Amnesty Int'l -- PH Police May Have Comitted Crimes Against Humanity

Philippine police may have committed crimes against humanity by killing thousands of alleged drug offenders or paying others to murder as part of President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war, Amnesty International said last week, reports ABS-CBN.

PH Business Optimism Slides, Says Survey

The latest quarterly survey of audit and consulting firm Grant Thornton’s International Business Report shows that business optimism among developed Asia-Pacific economies fell 8 percentage points in the fourth quarter of 2016 to net -16 percent. Meanwhile, “the Philippines has been seeing a decline in optimism in 2016,” the firm said in a statement, reports Inquirer.net.

China Sends Aircraft Carrier to Patrol South China Sea

The Chinese military, in a move analysts described as a challenge to President-elect Donald J. Trump’s strident criticism of China, has deployed an aircraft carrier to patrol the contested South China Sea, officials said on Tuesday, reports Inquirer.net.

Several Hurt in IED Explosions in Leyte Town Plaza

Several people were hurt in an explosion caused by a pair of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during a boxing match near the Hilongos municipal Plaza in Leyte on Wednesday during the town's fiesta, reports GMA News.

PH Unemployment Rate Dips From Last Year

Amid a sustained robust economic growth, the jobless rate declined to 5.5 percent in 2016 from 6.3 percent last year, latest government data showed, reports Inquirer.net.
 

Duterte Wants Martial Law Without Congress Okay

President Rodrigo Duterte (Source: Rappler.com)

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he wants the 1987 Constitution amended to allow the declaration of Martial Law without the approval of Congress and the Supreme Court, reports ABS-CBN News.

James Taylor Cancels Manila Concert Due to Anti-Drug Killings

James Taylor (Source: jamestaylor.com)

James Taylor knows a lot about drug addiction because he battled it for years and he’s glad to have survived the ordeal. He also values human rights and the rule of law—the reasons why he decided to cancel his Feb. 25, 2017, concert at SM Mall of Asia Arena, reports Inquirer.net.

Filipino a Finalist for CNN Superhero of the Decade

Efren Peñaflorida (Source: Inquirer.net)

CNN Hero of the Year 2009 winner Efren Penaflorida is back in New York; this time, as one of the five finalists for the CNN Superhero of the Decade. Jeison Aristizábal was named this year’s CNN Hero, for providing educational and medical support for youth living with disabilities in Colombia. Aristizábal also won $100K, reports Balitang America.