The International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor said on Monday there is “reasonable basis” that crimes against humanity were committed under the Duterte administration’s war on drugs campaign and may decide to investigate this by first half of 2021.
Alvin Luque, a known Davao activist who joined the National Democratic Front in Mindanao to become its spokesperson, was killed by a joint special action team when he resisted arrest in Tandag, Surigao del Sur at the early hours of December 10, Human Rights Day.
Former presidents of the Davao City chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) issued a statement criticizing the Duterte administration’s counter-insurgency has been reduced to red-tagging of activists, critics and fellow lawyers.
A former National Democratic Front (NDF) peace consultant who had surrendered to President Duterte few years ago was arrested as he was leading a new life as a government employee in Tagoloan on Friday.
The military claimed they captured two volunteer Lumad school teachers in an encounter with guerrilla forces in Paquibato District, a claim disputed by the Save Our Schools Network as another propaganda spin to discredit Lumad schools.
In a single day on November 10, a journalist was shot and two others were arrested for cyber libel, raising concern on the state of journalists’ safety amidst the pandemic and the impunity.
A teacher solon slammed the government’s anti-insurgency task force head who presented on Tuesday’s Senate hearing an “accomplishment” of closing down 75 Lumad schools.
The case filed by journalist Margarita Valle against 17 military and police officers for wrongly arresting her in 2019 was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman for lack of evidence, except for two officers who are ordered suspended for three months.
Three years after the government declared Marawi City “liberated” after the months-long war of state forces against the alleged ISIS-inspired Maute group, a local leader said there is nothing to commemorate as many residents remain displaced.
The ninth death anniversary of Italian missionary Fr. Fausto ‘Pops’ Tentorio PIME will fall on October 17. While the quest for justice has dragged on this long, the young people, the Lumad and scholars he had supported will honor his legacy with a tribute for his being “a true servant of the people”.
