SUMMARY
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Good morning Rappler readers,
Human rights issues continue hounding the Duterte administration. First, the dip in the President’s approval and trust ratings has been seen by both allies and opponents as a “wake-up call,” particularly in the way it handles the war on drugs.
Second, the country is now at risk of being ejected out of the UN Human Rights Council, if it continuously violates its obligation to uphold human rights and be open to independent probes, according to the watchdog group Human Rights Watch. HRW also says government’s refusal to acknowledge the existence of extrajudicial killings under President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs is “absurd.”
Meanwhile, abroad, the US and Turkey face an escalating diplomatic standoff; deadly wildfires hit California; and the future of “Dreamers” are in doubt as Trump outlines his immigration overhaul plans.
These, and more, in today’s wRap.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) reminded the Philippine government that as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, it has an obligation to uphold human rights and be open to independent probes. If the attitude of “constant denial” continues, HRW Geneva director John Fisher warns that the Philippines can be kicked out of the UN rights council. It is a measure that can be taken by the UN General Assembly in New York.
Members of the House of Representatives, led by key members of the Liberal Party (LP), filed on Monday, October 9, a resolution calling on their colleagues to rally behind the Office of the Ombudsman amid threats from no less than President Rodrigo Duterte himself. In the resolution, 26 lawmakers urged “the House of Representatives to express support to preserve and protect the constitutional independence and integrity of the Office of the Ombudsman.” The signatories were a mix of majority and independent minority members.
Senators from both the minority and majority blocs said the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing a double-digit drop in President Rodrigo Duterte’s trust and satisfaction ratings should serve as a wake-up call.
Even as the probe into the alleged misuse and abuse of Ilocos Norte tobacco funds continued, the legislator overseeing the investigation said it “might” eventually lead to a plunder case against officials involved, including Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos. “It might because as the hearing progresses we have uncovered, as I’ve said many transactions,” Surigao del Sur 2nd District Representative Johnny Pimentel said during a press briefing on Monday, October 9.
US President Donald Trump has cast serious doubt on the future of 690,000 US residents brought illegally to the country as children by presenting Congress with a list of hardline immigration demands as a quid-pro-quo for protecting the so-called “Dreamers.” The administration said Congress must fund a controversial border wall, help speed deportations and dramatically increase the corps of immigration officials – throwing sand in the gears of the proposed deal.
The United States and Turkey on Sunday, October 8, scaled back visa issuing services in each other’s countries in a deepening diplomatic row sparked by the arrest of a Turkish staffer at the American mission in Istanbul. The American embassy in Ankara said that “recent events” forced the US government to reassess Turkey’s “commitment” to the security of US mission services and personnel in the country.
Wildfires raging in the western US state of California on Monday, October 9, forced the evacuation of more than 20,000 people, officials said, with 10 people so far killed. At least 1,500 buildings were destroyed as the state declared an emergency in 3 counties ravaged by fires, which has affected about 49,000 acres (20,000 hectares).
Top photo: People watch water-dropping helicopters amidst smoke from the Canyon Fire 2, October 9, 2017 in Orange, California. Robyn Beck/AFP
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