Rappler obtained this dataset from rights group Karapatan and Kapatid. In their records, there are 801 political prisoners in the whole country, and 672 or most of them are pre-trial detainees or those still waiting for judgment. One limitation of the dataset is that it only reflects current prisoners, not those already acquitted and cleared.

Of the 672 Persons Deprived of Liberty or PDLs, the bulk were arrested and jailed during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, or from 2016 to 2022. Under the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., 90 activists have been arrested and are currently in jail.

The four-year wait is way beyond what the Supreme Court envisions, which is six months on average for a trial to finish and mete out a judgment.

The most prominent political prisoner, former senator Leila de Lima, spent 6 years and 8 months in jail.

One political prisoner has been languishing in jail for 18 years without a judgment. There are 27 political prisoners who have spent more than 10 years in jail awaiting judgment.

“I think there is a responsibility on the entire justice system to ensure that cases like these do not languish in prison, that they are handled speedily, with empathy, but also with due diligence,” Irene Khan, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion, told Rappler when she presented her findings after her two-week mission in the country.

Play Video

‘Denialism’

Political prisoners are those who belong to activist and human rights groups, or like De Lima, were known to be affiliated with political parties. De Lima is a leader of the opposition Liberal Party. The government has a lower count of political prisoners – 382 – as relayed to Khan via the inter-agency AO 35 task force. “That is not sufficient, they are not working hard enough,” said Khan.

Most political prisoners are charged with common crimes, often with illegal possession of firearms and explosives, which would fall out of the government’s count of political prisoners. Activists used to be charged with subversion and related crimes, but “now we are being criminalized for our political offense,” said Vicente Ladlad, the 74-year-old peace process consultant detained at the Bicutan City Jail.

Although the charge is a common crime, the charge sheets accuse these prisoners of being armed communists. Simply, they are red-tagged. Being a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is not a crime in the Philippines, so the legal charge that could stand is illegal possession of firearms. Activists have long claimed that the arms and explosives are planted during raids.

The Philippine government insists that it does not red-tag. Yet in the past, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) had been known to engage in red-tagging.

“I think there is a veil of denialism at one level, but on another level they are perfectly aware of what is happening. It was during Duterte’s time that these kinds of practices are introduced, they are hard to root out because they continue to happen underground,” said Khan.

Khan’s top recommendation for Marcos was to abolish the red-tagging NTF-ELCAC. She also urged him to issue an executive order that would prohibit government from red-tagging, and punish those who violate the order. The recommendations have been met with strong objections from security forces.

“The security institutions are not behaving the way [they] should, [they] should not be entering into a smear campaign against people, and the justice system is failing to address those smear campaigns, so that weakens the state, and weakens the trust that citizens must have on the state,” said Khan.

The dataset shows that only 13 of the political prisoners on trial are confirmed to be affiliated with the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political wing of the CPP, either as local spokespersons or consultants.

There are 155 female political prisoners, two of whom are 25-year-old campus journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, and 27-year-old activist Marielle Domequil. Khan visited Cumpio and Domequil at the Tacloban city jail during her mission.

“[Cumpio] was arrested at the age of 21, she is now 25, but there is a lot of information to suggest she would have a strong defense so the case should be reviewed immediately,” said Khan.

“No one should have to spend 4 years in prison, certainly not at the age of 21, it should either be dismissed or brought to trial speedily,” Khan added. – Rappler.com

Prior to the new April 30 deadline, more than 1,900 jeepney and UV Express routes risked being wiped out nationwide by February 1. Under a Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) memorandum circular, jeepneys that failed to consolidate before the deadline of December 31, 2023, had only until January 31 to ply certain routes, including those with low consolidation rates.

But there were also some routes where none of the jeepneys or UV Express units plying them formed a cooperative or corporation. Based on LTFRB data, 395 jeepney routes in Metro Manila have no consolidated entities, along with 108 routes for UV Express. Nationwide, the number of PUV routes without consolidated entities reaches 1,948. What happens to these routes?

Before the extension, this meant that legally, those routes were supposed to have no more trips by February 1 unless other consolidated PUVs were pulled in to serve them, or the PUVs originally under that route continued to ply them as “colorum” vehicles.

However, the government clarified now that unconsolidated PUVs will still be allowed to ply their routes by February in light of the extended deadline. The LTFRB, however, has yet to release an updated memorandum on how it will implement the extension.

Even with the new deadline granted, transportation officials were firm that operators must consolidate if they want to keep their routes. This extension will serve as a last chance for operators to consolidate into a cooperative or corporation.

Search this table below to see the consolidation status of your route as of December 31, 2023, if your route will still be in service by February 1. Take note that only routes labeled as having no consolidated entities are in danger of being wiped out.

