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VP Sara ready to face ICC charges only before a Filipino court
Vice President Sara Duterte expressed her readiness to confront any allegations against her but insisted that she would only do so in front of a Filipino judge and within the jurisdiction of a Filipino court. In a statement on her Facebook page, she emphasized her refusal to participate in any process that could tarnish the reputation and integrity of the Philippine judiciary system. Duterte adamantly opposed the involvement of foreign entities in the country's legal affairs, citing it as a dishonor to the sacrifices made by Filipino heroes for the nation's freedom. Duterte, who previously served as vice mayor and mayor of Davao City, vehemently denied any involvement in the Davao Death Squad during her terms in office. She expressed dismay over the sudden appearance of a witness against her in the International Criminal Court (ICC) after assuming the vice presidency. Duterte dismissed the accusations and questioned the motives behind the allegations, asserting her capability to accomplish tasks without resorting to unlawful means. In a related development, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. voiced his refusal to acknowledge the ICC's jurisdiction in the Philippines, considering it a threat to the country's sovereignty. He issued a directive for all government agencies to refrain from cooperating with the ICC, emphasizing the nation's non-recognition of the court's authority. Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that ICC investigators had gathered substantial evidence against former President Rodrigo Duterte regarding his administration's war on drugs. He anticipated an imminent issuance of an arrest warrant against the former president. Former President Rodrigo Duterte condemned the ICC's decision to initiate a preliminary investigation into the war on drugs, labeling it an insult to the Philippines and challenging the court's jurisdiction within the country. During his presidency, he initiated the withdrawal of the Philippines' membership from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. The ICC appeals chamber recently granted a request to resume the investigation into alleged crimes against humanity related to the Philippines' controversial drug campaign, spanning from November 2011 to March 2019. The developments surrounding the ICC's probe into the Philippines' internal affairs have sparked a contentious debate, with key political figures and rights groups expressing divergent views on the matter. The ongoing tensions between the Philippines and the ICC underscore the complex intersection of international law, national sovereignty, and human rights issues......»»
Brazil: Mixed Rights Record for Lula s First Year
(Sao Paulo) - The administration led by Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has made important progress in the protection of the Amazon, women's rights, and other rights during 2023, but has failed to tackle the chronic problem of police abuse or defend human rights consistently abroad, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing its&.....»»
US reaffirms support for Philippines sovereignty amid its tensions with China
Washington, DC [US], March 28 (ANI): US Secretary of Defence Llyod Austin has reaffirmed Washington's commitment to Manila in defending its sovereignty while criticising China's "dangerous" water cannon attack at the Philippine supply mission vessel on Saturday. In a telephonic conversation between Austin and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, the US Secretary reiterated the US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty.....»»
AFP’s main challenges: Preserving, protecting Philippines territory, sovereignty
Without specifically mentioning the West Philippine Sea and the country’s current problems with China in the area, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said preserving and protecting Philippine territory and sovereignty tops the military’s main challenges for 2024......»»
SSS pushes for social security protection of seafarers
SSS pushes for social security protection of seafarers.....»»
Rights group calls for deeper look into military’s reprisals vs. rights defenders
As the motion of reconsideration for the terror charges against Ken Rementilla and Jasmin Rubia was denied by an Antipolo prosecutor, human rights alliance Defend Southern Tagalog calls for accountability of notorious rights violators. The post Rights group calls for deeper look into military’s reprisals vs. rights defenders appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
'We firmly support Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty': EAM Jaishankar in Manila
Manila [Philippines], March 26 (ANI): External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, who is on a formal visit to Manila, said on Tuesday that India firmly supports the Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty and will continue to further enhance cooperation in various fields, including defence and security. "We firmly support the Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty. So I think our position is very clear......»»
China claims sovereignty over Pagasa Island; accuses PH of encroachment
MANILA, Philippines — China asserted its sovereign rights over Pagasa Island on Thursday, accusing the Philippines, in return, of “illegally occupying” the area. “This is our waters. I have no other [information] for you,” Chinese embassy told INQUIRER.net in a Viber message when it was asked about the reported presence of its vessels near Philippine-governed.....»»
China to US: Respect our sea rights, sovereignty
The Chinese defense minister reportedly talked with his US counterpart early this week to relay Beijing’s appeal to Washington that it respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea, saying President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden have a shared commitment to improving bilateral relations......»»
Pentagon chief reaffirms support after latest China aggression in WPS
Austin emphasized US support for the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in a phone call with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Wednesday. .....»»
Marcos- No water cannons vs China - The Manila Times
(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday ruled out installing water cannons on Philippine ships sailing through the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and said the country would not respond in kind to recent Chinese attacks on its vessels. "What we are doing is defending our sovereign rights and our sovereignty in the WPS and we have no intention of attacking anyone with water cannons or any such offensive (equipment.....»»
‘Secret agreement’ with China ‘horrifies’ Marcos
President Marcos is seeking clarification from the Chinese government on the supposed gentleman’s agreement on the West Philippine Sea entered into by Manila and Beijing during the Duterte administration, even as he warned such a deal could have “compromised” the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the country......»»
Navy: 2 Chinese research vessels out of Philippine’s EEZ
Two Chinese research vessels spotted “loitering” and doing research in the Philippine Rise, in the Philippines’ eastern seaboard, have left the country’s exclusive economic zone the Philippine Navy said yesterday......»»
Japan Again Calls Out Chinese Government s Rights Abuses
Last week, during China's fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Japan expressed "concern about the human rights situation in China" and recommended that Beijing "protect the rights of the minorities, including Tibetans and Uyghurs ... guarantee the fundamental rights and freedom under the Hong Kong basic la.....»»
Huangyan Dao is beyond limits of Philippine territory: FM spokesperson
BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory, which is beyond the limits of Philippine territory, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday. China has indisputable sovereignty over the island and its adjacent waters. China exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction over Huangyan Dao in a continuous, peaceful and effective manner, Wang told a regular press briefing whe.....»»
Huangyan Dao is beyond limits of Philippine territory: FM spokesperson
BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory, which is beyond the limits of Philippine territory, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday. China has indisputable sovereignty over the island and its adjacent waters. China exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction over Huangyan Dao in a continuous, peaceful and effective manner, Wang told a regular press briefing whe.....»»
Groups call Marcos ‘super body’ for rights protection ‘superfluous,’ ‘window-dress’
Groups call Marcos ‘super body’ for rights protection ‘superfluous,’ ‘window-dress’.....»»
Whole-of-nation for WPS
On the initiative of Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, local government units facing the South China Sea will be tapped as areas pivotal to the whole-of-nation protection of our country’s sovereign rights in and around our own West Philippine Sea......»»
With over 460 million children living in conflict, child protection systems must be strengthened, says UNODC Executive Director
In a world where "460 million children were living in contexts of conflict in 2022", child protection systems must be strengthened, said Ms. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), at a high-level conference at the European Parliament. At the Protection of Children in Armed Conflict conference in Brussels, organize.....»»
Charter change could mean more US troops in the PHL – Fil-Am activists
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAOBulatlat.com NEW YORK — Filipino-American activists here denounced ongoing attempts to change the Philippine Constitution as this may result in increased US military presence in the Philippines and worsen the geopolitical tension in the West Philippine Sea. In an interview with Bulatlat, Michelle Thiele of Gabriela-New York stressed that for US… The post Charter change could mean more US troops in the PHL – Fil-Am activists appeared first on Bulatlat......»»