News

No formal report of human rights violations in Mindanao—CHR

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jun 24 04:40 PM

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said Saturday it has not received any formal report on human rights abuses in Mindanao a month since President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire island under military rule. Read more »

Students bullied, discriminated in PH over gender identity: HRW

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jun 22 01:34 PM

Students in the Philippines suffer bullying and discrimination in school because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Thursday. Read more »

Reimposing death penalty is the red line to EU, warns Ed Angara

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Jun 16 05:37 PM

The reimposition of the death penalty may cost the Philippines the duty-free privileges it enjoys from European Union (EU) member-states, the country's special envoy to the regional group said Friday. Read more »

CHR condemns extremists' use of 'human shields' in Marawi

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Jun 14 08:45 PM

MANILA - The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday said it condemns the violence perpetrated by Maute fighters and their cohorts in Marawi City, bewailing the adverse effects of the war on the residents. Read more »

Leonen concerned over arrests without warrants under martial law

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jun 14 04:53 PM

MANILA - Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen expressed concern over the "scope and authority" portion in President Rodrigo Duterte's General Order no. 1 in connection with his martial law declaration in Mindanao.  Read more »

Child labor shouldn't sacrifice education, recreation: UNICEF

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jun 14 02:18 PM

Children can work as long as this does not interfere with their education or recreation activities, the United Nations Children's Fund said Wednesday. Read more »

Businesses commit to promote children's rights in workplace

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jun 14 01:00 PM

Filipino business leaders on Wednesday committed to adhere to the United Nations Children's Fund's (UNICEF) guidelines on upholding children's rights in workplaces and business models. Read more »

Año orders investigation of human rights complaint vs. military in Marawi City

Jasper Acosta, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jun 09 09:25 PM

MAGUINDANAO - Armed Forces Chief of Staff and martial law administrator General Eduardo Año on Friday ordered the military to investigate a complaint of alleged human rights violations against soldiers in Marawi City. Read more »

PCIJ findings: What's flawed, fuzzy with drug war numbers?

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Updated as of Jun 09 02:35 PM

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte has repeatedly said that drugs are the root of society’s many ills. He also seems to see drugs everywhere and in almost anything, even in the ongoing conflict in Marawi. Yet even as his administration’s controversial war against illegal drugs continues to claim lives, it has also spawned a side battle over numbers and public-relation points. Read more »

Get abusive regimes off U.N. rights council: U.S. envoy

Ben Simon, Agence France-Presse
Posted at Jun 07 01:09 AM

U.S. envoy Nikki Haley on Tuesday urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to throw out abusive regimes and end what she called its "anti-Israel bias", warning that its credibility was at stake. Read more »

New movement formed to guard vs possible martial law abuses

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jun 01 04:21 PM

MANILA- Human rights activists are forming a new movement to guard against possible martial law abuses in Mindanao. Read more »

Ombudsman on martial law: Bill of rights not suspended

Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 29 09:24 PM

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Monday said the Bill of Rights is not suspended and there are Constitutional limitations against possible abuses of martial law. Read more »

Etta Rosales denies supporting Maute group

Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of May 29 04:36 PM

Former Commission on Human Rights chairperson Loreta "Etta" Rosales on Monday denied statements being attributed to her, which allegedly expressed her support to the Maute group.  Read more »

Do's and Don'ts of Martial Law

Infographic by Pamela Ramos, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Jun 09 11:58 AM

From the horse's mouth: The Philippine National Police (PNP) has released initial guidelines on what police and military personnel should and should not do under martial law. It's key message: Basic rights are still protected under martial law.  Read more »

Waking up to martial law: ‘You need permission to travel’

Inday Espina-Varona, ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 26 10:03 PM

With the country’s recent brushes with bombings and abductions staged by Islamic militants, even those with misgivings on the drug fronts are supportive of martial law. But there is growing concern that on-ground behavior by state security forces could lead to widespread human rights violations and a backlash of unrest. Read more »

CBCP exec: Martial law in Mindanao 'practical' step to contain violence

Aleta Nieva Nishimori, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of May 26 10:05 PM

MANILA – An official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) believes declaring martial law may be a practical solution to curb violence in Mindanao but reminded officials to keep in mind the lessons of martial rule in the past.  Read more »

Human Rights Watch warns of more abuses under martial law

ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 26 06:13 PM

President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of martial law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao may lead to the escalation of abuses under his regime, an international human rights watchdog said Friday, Read more »

Safeguards under martial law post-EDSA

Infographic by Pam Ramos, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of May 26 06:26 PM

Learning from the abuses that happened during the Marcos dictatorship, the framers of the 1987 Constitution put in place safeguards that would help prevent a repeat of the wrongdoings.  Read more »

Robredo urges public to be vigilant after martial law declaration

ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 26 05:44 PM

Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday urged Filipinos to be vigilant during the implementation of martial law in Mindanao. Read more »

Chief Justice Sereno speaks up on martial law declaration

Tarra Quismundo, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of May 27 04:55 AM

Speaking at graduation rites at her alma mater, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for the first time publicly addressed President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of martial law in Mindanao, citing constitutional protection against the feared repeat of horrors the country experienced under the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos' martial rule.   Read more »