Before the extension was announced, left-leaning critics of the PUV Modernization Program warned that the consolidation requirement will soon bring job losses and messy commutes.

“This reaffirms our fears of massive job losses and disruption of public transport after January 31 when unconsolidated jeeps and UVE will no longer be allowed to operate,” said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan president Renato Reyes in a statement on Saturday, January 20.

Transport group PISTON, which has co-led a series of protests against the program, also said a “mass transport disaster” awaited as “thousands” of drivers and operators could be displaced.

Using the data provided by the LTFRB, Rappler created a map visualizing the status of consolidation nationwide. Regions are shaded based on the number of jeepney or UV Express routes that failed to consolidate before December 31, 2023.

Looking closely at the data, Bicol is the region that has the most number of unconsolidated jeepney routes. Nearly 68% of all routes in Bicol, or 451 routes, have no consolidated jeepneys. In Metro Manila, more than 35% of jeepney routes have no consolidated jeepneys. Central Visayas, Caraga, and Soccsksargen are the only regions that do not have routes that failed to consolidate.

Still, the government insists that there will be no transportation crisis. According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), consolidated cooperatives will be asked to operate on routes with unconsolidated jeepneys. In relation to this, drivers who will be displaced by consolidation could be absorbed by other cooperatives or corporations that will “badly need” them as they expand routes.

“We were assured by the cooperatives na sila po ay tatanggap ng mga drivers doon sa operators na hindi po nag-consolidate (that they will accept drivers from operators who were unable to consolidate),” said Office of Transportation Cooperatives Chairman Jesus Ferdinand Ortega on January 5.

The DOTr also views consolidation as an opportunity to “rationalize” routes, which means that it really doesn’t expect to keep all routes. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said that based on the government’s study, achieving a 65% consolidation rate nationwide will be “sufficient” to carry the program forward. He explained that some routes are redundant, with shorter routes overlapping with longer ones.

“‘Yung mga naiwan, sa tingin namin, will be enough. And we will, siyempre, rationalize na ‘yung mga ruta. For example, merong isang ruta 'nyo na mahaba. May mga ruta in between. ‘Yun ‘yung mga unconsolidated, ‘yung in between, baka hindi na. Kaya, ‘yun ang mga tinitignan natin,” he said in an interview on January 5.

(Those that were left, in our view, will be enough. We will, of course, rationalize the routes. For example, there's one long route. There are routes in between. Those routes in between that were unconsolidated may be dropped. That's what we're looking at.)

In the meantime, the LTFRB also advised the public to turn to other modes of public transportation for their daily commute.

“There are still other modes of public transport in Metro Manila. We are talking of buses, other modes like taxis, TNVS (transport network vehicle services) that could also accommodate public demand,” said LTFRB NCR Regional Director Zona Tamayo in a press briefing last December 29.

The government has also gone on record numerous times to defend its controversial PUV Modernization Program, holding three press conferences about it in a week. In each one, officials underscored how the program will uplift drivers and operators and how consolidation is a necessary first step to upgrading to modern jeepneys. (READ: Anti-poor? How gov’t defends PUV modernization, why jeepney stakeholders oppose it) – Rappler.com

Metro Manila has world’s worst metro area traffic in 2023. What can we learn?

Estrada was convicted of one count of direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery, which carry a sentence of 8 to 9 years and 2 to 3 years, respectively. He was also ordered to pay a P3-million fine.

Here’s the full text of the decision of the Fifth Division of the Sandiganbayan unanimously concurred in by Associate Justice Rafael Lagos, Associate Justice Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega, and Associate Justice Maryann Corpus-Mañalac.

Sandiganbayan Decision on Jinggoy Estrada plunder/bribery by Lian Buan on Scribd

– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Pulse Asia has released the results of its latest survey on the performance and trustworthiness of the Philippines’ highest-ranking officials, and the pollster observed “only a few significant changes.”

“Public opinion regarding the trustworthiness of the top national government officials hardly changed between September 2023 and December 2023, both at the national level and across sub-groupings,” the company said in a report published on Monday, January 8.

Pulse Asia, however, noted “several marked movements across geographic and socio-economic groupings” in terms of performance scores.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Trust: 73% (+2 from September 2023)
Distrust: 7% (+1 from September 2023)
Undecided on trust: 20% (-3 from September 2023)
Approval: 68% (+3 from September 2023)
Disapproval: 9% (-1 from September 2023)
Undecided on performance: 22% (-3 from September 2023)

There is little movement in the President’s numbers at the national level, and he still enjoys majority support.

His approval numbers saw a 15-percentage-point increase among Class E respondents, and a 10-percentage-point increase among Class ABC.

