Rappler's latest stories on humans in the Philippines
House of terror: How the lower chamber let slip a 'killer' bill
The House of Representatives passes a controversial bill that could endanger the progressives, Moros, and Lumad among them due to terrorist-tagging
Robredo: Why rush anti-terrorism bill during pandemic?
'Diyos ko naman. Nakakapanlumo,' says Vice President Leni Robredo
Lagman urges Cayetano not to transmit anti-terror bill to Duterte yet
(UPDATED) 'It would afford both the House of Representatives and the Senate to make their own respective reviews of the measure to cleanse it of constitutional infirmities,' says opposition lawmaker Edcel Lagman
Cayetano justifies anti-terror bill: ‘Let us read before we criticize’
'Basahin natin before we criticize, because ang daling sabihin eh [na may] repression, wala ng democracy, draconian,' says House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano
EXPLAINER: Comparing dangers in old law and anti-terror bill
The 2020 anti-terror bill 'penalizes' freedom of speech, which makes it open to a challenge just on its face, according to retired justice Antonio Carpio
Military ‘pleased’ with Congress passage of anti-terror bill
The bill does not seem to add any new power to the armed forces, says military spokesperson Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo
Once a primary author, Biazon withdraws support, votes no to anti-terror bill
His reason? The House leadership did not allow any lawmaker to propose amendments to the bill that is an exact replica of what senators had passed
Robredo: Is lethal anti-terror bill against terrorists or critics?
'Ang tanong ko nga: terorismo ba talaga ang tuon ng [anti-] terror bill? O gusto lang nitong bigyan ng kapangyarihan ang estado para bansagang terorista kung sino man ang kanilang gusto?'
#JunkTerrorBill: Sign this petition to help uphold human rights
Defend UPLB warns that the bill has the potential to silence critics of the government. Take a stand and sign the petition to persuade Congress to drop the measure.
Groups mourn murder of urban poor leader
Kabataan party worries that many would face the same fate as Kadamay leader Carlito Badion if the anti-terror bill is passed
Tip from Australian police lead to arrest of sex trafficker in Caloocan
(UPDATED) Police rescue 3 minors, all children of the suspect
Human Rights Watch asks DILG to rein in 'out of control' law enforcers
The rights group says the Department of the Interior and Local Government 'must exercise effective oversight over its personnel, investigate all reports of abuses, and hold officers committing rights violations accountable'
CHR reminds police, military: Violence not first option
'If the use of force and firearms is unavoidable, then authorities must practice restraint,' says the Commission on Human Rights, which will conduct its own probe into the killing of Winston Ragos
Military pushes proposal to amend 'weak' anti-terrorism law
The Armed Forces of the Philippines calls for more drastic powers against terror suspects as Congress moves forward with amending the Human Security Act of 2007
‘Security before human rights’: Lorenzana wants tougher law vs terrorism
The defense chief wants longer warrantless detention for terror suspects to give security agencies more time to build cases against them
New law allows minors to get HIV test without parents' consent
A key provision of the new law allows minors from 15 to 17 years old to undergo HIV testing even without parental consent
Japan signs P41-M assistance to 5 local government projects
(UPDATED) The projects will benefit communities in Aurora, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao
Palawan police recover body of fisherman attacked by crocodile
(3rd UPDATE) Human-crocodile conflicts are a continual problem in the island-town of Balabac, which is a stronghold of saltwater crocodiles
U.N. criticized over latest picks for rights council
The Philippines is among the nations elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council
[OPINION] Living within the truth
There are forces competing for our attention, pushing us to believe in thing or another. There is, in fact, a hidden war going on beneath the surface of our lives. It's a war between 'living within the truth' and 'living within the lies.'
