By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL Back story: France Castro: teacher, friend, activist MANILA– Amid red-tagging of the progressive leaders, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro has been named as recipient of the Arthur Svensson International Prize for Professional Rights 2019. The Svensson Prize has been awarded to persons and organizations working to promote trade union ⇒

Rappler.com MANILA, Philippines – Human rights lawyer and senatorial candidate Chel Diokno slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for weaponizing lists against government critics. The Otso Diretso senatorial bet was asked during Rappler’s #TheLeaderIWant senatorial forum on Monday, March 4, what he suggests should be done so people in power will not break the law. “Dapat tigilan ⇒

Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum EBF Statement on the Red-Tagging of Bishop Felixberto Calang and Bishop Antonio Ablon The Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) decries the malicious tagging of Iglesia Filipina Independiente Bishop Felixberto Calang and Bishop Antonio Ablon as among the “terrorist members of the New People’s Army and Communist Party of the Philippines.” We condemn this ⇒

MANILA, Philippines – A number of journalist groups and institutions slammed the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recommendation to file cyber libel charges against Rappler Incorporated, its CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa, and former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr over a nearly 7-year-old story written months before the cyber libel law was enacted. In a press ⇒

12, not 9 years old; “social,” not criminal responsibility, says House ABS-CBNNews.com MANILA–The House of Representatives on Wednesday (Jan. 23) approved on second reading a bill lowering the age of criminal liability. Lawmakers approved a bill lowering the age of criminal liability to 12 years old, instead of 9, as first proposed. House Justice Committee ⇒

By Kath M. Cortez DavaoToday MANILA, Philippines – As the government intensifies its campaign against illegal drugs, Makabayan representatives in Congress filed a bill to support the call to spare journalists from becoming witnesses during anti-drug operations. Led by Act Teachers Partylist Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro, the group including Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos ⇒

“The mass killings are meant for mass intimidation! Not just in the drug war, but in the war against authoritarianism, in the war against poverty, and in the war against political dynasties and perpetuation of this system of injustice.” By ALYSSA MAE CLARIN Bulatlat.com MANILA— A broad array of groups and individuals expressed concern over ⇒

Philstar.com MANILA, Philippines — Last January 19, Filipino-American actor Marc dela Cruz took the stage as the lead role of the hit-Broadway musical “Hamilton” for the first time. “I am over the moon to be a part of Hamilton,” he said in an interview with New York-based Filipino-American magazine “The FilAm.” “I’ve been a fan ⇒

Philstar.com MANILA, Philippines — A Makati City court  Thursday (Jan. 10) convicted a former bank branch manager of money laundering for her role in one of the biggest cyber-heists in history involving $81 million belonging to the Bangladesh government. In a 26-page decision, Judge Cesar Untalan of Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 149 sentenced ⇒

“Make no mistake about it: while we welcome this victory, those responsible for these despicable acts cannot just rest yet because they will be surely held accountable.” By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL Bulatlat.com MANILA – Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo, ACT Rep. France Castro and 16 others who were released on bail vow to file ⇒