His trust rating in these groupings tell a similar story: a 12-percentage-point increase among Class E, and a larger 15-percentage-point increase among Class ABC.

Geographically speaking, Marcos took a beating in the Visayas, after his disapproval score jumped from 4% in September to 16% in December.

Vice President Sara Duterte

Trust: 78% (+3 from September 2023)
Distrust: 6% (+1 from September 2023)
Undecided on trust: 15% (-5 from September 2023)
Approval: 74% (+1 from September 2023)
Disapproval: 8% (+3 from September 2023)
Undecided on performance: 18% (-4 from September 2023)

Just like the President, Vice President Duterte saw a little increase in her trust and approval scores, but she remains the most trusted government official based on the Pulse Asia survey.

Among socioeconomic groups, she recorded the biggest gain among Class ABC, with an 18-percentage-point approval score increase and a 17-percentage-point surge in her trust rating.

Duterte also tumbled in the Visayas, after her approval score dipped by 12 percentage points.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri

Trust: 51% (+2 from September 2023)
Distrust: 10% (+2 from September 2023)
Undecided on trust: 39% (-5 from September 2023)
Approval: 49% (-1 from September 2023)
Disapproval: 12% (+4 from September 2023)
Undecided on performance: 40% (-2 from September 2023)

Senate President Zubiri, like the President and the Vice President, enjoys the trust of the majority.

He did not register a double-digit gain in his numbers across sub-groupings, and the percentage of respondents from Class ABC who disapproved of his performance rose by 14 points.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez

Trust: 40% (+2 from September 2023)
Distrust: 14% (unchanged from September 2023)
Undecided on trust: 46% (-2 from September 2023)
Approval: 39% (-2 from September 2023)
Disapproval: 13% (-1 from September 2023)
Undecided on performance: 48% (+4 from September 2023)

Unlike the first three, Romualdez’s trust rating fell short of the majority, although it is 2-percentage-points higher compared to September.

A major pain point for the Speaker is the Visayas, where he suffered a 23-percentage-point drop in his approval rating and an 11-percentage-point drop in his trust rating.

Key issues

Key developments that took place in the weeks leading up the survey period and during Pulse Asia’s field work include:

• resumption of fighting in Gaza after a week-long truce
• continued reports of tension between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea
• bombing at the Mindanao State University
• earthquakes in Davao Occidental and Surigao del Sur
• former senator Leila de Lima’s release from jail after over six years
• passage of House resolution calling on the Marcos administration to cooperate with the International Criminal Court probe against former president Rodrigo Duterte
• approval of the 2024 budget – which no longer includes confidential funds – in the Senate
• nationwide transport strike by jeepney operators
• reported increase in the number of COVID-19 cases
• the conduct of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, which Marcos skipped
• announcement by the Philippine government and communist rebels to restart peace talks
• publication of a report showing that the Philippines is among the countries with the lowest proficiency for young learners

A total of 1,200 respondents participated in the survey conducted from December 3 to 7. They were also asked about the most urgent issues that the Marcos administration must immediately address.

Top answers include:

• controlling inflation: 72%
• increasing workers’ wages: 40%
• job creation: 28%
• poverty reduction: 25%

The full report can be viewed below:

– Rappler.com

Those who can’t pay up receive threats, get a deluge of texts and calls, and are shamed and maligned online. Some predatory lending apps even go as far as contacting the borrowers’ friends and relatives to pressure them to pay up.

Times are hard, no thanks to inflation, but you may want to think twice before downloading that lending app.

Rappler compiled a list of online lending companies from the database and issuances of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC). The database contains the name, registration status, and red flags of each app.

If the lending app and operating company are registered with the SEC, the database will reflect its SEC registration number.

Check out the database below.

Note, however, that the SEC and NPC’s lists are primarily focused on data privacy-related concerns, unfair collection practices, and acts of harassment made in the form of threats to ruin the borrowers’ reputation and to cause physical harm to their persons and their families.

This list does not fully reflect, or only partially reflects, possible violations of the rules set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on interest rate limits.

The BSP has fixed the maximum nominal interest rate at 6% per month, or about 0.2% per day, and the effective interest rate at 15% month, or about 0.5% per day for covered loans which are unsecured, general purpose loans that do not exceed the amount of P10,000 and with a loan tenor of up to four months. (READ: Digital lending apps see growth, increased time spent by PH users in 2022 – analysis)

To file a formal complaint against a lending or financing company, click this link. – Rappler.com

Must Read

Haunted by debt, online lending app victims fight financial nightmare

Based on the certificate of canvass of votes and proclamation released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, November 1, the “no” votes totaled 820,385, outnumbering the 620,707 “yes” votes.

Among the 24 localities in Bulacan, 22 opposed the proposal to convert San Jose del Monte into an HUC.