[OPINION] The Philippines' scourge of killers on motorbikes
The riding-in-tandem attacks underscore the extent to which rule of law has been diminished by President Rodrigo Duterte's incitement of killings of drug suspects
Early humans in the Philippines 700,000 years ago – study
Until now, the earliest confirmed evidence of hominins – the scientific term used to group modern and early humans – in the Philippines came from a single, 67,000-year old foot bone unearthed in the Sierra Madre Mountains
CHR to PDEA: Go for long-term fix vs drugs, don't just release names
'Tungkulin ng [Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency] na maghanap ng long-term, sustainable solution... imbis na maglabas ng mga pangalan na kapos sa ebidensya,' says the Commission on Human Rights
Dela Rosa dares HRW to take him to court: 'Puro kayo dakdak'
(UPDATED) PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa is set to retire on Thursday, April 19, after completing a term marred by allegations of human rights violations
CHR notes 'improvement' in PNP's relaunched Oplan Tokhang
The Commission on Human Rights cites the crafting of tight guidelines for the drug war, but says it is still 'premature' to commend the campaign as 'less bloody'
CHR tells PNP to make arrests, and not kill, in return to drug war
'We are hopeful that they will follow the lead of the PDEA, that previous operations in the past months have resulted to more apprehensions rather than alleged cases of extrajudicial killings,' says Commission on Human Rights Spokesperson Jackie de Guia
University president killed in Cagayan de Oro
(2ND UPDATE) Dr Ricardo Rotoras is the president of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines in Cagayan de Oro and the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges
CHR hopeful PDEA will follow rule of law in drug war
As the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency handles the war on drugs, the Commission on Human Rights also calls on the Philippine National Police to shift its focus to extrajudicial killings
Diokno defined courage for the Martial Law generation
On the 45th anniversary of martial law and some 30 years after his death, Jose Diokno lives on, his ideals and his dreams, and his deeply held belief that it is worth building 'a nation for our children'
Human rights defenders call for safe environment online vs harassment, threats
Human Rights Online Philippines project comes amid threats and harassment advocates have been receiving online ever since the start of President Rodrigo Duterte s war on drugs
Civil libertarians launch Movement vs Duterte’s ‘acts of tyranny’
Movement Against Tyranny MAT leaders urge the public to speak out and act against extrajudicial killings and other acts of tyranny under the Duterte administration
#ThewRap: Things you need to know, August 22, 2017
Hello Here are the stories you shouldn t miss this Tuesday
CHR conducts own probe into Kian delos Santos' death
The Commission on Human Rights will also investigate the series of deadly drug raids in parts of Metro Manila and Bulacan
Rappler Talk: Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on diplomacy in a changing world
Foreign Minister Bishop also talks about technology women empowerment and the rise of strongmen
CHR: Stopping drug war admits flaws and abuse in PNP
Despite the halt of operations the Commission on Human Rights urges the Philippine National Police to ensure accountability and justice for all the deaths in the intense war on drugs
Int'l criminal court should probe Duterte's war on drugs
Former International Criminal Court official and Harvard law professor Alex Whiting says an urgent action from the court will send a strong signal to President Rodrigo Duterte
SC on Davao Death Squad case: PNP can search quarry for bodies
The ruling made in November 2014 offers a new window of opportunity for the police and the Commission on Human Rights to now resume their investigation into the DDS
CHR to top carbon emitters: Face human rights probe
For the first time a national human rights body is officially taking steps to address the impacts of climate change on human rights and the responsibility of private actors says environmental group Greenpeace
'Duterte must break cycle of human rights violations' – Amnesty Int'l
According to Amnesty International President Rodrigo Duterte s commitment to uphold the rule of law is like a breath of fresh air
Germany’s Merkel congratulates President-elect Duterte
Democracy and human rights remain indispensable German Chancellor Angela Merkel tells Philippine President elect Rodrigo Duterte
HRW: PH not doing enough to curb HIV epidemic
Reducing HIV transmission among males having sex with males MSMs requires targeted education campaigns on condom use and safe sex The government has ignored these approaches Human Rights Watch says
Worse than death: Torture methods during martial law
During the Marcos regime San Juanico Bridge did not just refer to the longest bridge in the country It had a far more sinister meaning
Martial law victims to campaign against Bongbong Marcos’ VP bid
They vow to go to Marcos sorties and not allow him to campaign without exposing their family s lies
Aquino's human rights record a 'failure' – watchdog
Human Rights Watch also denounces Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for encouraging extrajudicial killings
#Manilakbayan: Mindanao tribes demand a stop to Lumad killings
Hundreds of participants of a protest caravan dubbed Manilakbayan are expected to arrive in the county’s capital Sunday October 25
Mary Jane to Jokowi: Save me from death
In a handwritten letter to the Indonesian leader the Filipina on death row pleads for her life for the sake of her two children
Mary Jane's last wish: Bring my body home
The 30 year old mother of two who was sentenced to death in 2010 for attempting to smuggle 2 6 kilograms of heroin into Indonesia says she has accepted her fate
Arrested or abducted? 2 UP alumni held in Nueva Ecija
The military says they were going to arrest Ely Taray who allegedly has links with the NPA Instead they found Guiller Cadano and Gerald Salonga in his house with firearms hand grenades subversive documents
AFP probes 'killing' video
This cannot be condoned We are looking into everything says AFP spokesperson Major General Domingo Tutaan
PMA Honor Committee violated Cudia’s rights – CHR
If the PMA is in danger of running afoul of the human rights norm if it fails or refuses to rectify the grievous harm done by the Honor Committee against the Cadet Cudia the CHR says
