort" them or keep them in detention centers where they were "abused" until they could pay an "exit fee". The Huthis denied working with people smugglers, describing them as "criminals". In 2015, Saudi officials mobilized a military coalition in an effort to stop the advance of the Iran-backed Huthis, who had seized the Yemeni capital Sanaa from the internationally recognized government the previous year. Yemen's war has created what the UN describes as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions dependent on aid. Mortar fire Many of the abuses described by HRW would have occurred during a truce that took effect in April 2022 and has largely held despite officially expiring last October. The HRW report draws from interviews with 38 Ethiopian migrants who tried to cross into Saudi Arabia from Yemen, as well as from satellite imagery, videos, and photos posted to social media "or gathered from other sources". Interviewees described 28 "explosive weapons incidents" including attacks by mortar projectiles, the report said. Some survivors described attacks at close range, with Saudi border guards asking Ethiopians "in which limb of their body they would prefer to be shot", the report said. "All interviewees described scenes of horror: women, men, and children strewn across the mountainous landscape severely injured, dismembered, or already dead," it said. Other accounts described forced rape and beatings with rocks and iron bars. HRW called on Riyadh to end any policy of using lethal force on migrants and asylum seekers and urged the UN to investigate the alleged killings. The post Saudi border guards killed hundreds of Ethiopian migrants — HRW 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......»»
Let Filipinos be the judge of the impact of drug war, says Go
Sen. Bong Go reiterated his strong stance against the International Criminal Court's (ICC) investigation into the alleged crimes committed during former president Rodrigo Duterte's drug war. He stressed that the ICC has no jurisdiction to interfere in internal matters of the country which has a strong and independent judicial system. "Probes into the war on drugs are presently being conducted by competent authorities. Ibig sabihin, may tiwala naman po ako sa ating local judicial system at ang mga Pilipino should be judged by fellow Filipinos before Philippine courts operating under Philippine laws," Go said in an interview on July 24. He likewise expressed the view that Filipinos are the ones best placed to assess whether they feel safer now than before the campaign against illegal drugs started. "Alam n'yo, ang Pilipino po ang dapat humusga kung mas nagiging ligtas ba sila kumpara noong hindi nasimulan ang kampanya laban sa iligal na droga,” Go pointed out. “Sila po ang nakakaalam kung nakakalakad ba sila, 'yung mga anak nila nang ligtas at hindi nababastos at nasasaktan,” he added. Go further emphasized that the era when the country had to be dictated by foreigners on how to govern itself has long been over. "At tapos na po 'yung panahon na kailangan pa tayong diktahan ng mga banyaga kung paano natin pamamahalaan ang ating mga sarili,” stressed Go. Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said that his administration would terminate further interaction with the ICC. This comes after the court dismissed the government's appeal to halt the investigation into the alleged human rights abuses during Duterte's “war on drugs”. "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. “We’re done talking with the ICC. Like what we have been saying from the beginning, we will not cooperate with them in any way, shape, or form,” he added. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla backed Marcos’ decision, and said that no Philippine representative would attend the international tribunal's proceedings. Remulla criticized the ICC for disrespecting Philippine sovereignty. Go expressed gratitude to Marcos for his decision, saying, "Nagpapasalamat rin po ako sa ating mahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos… sa sinabi niya po na his administration would end further engagement with the International Criminal Court after it rejected the Philippine government's appeal.” He also pointed out that the country had already withdrawn from the Rome Statute during the term of Duterte. "So, kumbaga nag-withdraw naman tayo sa ICC noon pang panahon ni Pangulong Duterte. So, para po sa akin, ang Pilipino po ang dapat humusga sa ating kapwa Pilipino,” he said. The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, back in March 2018, following the ICC prosecutor's launch of a preliminary examination into the drug war. The withdrawal took effect the following year. The Philippine government argued that the ICC had no jurisdiction over the country and maintained that the alleged crimes should be investigated by local authorities, invoking the principle of complementarity. The post Let Filipinos be the judge of the impact of drug war, says Go appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM: ‘We’re done with ICC’