While San Jose del Monte itself rejected the conversion, the margin between the “yes” (49%) and “no” (51%) votes was visibly narrow.

The “yes” vote prevailed only in the neighboring towns of San Jose Del Monte – Marilao and Meycauayan.

In Meycauayan, 61,214 (70%) were in favor of the conversion, while 26,554 (30%) were against it. Meanwhile, in Marilao, 55% voted “yes,” while 45% opted for “no.”

Norzagaray recorded the highest percentage of “no” votes at 76%, trailed by Hagonoy (71%), Bulakan (68%), and Paombong (68%).

The plebiscite, coinciding with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, on Monday, October 30, petitioned to ratify Proclamation No. 1057, a Duterte-time order that sought to convert San Jose del Monte from a component city into a HUC.

The Comelec reported that out of the 2,092,248 registered voters in Bulacan, only 1,608,004 people, or 76.86% participated in the local elections.

Of those who voted in the barangay elections in Bulacan, 166,004 did not participate in the plebiscite, which means their ballots were left blank.

Pros and cons

Critics of the proposed shift to HUC status had argued that the conversion would lead to higher taxes in the city, resulting in a higher cost of living.

Concerns were also raised about the autonomy of San Jose del Monte from the province jeopardizing the scholarship grants provided by the provincial government to students in the city.

Prior to the plebiscite, Governor Daniel Fernando, when asked where he stands on the issue, said “no father is happy when he sees his child leave,” but insisted that in the spirit of democracy, the public should have the final say.

Meanwhile, advocates argued that the conversion of San Jose Del Monte will serve as a catalyst for economic progress, benefiting the entire province, particularly its neighboring towns.

They also asserted that the delivery of services from the provincial government will be expedited, as it will have to focus on one less town.

It will also allow city officials to directly oversee government policies.

“As the father of the city of SJDM, I, along with the people of San Jose, dream of it becoming a fully-fledged HUC, because I believe it will bring significant opportunities and progress to our city and province,” San Jose del Monte City Mayor Arthur Robes said.

Robes and his wife San Jose Del Monte City lone district Representative Florida were active in the campaign to convert their town into an HUC. Their campaign was backed by the National Movement of Young Legislators Bulacan and Iglesia Ni Cristo.

Robes, a member of Duterte’s PDP-Laban was the author of the bill seeking the conversion of the town into an HUC.

Meeting the criteria for a HUC, San Jose del Monte boasts of having a population of over 600,000, which is thrice the minimum requirement of 200,000, according to the Local Government Code of 1991.

In 2022, the city posted a P141 million net income, surpassing the P50-million threshold specified by the law.

Under the Duterte administration, San Jose del Monte held the record for the most number of drug-related killings reported among cities and municipalities in Bulacan. – with reports from Dwight De Leon/Rappler.com

Nine of these were reported to the police, with 11 currently under investigation. One case has been filed in court, while another case did not proceed due to a refusal to file a complaint.

In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), five cases were reported, while four incidents were recorded in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The Commission on Elections data showed that more than half of the villages categorized as areas of concern are located in BARMM. 

Due to conflicts they experienced during the previous elections in BARMM, many teachers expressed worry about the elections on Monday, October 30. This prompted the national government to send additional police and soldiers to the area.

The BARMM, according to data from the Comelec, has the highest number of unopposed candidates, with 5,387 individuals vying for different barangay positions.

Among all the regions in the Philippines, the BARMM also holds the record for the highest number of expected vacancies for barangay positions. Six villages lack candidates for the position of punong barangay, while in 31 barangays, there are no candidates for SK chairperson. 192 positions for SK members are also vacant. 

Who are the victims and suspects?

Over a two-month period, a total of 26 victims of barangay and SK election-related violence were recorded (see chart below). Many of these incidents involved incumbent candidates for barangay captain (11), relatives of candidates (5), or civilians (5).

Among civilians, three of the five incidents involved deaths. Three incumbent candidates for barangay captain were reported killed, along with one candidate for barangay councilor, and another for barangay captain.

All in all there have been eight killed in election-related violence. The rest were injured or reported unharmed.

Of the suspects involved in these cases, 20 were civilians, while 17 remain unknown. In some cases, relatives of the candidates (9), along with some current village leaders and non-incumbent candidates themselves, were identified as suspects.

– Rappler.com

EXPLAINER: No candidates for thousands of 2023 barangay, SK posts. What happens next?

This is what prompted Gloria Capitan to start a petition in 2014 against the continued operation of the facility. It attracted adherents and advocates who joined the Coal-Free Bataan Movement alongside Gloria which became instrumental in the campaign against polluting businesses operating in her home province.

