The Royal Norwegian Government (RNG) has committed to continue its support of human rights work in the Philippines, including the strengthening of the legal and justice system as well as protecting civic space in the country.
“The NPA is ever committed to fight with the people to defend the economic, political and cultural rights of the peasant and minority masses, especially against the all-out aggression by multinational corporations that are grabbing farmlands and ancestral lands, accompanied by the fascist militarization of local communities,” Valbuena said.
“We call on the GRP and the NDFP to redouble their efforts and hasten the process of reopening the formal peace negotiations if our people are to be reenergized and convinced to support the peace process as the better way to bring about a just and lasting peace in our land,” peace advocates said.
The project’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) states that the host barangays of the project in Calumpit are all susceptible to flooding. These areas are also located along active river channels with a history of overflowing and breaching of dikes protecting the barangays. These barangays are also generally located in a topographically low area.
In a letter to the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government, five UN Special Rapporteurs expressed “deep concern” over Manila’s attempt to “criminalize” current and former workers of Cebu-based non-government organization Community Empowerment Resource Network Inc. (CERNET).
“It is unconscionable that while billions are allocated to programs with dubious benefits, our senior citizens are denied their legally mandated pension,” Colmenares said.
Marcos said the Philippines is looking forward to welcoming Veloso back as he expressed gratitude to Indonesia for agreeing to transfer the human trafficking victim to her home country.
Danilo Ramos, KMP Chairperson, said the Marcos administration prioritizes the profit of foreign traders and suppliers, instead of compensating and aiding farmers who lost their crops and livelihoods to the typhoons.
Despite its promise of a better life for the farmers, the Balangon community in Barangay Dampig’s Saliclic village still grapples with the dam’s potential impact on their ancestral land, livelihood, and neighboring communities.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan expressed dismay at the “unjustifiably long detention” of journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio before finally being called to the witness stand to defend herself from charges by the Philippine government.
