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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......»»
US-Phl-Japan trilateral security cooperation essential
During the state visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the Philippines last November where he delivered a speech before a joint session of Congress, he highlighted the trilateral cooperation between the United States, the Philippines and Japan to protect the freedom of the South China Sea......»»
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.....»»
Free expression under attack, artist groups urge UN to probe PH laws
“Our gravest concern now is the new policies which attack freedom of expression: specifically the Anti-Terror Law and Executive Order 70 which created the NTF-ELCAC. This emboldened state actors, such as the police and military to commit abuses on a scale last seen during the first Marcos administration.” The post Free expression under attack, artist groups urge UN to probe PH laws appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Balik-Tanaw | Transformation, repentance, and renewal
Contemplate the metaphor of yeast and unleavened bread, inviting us to examine the presence of malice and wickedness in our own lives. What old ways of thinking and being, and how might we clear out the old yeast of oppressive colonial ideologies, embracing the sincerity, truth instead, and love of our kapwa-tao that lead to freedom and unconditional love of neighbor? The post Balik-Tanaw | Transformation, repentance, and renewal appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
SC allows UN expert to act as friend of the court in Maria Ressa s cyber libel plea
Irene Khan, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression and opinion, has been allowed by the Supreme Court (SC) to sit as an "amicus curiae" to the court in the appeal for the cyber libel case of Rappler.com chief executive officer Maria Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos......»»
Southern Philippine clash kills 2 suspected militants
MANILA, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Philippine security forces have killed two suspected militants in a clash in the southern Philippines, the military said on Sunday. In a report, the military said fighting broke out around 5 a.m. local time Saturday after troops chanced upon a group of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in a village in Maguindanao del Sur province. The BIFF militants fled after the fig.....»»
Southern Philippine clash kills 2 suspected militants
MANILA, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Philippine security forces have killed two suspected militants in a clash in the southern Philippines, the military said on Sunday. In a report, the military said fighting broke out around 5 a.m. local time Saturday after troops chanced upon a group of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in a village in Maguindanao del Sur province. The BIFF militants fled after the fig.....»»
Yemen: Warring Parties Restrict Women s Movement
(Beirut) - Parties to the conflict in Yemen, including the Houthis, the Yemeni government, and the Southern Transitional Council (STC), are systematically violating women's right to freedom of movement, Human Rights Watch said today.The authorities are barring women from traveling between governorates, and in some cases from travel abroad, without a ma.....»»
SMNI anchors, reporters assail NTC’s decision on network suspension
The petitioners filed a request for a temporary restraining order and injunction, saying that the indefinite suspension imposed by the NTC violates the freedom of expression and the press......»»
Manila court orders DFA to cancel passport of ex-NegOr Rep. Teves
A Manila court has ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel the passport of expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. who is facing multiple charges and has been declared a fugitive from justice, the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed on Friday. “Although the freedom to travel is guaranteed, it does not give one an unlimited.....»»
UN expert calls for abolition of NTF-ELCAC, tolerance of PH gov’t to dissent
“The whole concept of freedom of expression is to be able to say what you want even if it offends the other side. The government should encourage a greater culture of tolerance.” -- Special Rapporteur on Free Expression and Opinion Irene Khan The post UN expert calls for abolition of NTF-ELCAC, tolerance of PH gov’t to dissent appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
United Nations rapporteur urges NTF-ELCAC abolition; government says no
Following her 10-day official visit to the Philippines, United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan on Friday urged the government to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which she said will address red-tagging and allow for more inclusive peace-making platforms in the country......»»
UN special rapporteur Khan arrives in the Philippines
United Nations special rapporteur Irene Khan has arrived in the Philippines on Monday to embark on a 10-day visit to assess the state of free expression and press freedom in the Philippines......»»
Rights groups score gov t for ‘whitewashing’ abuses ahead of UN rapporteur visit
Karapatan said on Sunday that even as the government has publicly welcomed the visit of the UN rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, it has also “disregarded, shrugged off, and rejected” previous findings by UN special rapporteurs on the country’s human rights situation......»»
Army troops kill BIFF training officer in Maguindanao clash
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 25 March) – Philippine Army troops killed an alleged ranking member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) during an encounter in Maguindanao del Sur last Friday. Brig. General Jose Vlademir Cagara, commander of the Army’s 1st Brigade Combat team, said troops killed Abu Halil, a training officer of the […].....»»
SLAP AGAINST CHACHA
With her hand painted red, a protester symbolically slaps the face of President Bongbong Marcos Jr on a tarpaulin during a rally commemorating the 114th International Women’s Day at Freedom Park, Roxas Avenue, where various groups protest the Marcos’ push for charter change. (Kath Cortez/davaotoday.com).....»»
FACT CHECK: Pope Francis quote on eating ‘whatever you want’ during Lent is fake
Pope Francis’ message for Lent in 2024, on the theme ‘Through the Desert God Leads us to Freedom,’ doesn’t contain the alleged quote.....»»
Red-tagging hobbles free expression and opinion
Freedom of expression and opinion in the Philippines is seriously hampered by the practice of red-tagging, according to Irene Khan, United Nations Special Rapporteur, who wound up a 10-day official visit to the Philippines yesterday......»»
UN rapporteur, CHR discuss expression rights, impact on marginalized
Khan, the UN special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, and the CHR officials discussed Tuesday how these affect various sectors, particularly the marginalized. .....»»