Gloria became an environmental defender because she wanted to protect her grandchildren, Jeremy and Ana (not their real names)*, and the people in her barangay from the pollution caused by the coal storage facility.

“[Siya ay isang] maalagang ina, maalaga sa kanyang mga anak, apo, kapatid, sa kanyang mga kabarangay. Medyo maganda ang kanyang hangarin dito sa amin,” Marco (not his real name)*, Gloria’s son, told Rappler. (She cared deeply for her children, grandchildren, and the people in the barangay. She had good intentions for us all.)

As her campaign spread, Gloria started receiving both threats and bribes that appeared to have one objective: to stop and silence her.

Worst fears

Gloria’s son Marco was preparing dinner one afternoon with his family after visiting an organization in a neighboring barangay.

Gloria didn’t join them at the time and instead proceeded to her store, where they were making curtain dividers used as makeshift doors.

Suddenly Marco heard a successive bang! bang! bang!

Marco and his family froze as three gunshots echoed in their family’s compound, followed by screams. He initially dismissed the morbid thought that the target of the shooting could have been his mother. Very quickly, Marco and his brother headed in the direction of the gunshots.

To their horror, Marco’s worst fears turned out to be true.

They found Gloria shot multiple times – in front of her grandchildren, Jeremy, and Ana. They were 7 and 9 years old at the time.

In shock, panic, and desperation, Marco and his brother tried to chase after the gunmen but failed to catch them. 

Marco returned to their compound and decided to take Gloria to a hospital, where she succumbed.

Days after Gloria’s death, Jeremy and Ana, who were very fond of her, asked Marco and his family for their grandmother. 

“Araw-araw siya hinahanap ng mga apo. Nagtatanong sila, ‘Bakit pinatay si Nanay?‘” Marco narrated. (Her grandchildren asked for her every day. They would ask, “Why did they kill Grandma?”)

Gloria Capitan was the first environmental defender killed under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, according to Rappler data. At least 218 more died in the six years he was in office, from 2016 to 2022.

Duterte’s term may have ended already, but with the recent killings and the abduction of environmental activists, one thing is certain: environmental defenders in the Philippines remain in danger up to this day.

Hot spots for killings

Gloria may be the first environmental defender killed under Duterte, but killings had already been recorded even in the past two decades. Rappler data show that before Gloria, 115 had already been killed from April 2001 to April 2016.

Over the past two decades, most of these killings happened in the regions of Davao, Western Visayas, and Mimaropa, according to Rappler data and records from the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE). The killings started in 2001 and continued until 2022.

As of 2022, a total of 334 environmental defenders have been killed. For nine consecutive years since 2012, according to international organization Global Witness, the Philippines has been the deadliest spot in Asia for environmental defenders.

Of the 334 killings involving environmental defenders, 61 were traced to the Davao Region, while 40 happened in Western Visayas. Of all the recorded killings, more than a third came from the following five provinces: Davao de Oro, Negros Occidental, Bukidnon, Negros Oriental, and Palawan (see map below).

Many of the environmental defenders who were killed protested against the operation of businesses that pollute or destroy the environment in their communities, while some pushed for the protection of landscapes such as forests.

There were also defenders who served in the government, like forest rangers and municipal and community environmental officers, who were killed while on duty. But most of them were just trying to protect their homes.

Issues fought

Of the recorded killings nationwide, 165 were due to mining-related issues, while 106 were related to agriculture. Mining, agriculture, and logging issues are linked to most of the deaths in the five provinces that registered the highest number of killings.

There were also cases where the killings were linked to several issues. For instance, there were cases involving land grabbing in areas being turned into a logging or a mining site. The data included all the issues involved which were counted separately.

In the provinces of Bukidnon and Davao del Norte, mining and agriculture issues were the reasons for most environmental killings that were recorded.

In Palawan, forest rangers who guarded areas from illegal logging activities were also targeted. In Negros, they were mostly related to agriculture and land grabbing-related issues. In 2019, police operations and counterinsurgency programs used brutal force against landless agri-workers, resulting in the deaths of 29.

Kalikasan PNE national coordinator Jon Bonifacio and Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay told Rappler that the attacks in the island of Negros are "linked to Duterte-era policies" – Oplan Sauron, Presidential Proclamation No. 374, Presidential Memorandum Order No. 32, and Executive Order No. 70 – that "set up the island of Negros for continued military operations."

Palabay told Rappler that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. – now on his second year in office – has to "rescind the following policies that greenlighted these killings" to stop them from recurring in the future:

• Oplan Sauron is a joint operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police against suspected communist rebels, criminals, and those involved in illegal drugs.
• Through Memorandum Order No. 32, Duterte ordered more troops to be deployed in Bicol, Samar, and the island of Negros to "suppress lawless violence and acts of terror."
• Executive Order No. 70 created the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict or the NTF-ELCAC, while Duterte declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army a terrorist organization through Presidential Proclamation No. 374.

