Tag: Human rights

US optimistic about PHL rights record as “improved” Oplan Tokhang ops resume

The United States is “cautiously optimistic” that the Philippines’ human rights record is improving, an official said Tuesday. James A. Walsh, a senior US drug official within the State Department, made the statement after the Philippine National Police resumed Oplan Tokhang operations under new guidelines aimed at ensuring no policeman would use the drug war as a pretext to commit crimes. “Many folks have been tracking the (extrajudicial killings) in the Philippines and the trends are going down […]

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US, Germany urge China to release jailed activist

BEIJING, China (AFP) — The United States and Germany urged China to free an outspoken government critic known as “Super Vulgar Butcher” on Wednesday after he was sentenced to eight years in prison. Wu Gan, who refused to plead guilty to charges of “subverting state power,” was on Tuesday handed one of the harshest punishments meted out to a group of lawyers and activists swept up in a major crackdown two years ago. “The embassies […]

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Malacanang unfazed by UN human rights spokesperson’s rebuke of Duterte over threat vs Callamard

(Eagle News) — Malacanang has dismissed the United Nations’ human rights spokesperson’s rebuke of President Rodrigo Duterte over his remark against UN special rapporteur Agnes Callamard. In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that Rupert Colville should “do well not to judge the colorful language the President is known for, but by what he stands for and the values he holds dear” instead. “We need to point [out] that the President’s remarks on Callamard […]

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Palace releases PHL-US joint statement on Duterte-Trump bilaterals; South China Sea, North Korea, human rights discussed

  (Eagle News) — Malacanang released the Philippine-US joint statement on the bilateral meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Philippine President and current ASEAN chair Rodrigo Duterte which mentioned all the important points discussed by the two leaders including freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, the North Korea nuclear threat, the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar, as well as the drug war and the human rights issues. There was a “broad range […]

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Canada PM Trudeau says he brought up “human rights, rule of law, extrajudicial killings” in “very cordial” conversation with President Duterte

(Eagle News) — Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he brought up “human rights, rule of law and specifically extrajudicial killings” during a conversation with President Rodrigo Duterte on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit. Speaking in a press conference on Tuesday, Trudeau said he told Duterte he was “concerned with human rights,” and he “impressed upon” him the “need for upholding rule of law.” This was despite the repeated denials […]

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EU, Japan ask UN to condemn N. Korea over rights abuses

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — The European Union and Japan asked the United Nations on Tuesday to condemn North Korea for gross human rights violations, drawing a link between severe hunger endured by North Koreans and Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear programs. After the death of US student Otto Warmbier, a draft resolution also said North Korea must provide detained foreign nationals with access to consular services and allow them to communicate with their families. […]

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US’ Tillerson visits President Duterte

United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Monday visited President Rodrigo Duterte and received a warm welcome from him.  The move was seen as Washington fearing offending its long-time ally that could push it into the arms of US rival China. The US is backing Philippine troops as they battle to recapture part of a southern region occupied by militants aligned to the Islamic State group. “They did not,” Duterte replied when asked if […]

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PHL open to addressing US human rights concerns on sidelines of ASEAN meetings

(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs welcomed on Friday the talk about human rights between President Rodrigo Duterte and  United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-hosted meetings, noting that it was an “opportunity to address (the US’) concerns and correct the perceptions they may have gleaned from exaggerated media reports.” In a statement, the DFA noted that discussions on human rights issues were […]

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Duterte blasts human rights advocates, Ombudsman for “one-sidedly” investigating gov’t security forces performing duties

  “Expect a very strong military in two years,” he adds (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte said he would strengthen the military in his term of office, as he blasted human rights advocates and other agencies for “one-sidedly” investigating government security forces who are only performing their duties. “Expect a very strong military in two years,”  Duterte, who spoke in a press conference after his second State of the Nation Address at the Batasan […]

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President Duterte to Dexter Carlos: “There will be justice”

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte assured the man whose family of five was murdered in their house in San Jose del Monte that justice would be done, noting that criminals had nowhere to hide in the country. “Kahit saan ka magtago, I will catch up with you. Pag kriminal ka, mahirap buhayin ang kriminal. Isang kriminal dito kinakailangan may relatives sila sa kabilang bayan,” Duterte said in an  interview with reporters after he visited […]

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Rights group opposes martial law declaration; says it will only result in gross violation of people’s rights

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) – A militant group declared its opposition to President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration placing Mindanao under martial law for 60 days. “Karapatan strongly protests Duterte’s Martial Law declaration, emphasizing that it will not address the circumstances of the current situation in Marawi, but will aggravate the insecurity in the area,” the group in a statement said. Karapatan expressed apprehensions about the declaration of martial law, adding that it may give rise to human rights […]

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UN draft report: No to death penalty; allow UN Rapporteur’s probe without conditions

Universal Periodic Review draft makes 257 recommendations   (Eagle News) — The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) working group on periodic reviews has made a draft report recommending that the Philippines allow the United Nations Special Rapporteur to probe the human rights situation in the country without conditions, and for the country not to reimpose the death penalty. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the UNHRC’s working group was presented by Switzerland, Paraguay and […]

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