News
ICC rejects Duterte’s bid for interim release, affirms jurisdiction over case
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has denied former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s request for interim release, ordering his continued detention in The Hague while he faces three counts of crimes against humanity linked to his so called “war on drugs.”...
Journalism in the Philippines remains dangerous
The Philippines reported no journalist killings in 2024 - the first time in more than twenty years - marking a rare improvement in press safety. However, rights groups warn that media workers continue to face intimidation, so-called “red-tagging,” and politically...
DOJ clears peasant advocate in terrorism financing case; court frees “Mabinay 6” after seven years
The Departmernt of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed terrorism financing complaints filed against church worker and farmers’ rights advocate Myrna Zapanta due to lack of credible evidence, a decision hailed by rights groups as a victory against the misuse of...
Tough struggle in protection petitions in enforced disappearance cases
Nearly a year after Cora Jazmines filed petitions for writs of amparo and habeas data* over the disappearance of her husband, labor activist James Jazmines, the Court of Appeals finally held its first summary hearing on October 2, 2025. James Jazmines was disappeared...
Fifth drug war conviction: police colonel found guilty of homicide in 2016 killing
A Baguio City court convicted Police Colonel Dante A. Lubos of homicide for the 2016 killing of Ryan Dave Almora, who was shot during an alleged anti-drug operation amid former President Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called “war on drugs.” On August 22, 2025, Judge Rufus Gayo...
Erwin Segovia’s murder reignites outrage over media violence and impunity
Media organizations condemned the brutal murder of Philippine radio journalist Erwin “Boy Pana” Segovia on July 21, 2025 in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur. Initial police reports showed that Segovia was on his way home when he was followed by two unidentified assailants...
Supreme Court Grants Protection to Family of Missing Activist James Jazmines
The Supreme Court (SC) has granted temporary protection to the family of disappeared activist James Jazmines, ordering officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to stay at least one kilometer away from the...
Senate “archives” impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte
With 19 votes in favor, 4 against, and one abstention, the Senate “archived” the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte on August 6, 2025, in accordance with an earlier ruling of the Philippine Supreme Court (SC) that halted her trial. The...
Rights groups demand release of convicted child rights advocate Sally Ujano
Human rights and church groups are calling for the immediate release of Maria Salome “Sally” Ujano, a 67-year-old child and women’s rights advocate who was convicted of rebellion in May 2024 and is currently imprisoned at the Correctional Institution for Women in...
Palawan IP communities face harassment and displacement amid corporate land dispute
Indigenous communities and local residents in Sitio Mariahangin in the village of Bugsuk (also called Mariahangin Island) are raising urgent concerns over what they describe as systematic harassment, displacement, and human rights violations tied to a controversial...
Indigenous rights defender cleared of false charges
Niezel Velasco, an Indigenous Peoples rights defender and humanitarian worker, was cleared of charges of unjust vexation and maltreatment by the Antipolo City Municipal Trial Court on July 31, 2025. The acquittal affirmed that she is not the same person as the accused...
Human rights defenders accused of alleged terrorism financing: Felipe Gelle, Jasmin Jerusalem, Frenchie Mae Cumpio
“Serving the people is not a crime,” said human rights activist Felipe “Ipe” Gelle during a press conference on July 1, 2025, as he recounted his six-day detention on alleged terrorism financing charges. Peasants’ rights advocate Felipe Gelle Gelle said he voluntarily...
Rights groups decry Marcos Jr.’s silence on human rights in 2025 SONA
Human rights groups criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s failure to address key issues in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, 2025. The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) said that once again, Marcos Jr.’s SONA failed to...
Limited cooperation of PNP with CHR hampers investigations
Three years into President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, tensions persist between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) over investigating extrajudicial killings (EJKs) linked to Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called “war on...
UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan criticizes Philippine government’s shortcomings on freedom of expression
In a report presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on June 18, 2025, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression Irene Khan gave a critical assessment on the situation of human rights in the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,...
Rodrigo Duterte faces growing isolation as ICC case advances
Rodrigo Duterte is facing growing international isolation as he awaits trial in the Netherlands for crimes against humanity. Once known for his iron-fisted so-called "war on drugs," the former Philippine president is now facing charges before the International...
Trans rights activist and former journalist killed in General Santos
Trans rights and human rights advocate Ali Jejhon Macalintal, 39, was shot dead on June 23, 2025, in her acupuncture clinic in General Santos City. A former journalist, Macalintal also served as deputy secretary general of the human rights group Karapatan for the...
Barangay official denies NPA finance officer allegation, cites mistaken identity
Carmilo Tabada, a barangay councilor and human rights activist from Trinidad, Bohol has come forward to strongly deny allegations linking him to the communist rebel group New People’s Army (NPA), following a news article published on May 25, 2025. The newspaper...
Leila de Lima acquitted again
Former senator and incoming Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Representative Leila de Lima has been acquitted again on June 27, 2025, by the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) of drug charges due to reasonable doubt. The case, filed during former President Rodrigo...
Senate may dismiss Sara Duterte impeachment case, says Senate President Escudero
The Senate impeachment court could decide by a simple majority - at least 13 votes - whether to dismiss the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, according to Senate President and Presiding Officer Francis Escudero. Speaking at a June 25, 2025, press...