"While ostensibly declared to wipe out communist insurgents on the island, civilians have frequently – if not primarily – been the focus of military operations with the extent of harassment, threats, trumped-up charges, and killings that have taken place," Bonifacio said.

Multiple killings in some families

There have been cases where multiple individuals related to each other were killed at the same time and place. Out of 334 recorded environmental defender killings over the past two decades, 56 were killed among groups of people who shared the same surnames.

Some of these individuals were related to each other, belonging to the same family, such as the case of three members of the Danyan family in South Cotabato. According to the Environmental Justice Atlas, Datu Victor Danyan and his sons Victor Jr. and Artemio were killed on December 3, 2017.

In Abra, three members of the Ligiw family were killed on March 2, 2014. According to SunStar and Bulatlat reports, Freddie Ligiw, a member of the progressive youth group Anakbayan in Abra, was killed along with his father Licuben and brother Eddie.

In SunStar's report, Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas spokesperson Piya Macliing Malayao was quoted as saying the Ligiw family had "gained the ire of the military because of their political affiliations" and involvement in several campaigns in the province, among them the anti-mining plunder campaign.

Three members of the Capion family in South Cotabato were also killed at the same time. Juvy Capion and her sons, Pop and John, were killed on October 17, 2012. At the time of the killing, Pop was only 13 years old, while John was only 8, according to a Davao Today report.

Human rights group Karapatan-Socsksargen said in the report that the killing involved an attack by Philippine Army troops against Lumad who were "opposed to the operation of foreign and large-scale mining SMI-Xtrata in their ancestral land."

Lawyers also killed

Five lawyers who fought for environmental causes were also killed over the past two decades, based on the combined data of Rappler and Kalikasan PNE.

One of these advocates was Gil Gujol of Karapatan-Bicol, shot in the head on December 12, 2006, in Gubat, Sorsogon. According to a Philstar.com report, Gujol was shot on his way home after a court hearing. He was a vocal legal counsel in land and mining cases in the region.

Another lawyer, Mia Manuelita Cumba Mascariñas-Green, was the target of four assailants who ruthlessly opened fire at her while driving a van near her home in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, on February 15, 2017. A regional police spokesperson said then that Mascariñas-Green was a "known environmental lawyer." Authorities said the lawyer's children and their nanny was also in the van when the shooting happened. Fortunately, her children were spared.

A year later, on November 6, 2018, Benjamin Ramos was shot dead by gunmen in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental. Ramos was secretary-general of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL)-Negros Island. He also represented a number of political prisoners, including the Mabinay 6, who were arrested in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, following an alleged clash with government troopers.

In Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, Anthony Trinidad was silenced by riding-in-tandem gunmen on July 23, 2019, after a court hearing. He was notable for his commitment against land grabbing and for representing political prisoners. 

More recently, Juan Macababbad, chairman of the Socsksargen chapter of the Union of People's Lawyers in Mindanao, was shot dead outside his house in Surallah town, South Cotabato, on September 15, 2021. Macababbad had been receiving death threats after being sued with a strategic lawsuit against public participation in 2015, after local movements barricaded the aerial spraying facilities of a banana plantation. He also opposed applications for coal mining in the Daguma Mountain Range.

Both Ramos and Trinidad were red-tagged as communist rebels before the incidents happened, while Macababbad is a member of the red-tagged NUPL.

Killings continue under Marcos

Just a few months after Marcos became president in June 2022, four environmental defenders were already killed: one in Negros Oriental, another in Zamboanga del Sur, and two in Negros Occidental.

According to an ABS-CBN News report, copra farmer Crisanto Estrabella Lagardilla was killed in a firefight with government troops in Sitio Tamusi, Barangay Talalak, Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental on July 30, 2022.

In Dumingag town, Zamboanga del Sur, municipal environment officer Richard "Butch" Cabilan was shot several times by at least three gunmen at the municipal agricultural training center of the town on November 3, 2022. Cabilan died on the spot.

National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant Ericson Acosta and peasant organizer Joseph Jimenez were killed on November 30, 2022, in a clash between the military and NDF Negros in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental. However, human rights group Karapatan Negros called the reported clash "a fake encounter."

Protection needed now

Bonifacio, Palabay, and Environmental Defenders Congress (EDC) spokesperson Jean Lindo told Rappler that Marcos should acknowledge these killings – and besides rescinding the harmful "Duterte-era policies" – also sign the human rights defenders protection bill, or House Bill No. 77, into law to protect environmental defenders. The bill has been pending with the House committee on human rights since July 26, 2022.

