Tag Archives: Philippines

Philippines: Elections point to ominous moment for human rights

With Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr and Sara Duterte poised to win the Philippine elections, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Deputy Regional Director Emerlynne Gil said:   “Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr and Sara Duterte’s past avoidance of discussing human rights violations in the Philippines is deeply concerning. During the campaign period, it seemed that they were deliberately refusing to take a position on …

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Minister Payne must call out the surge of killings of lawyers and judges in the Philippines

The Philippine justice system is under threat as a result of a deadly surge in killings of lawyers and judges under President Duterte’s administration. The failure of the Philippine government to promote accountability mechanisms to protect the judiciary has facilitated a climate of impunity across the country, and put a vital arm of government under …

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Philippines: Absolute pardon granted to Pemberton an act of impunity

Responding to President Duterte’s granting of absolute pardon to U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton convicted of killing Jennifer Laude, Amnesty International Philippines Director, Butch Olano, said:“The absolute pardon granted by President Duterte to Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton is a tragic reminder of the prevailing culture of impunity in the country. “President Duterte’s …

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Arms sales expansion plan exposes Australia to profiting from human rights abuses

Responding to reports that the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said that he wants Australia to become one of the world’s top 10 arms exporters to target markets including the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region, Amnesty International Australia’s Crisis Campaigns Coordinator Diana Sayed said: “When the Government talks about expanding arms exports to the …

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Philippines: Political and human rights activists killed with impunity

Amnesty International is alarmed by the rising killings of human rights defenders and political activists in the Philippines. In recent weeks, a growing number of activists, community and religious leaders have been fatally shot by unknown gunmen. Fatalities include long-term activists Elisa Badayos, Eleuterio Moises, and religious leader Marcelito ‘Tito’ Paez in Neuva Ecija, Luzon. …

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Philippines: Police reinstatement in ‘drug war’ threatens catastrophic return to mass killing

Responding to the news that President Duterte has ordered the police to resume their role in supporting his administration’s so-called “war on drugs,” James Gomez, Amnesty International’s Director of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said: “In returning police to his anti-drug operations yet again, President Duterte has consigned the poorest and most marginalised people in …

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Philippines: Australia must not become complicit in human rights abuses in assisting Duterte against IS

“If Australia is to provide further support, including capacity building, to the Philippines in the fight against Islamic State, Defence Minister Marise Payne must get assurances from President Duterte that we will not inadvertently become complicit in any human rights abuses in the process,” Amnesty International Australia’s Campaigns Manager Michael Hayworth said. “This closer cooperation …

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Philippines: In committing Defence personnel, Australia must rein in Duterte

“If Australian Defence personnel are now going to ‘advise and assist’ the Philippines in the fight against ISIS, this is a perfect opportunity for Australia to bring pressure to bear on President Rodrigo Duterte to ensure civilians are protected in the conflict,” Amnesty International Australia’s Campaigns Manager Michael Hayworth said. This follows reports that Foreign …

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Philippines: Deadly consequences for children in ‘war on drugs’

A hearing in the Philippines Senate has exposed the abysmal failings of the police to protect children from the deadly consequences of the “war on drugs”, Amnesty International said. The Senate hearing convened on 24 August to address last week’s police killing of the 17-year-old student Kian Loyd Delos Santos, a case which has triggered …

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Philippines: 32 killed in a day as Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’ hits new levels of barbarity

After Philippine police killed 32 people in what is believed to be the highest death toll in a single day in President Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called “war on drugs”, Amnesty International’s Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, James Gomez, said: “These shocking deaths are a reminder that President Duterte’s lawless ‘war on drugs’ continues unabated …

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