The initial report of United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan after her recent 10-day official visit to the Philippines has drawn mixed reactions from government officials and various stakeholders. Khan was the third U.N. special rapporteur to visit the country since Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. became president in June … Read more
Leila de Lima, the Philippines’ most prominent political prisoner, has walked free on bail after nearly seven years behind bars. A former opposition senator and justice secretary, de Lima has been detained since 2017 on drug charges she says were ginned up in order to halt her Senate investigation into then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s violent “war … Read more
ASEAN Beat | Environment | Southeast Asia According to a new report by the watchdog Global Witness, the country remains the most dangerous place in Asia to be an environmental activist. Advertisement A report by British advocacy group Global Witness highlighted the continuing attacks against environmental defenders in the Philippines. Its latest report documented 16 killings in Asia in … Read more