Marcos, Bonifacio pointed out, has been "alarmingly silent" on the issue of the killings.

"We must acknowledge that environmental defenders are guardians of our ecosystems, not enemies of the state," Lindo said.

"There should be zero tolerance of extrajudicial killings, including that of environmental defenders. Justice should not just be soundbites. Real justice, now!" declared Palabay. – with reports from Jamaica Columbres/Rappler.com

Marco, Jeremy, and Ana are aliases to protect their identity and safety.

But one year since the 19th Congress convened, the President’s allies have approved only six out of the 42 measures tagged as a priority by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

Rappler takes a closer look at the performance of the legislative branch and tracks the status of the Marcos administration’s pet bills.

Congress OKs 6 priority bills

Six priority measures already hurdled the legislative branch, four of which have been signed by President Marcos into law.

SIM card registration

Republic Act No. 11934 or the SIM Card Registration Act is the first legislation enacted under the Marcos administration. The law requires SIM card owners to register with telecommunication companies to prevent deactivation.

The original deadline of registration was April 26, but was moved to July 25, after a low turnout of registrants.

Rescheduling the barangay elections

The barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) have long been delayed. The last one was conducted in 2018.

Filipinos were supposed to head to the polls to pick their new village and youth council leaders in December 2022, but Marcos, in October 2022, signed RA 11935, which reset the date of the elections to October 2023.

Advocates of postponement cited numerous reasons for the move – election fatigue, wanting to realign poll funds for COVID-19 recovery efforts, and buying time to institute reforms in the BSKE.

Election watchdogs strongly opposed the deferment, and in June, the Supreme Court said Marcos’ postponement of the polls was unconstitutional, marking his first High Court defeat as Philippine president.

Play Video

Tweaks to Duterte-era law on term limits of AFP officials

In May, Marcos signed RA 11939, which amended a year-old legislation that set fixed terms for the top brass of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In the new law, the maximum tour of duty of commanding generals of the Army, Navy, and Air Force was lowered from three to two years. An AFP chief gets a maximum tour of duty of three consecutive years.

The measure also removes the fixed or maximum terms specified in the Duterte administration-era law for the inspector general or the chiefs of unified commands.

Agrarian Emancipation Act

The measure seeks to condone farmers’ existing loans from unpaid amortizations, interest, penalties, and surcharges arising from the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and other similar laws.

House tax chairman Joey Salceda said around P58 billion in delinquencies will be waived, benefiting 654,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Agri Representative Wilbert Lee added that by writing off farmers’ loans, they can focus on improving their land, not having to worry about any debt.

Department of Health Specialty Centers Act

The measure seeks to establish specialty health centers in select public hospitals across all regions.

Speaker Martin Romualdez said that dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos built specialty hospitals during his time as president, but since all of those are in Quezon City, there is a need to make these services accessible to Filipinos in other parts of the country.

The bill is already on Marcos’ desk.

Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF)

The most controversial legislation under the Marcos administration yet is the MIF, a proposed sovereign investment fund that hurdled Congress at record speed despite loud objections from critics, who worry that the funds are prone to corruption and investment risks.

Proponents, however, stood by the measure, which they say, have enough safeguards against corrupt actors.

The bill is just awaiting the President’s signature.

9 bills hurdle at least 1 chamber in Congress, and nearing passage in other chamber

Rappler counted nine measures which meet both conditions: (1) already got the full approval of at least one chamber of Congress (either the House or the Senate), (2) in the other chamber where it remains pending, already elevated to the plenary.

These are:

• New framework on public-private partnership agreements
• Creation of National Disease Prevention Management Authority
• Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)
• Internet Transactions Act/E-Commerce Law
• Salt Industry Development Act
• Ease of paying taxes
• Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers
• New Philippine Passport Act
• Expanding the national employment recovery strategy

Play Video

17 bills approved by the House, but languishing at the committee-level in the Senate

In fairness to the House of Representatives, it passed 31 out of the 42 measures which President Marcos identified as his priority.

But the Senate’s track record pales in comparison, having approved only seven.

Without an approved Senate version of the bill passed by the lower chamber, a measure will not be able to reach President Marcos’ desk.

A total of 17 bills have yet to reach the Senate plenary, even though the House already passed them on final reading.

These are:

• Creation of medical reserve corps
• Creation of the Virology Institute of the Philippines
• Property valuation reform
• Bill on government’s transition to e-governance
• National Government Rightsizing Program
• Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act
• Waste-to-Energy Act
• Free legal assistance to police and soldiers
• National Land Use Act
• Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers
• National Apprenticeship Program Act
• Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery
• Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone Act
• Creation of the Eastern Visayas Development Authority
• Establishing Negros Island Region
• Automatic income classification of local government units
• Modernization of the Bureau of Immigration

10 pet bills in early stages

Out of the 42 administration pet bills, 10 have yet to get past their respective committees in the House and the Senate.