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said that the Philippines is done with the International Criminal Court and that, to protect the sovereignty of the country, it will not be taking any further actions in relation to the international tribunal. In a media interview in Zamboanga Sibugay, Marcos reiterated his government's refusal to cooperate with the ICC in its investigation into the alleged human rights abuses committed during former President Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs." "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. "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," Marcos added. Marcos added the government would 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 already cut its ties with the tribunal on 17 March 2019, a year after Duterte ordered the Philippines' termination of the Rome Statute that created the ICC as former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda continued with the preliminary examination. However, the Chief Executive acknowledged that the ICC rejected the appeal of the Philippine government questioning the jurisdiction of the investigation. "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. "As far as the Philippines is concerned, we are done with the ICC," Marcos added. Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said earlier this week that the Philippines' involvement with the ICC is over as a result of the international tribunal's Appeals Chambers' verdict. He claimed that the Philippines would concentrate on its own examination and punishment of offenses connected to the anti-drug campaign instead. Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla echoed Guevarra's remarks, saying, "That is simply an issue of complementarity and comity. We are expressing that because we are decent in our approach." Remulla added: "We are appealing [to them] not to interfere in our affairs. However, it doesn't mean that we are agreeing to be under their jurisdiction." Last Tuesday, judges in the ICC Appeals Chamber dismissed the administration's appeal against the investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed during the drug war on Tuesday, effectively approving the investigation's reopening. After the ICC opened a preliminary investigation into his administration's drug war in 2019 and later that year announced the opening of a full inquiry, former president Rodrigo Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the court. Marcos Jr. said the Philippines will not rejoin the ICC under his administration. In spite of the Philippines' departure from the Rome Statute, the agreement that founded the international court, the Supreme Court stated in 2021 that the country must cooperate with the ICC. The post PBBM: ‘We’re done with ICC’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos says Philippines is ‘done talking’ with ICC
The Philippines will no longer deal with the International Criminal Court, President Ferdinand Marcos said Friday, after The Hague-based tribunal rejected Manila's appeal to stop a probe into a deadly drug war. Thousands of people have been killed in the anti-narcotics campaign started by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 and continued under Marcos. "We're done talking with the ICC," Marcos told reporters during a visit to the southern island of Mindanao, according to an official transcript. "The alleged crimes are here in the Philippines, the victims are Filipino, so why go to The Hague? It should be here," he said. The ICC launched a formal inquiry into Duterte's crackdown in September 2021, only to suspend it two months later after Manila said it was re-examining several hundred cases of drug operations that led to deaths at the hands of police, hitmen and vigilantes. ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan later asked to reopen the inquiry in June 2022, and pre-trial judges at the court gave the green light in late January -- a decision that Manila appealed shortly afterwards. A five-judge bench on Tuesday dismissed Manila's objection that the court had no jurisdiction because the Philippines pulled out of the ICC in 2019, some three years before the inquiry was resumed. Marcos said Friday the government would take "no more actions" regarding the ICC ruling, but would "continue to defend the sovereignty of the Philippines and continue to question the jurisdiction of the ICC in their investigations". Thousands killed More than 6,000 people were killed in police anti-drug operations during Duterte's term, official government figures show, but ICC prosecutors estimate the death toll at between 12,000 and 30,000. The drug war has continued under Marcos even though he has pushed for more focus on prevention and rehabilitation. More than 350 drug-related killings have been recorded since Marcos took office last June, according to figures compiled by Dahas, a University of the Philippines-backed research project that keeps count of such killings. Opened in 2002, the ICC is the world's only permanent court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and aims to prosecute the worst abuses when national courts are unable or unwilling. Manila argues it has a fully functioning judicial system, and as such, its courts and law enforcement should handle the investigation into alleged rights abuses during the drug war -- not the ICC. Only four police officers have been convicted for killing drug suspects in two separate cases since the start of the crackdown in 2016. Rights groups allege the killings were carried out as part of a state policy, and that Duterte had publicly encouraged them with incendiary rhetoric during his public comments. During his presidency, Duterte openly encouraged law enforcers to shoot suspects in anti-drug operations if the lawmen felt their own lives were in danger. The post Marcos says Philippines is ‘done talking’ with ICC appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»