These are:

• Enabling law on natural gas industry
• Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System
• Budget Modernization Act
• Amendments to Electric Power Industry Reform Act
• Creation of Department of Water Resources
• National Defense Act
• Fiscal framework for the pension system of military and uniformed personnel
• Amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act
• Amendments to the Universal Health Care Act
• Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Master Plan

Play Video

What’s next?

Based on a LEDAC document in March, 10 of the 40 bills that had yet to be signed into law at the time had a target passage date of June 2, but Congress failed to meet the deadline on seven of them. As a result, the deadline was pushed back to yearend.

When Marcos delivers his SONA on July 24, he is expected to take pride in the six priority measures that Congress approved.

He is also expected to renew his appeal to lawmakers to work on his wish list of pet bills, which has been updated by LEDAC weeks before his annual speech. – with research from Jessica Bonifacio/Rappler.com

Jessica Bonifacio is an incoming third-year Environmental and Sanitary Engineering student in National University – Manila. She is a volunteer under Rappler’s Research Unit.

In his first year as the 17th president of the Philippines, Marcos has built a reputation for keeping his constituents posted, especially through his vlogs. But exactly how many updates has Marcos provided on social media?

Rappler recorded all of Marcos’ public appearances (any post that he is seen in a photo or video) from 2022 when he assumed office, based on Facebook and Twitter posts on his personal page, the Office of the President, the Presidential Communications Office, and Radio Television Malacañang.

What do the numbers say?

In Malacañang

Marcos attended a total of 298 activities inside Malacañang Palace. 

A majority of these activities were meetings with Cabinet officials or discussions and calls with foreign dignitaries, including then-Chinese vice president Wang Qishan, US Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, and Australian Governor General David Hurley, all on the day of his inauguration.

Courtesy visits come up second, mostly during Marcos’ first few months in office. 

Visits came from athletes such as Dobermann Apolinario and the Philippine Women’s Football Team, foreign officials such as Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, US Vice President Kamala Harris, and actress Vanessa Hudgens, who was named a Philippine global tourism ambassador.

Marcos also met with key non-government organizations, including leaders in the sugar industry during the sugar crisis in 2022, the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (where he had three activities), and Grab officials, who pledged 500,000 jobs generated by the company.

47 oath-taking ceremonies were conducted in Malacañang, including those of his Cabinet officials (more recently Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa), and Office of the President staff.

Local locale

Within Metro Manila, Marcos attended a total of 137 activities – 53 of these from Pasay City, often involving his pre-departure and arrival statements at either the Ninoy Aquino International Airport or Villamor Air Base.

Other activities included attending and opening different forums and events, the launch of government offices, and attending anniversary celebrations of departments or companies.

Mindanao emerged as Marcos’ least-visited main island, with only 18 activities recorded. Coincidentally, he received the largest majority votes from Mindanao, with 67.53% of the total votes.

He visited the Central Luzon region the most, as he paved the way for his Kadiwa ng Pangulo to farmers. This initiative was also launched in Calabarzon, Central Visayas, Bicol, and Soccsksargen.

45 of his activities outside Metro Manila were geared towards the launching of his projects, or attending openings of buildings and facilities, including visiting troops and inspecting newly-acquired military equipment at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.

Oddly enough, only nine activities in the Ilocos region – his bailiwick and hometown where he received an overwhelming 84.69% of total regional votes – have been recorded from his social media accounts.

The jet-setting President

President Marcos made sure to do his rounds with his neighbors – Indonesia and Singapore for his first trip abroad to sign bilateral agreements with both countries; Cambodia and Thailand to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summits, respectively; China in his first state visit in 2023; and Japan to ink deals in defense, security, infrastructure, and agriculture.

Outside Asia, he has visited the US twice: the first to give a speech at the United Nations General Assembly and the second for an official visit to the White House and the Pentagon. Marcos also made trips to Belgium for the ASEAN-EU Summit and Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. (READ: Jet-setter President: Things to know about Marcos’ international trips) He also attended the coronation of King Charles III last May.

Marcos also found time to do some unwinding while out of the country. These included watching an Eric Clapton concert and "Into the Woods" in the US, making a surprise appearance at the Singapore F1 Grand Prix. – with reports from Dianne Sampang and Jamaica Columbres/Rappler.com

Dianne Sampang is a fourth-year Journalism student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, currently volunteering under Rappler's Research unit. Jamaica Columbres is a graduating BS Psychology student from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. She is also a volunteer under Rappler’s Research unit.