Philippines anti-crime push will expand

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Credit Ratings ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Foreign Workers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innocent People ◽  
Legal Challenges

Significance The president focused on his administration's anti-illegal narcotics purge, a campaign that is raising human rights concerns domestically and globally. Impacts Legal challenges against Duterte's crime crackdown are probable, but their success is uncertain. The new government's relations with the influential Catholic Church will be tested, as will Duterte's partnership with Robredo. If the crime crackdown is seen as out of control, the business environment, credit ratings and investments in the Philippines may suffer. There is a risk of innocent people, including foreign workers, being affected by vigilantism. International relations may suffer if the Philippines is perceived to have a 'human rights problem'.

Articulating key obligations of states to persons deprived of liberty under a right to health framework: the Philippine case study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Edson P. Yarcia ◽  
Jan Michael Alexandre C. Bernadas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Right To Health ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
The State ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Right

Purpose This paper aims to examine key obligations of states to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) under the right to health framework in the context of COVID-19. As a case study, it also describes the state of health in places of detention in the Philippines during the pandemic, with an end view of providing granular recommendations for prison policy reforms. Design/methodology/approach Relevant rules under international human rights law related to places of detention were thematically analyzed to articulate the scope of the right to health of PDLs. To describe the state of places of detention in the Philippines, this paper relied on archival research of news from selected local mainstream and specialized media. Findings The right to health framework provides a foundation for the response to COVID-19 in places of detention. Key concerns include increase in the number of infections, vulnerabilities in physical and mental health, and the spread of infection among correctional staff. Long-standing structural constraints and limited health information compound the threat of COVID-19. The Philippines must comply with its human rights obligations to PDLs to effectively address COVID-19-related concerns. Practical implications Policy reforms in Philippine places of detention must include application of community standards on physical and mental health, implementation of emergency release and application of non-custodial measures for long-term prison decongestion. Originality/value This is one of the few papers to analyze human rights in health care in places of detention during a pandemic, as nuanced in the context of the Philippines.

Post-Manila US pivot may be coming to South-east Asia

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
East Asian ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Rights Abuses ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
Philippine Government

Significance US policymakers feel there is sufficient support for the United States elsewhere in the Philippine government and population to erode Duterte's threats to unravel the alliance. Nonetheless, Washington is considering alternative South-east Asian partners. Impacts Japan's role as an interlocutor between Manila and Washington on security issues could grow. Duterte might meet outgoing President Barack Obama in Peru at the November 19-20 APEC meeting. However, should this occur, it is unlikely to improve Philippine-US ties much if at all. Rumours of human rights abuses in the Philippines will anger US members of Congress, further deteriorating ties.

Female candidates eye Guatemala’s presidency

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Civil War ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Female Candidates ◽  
Legal Challenges ◽  
The Way

Significance Three female candidates lead the polls at this point. However, all three face legal challenges to their candidacies, raising the prospect that some may be barred before June. With corruption set to be the key electoral issue, all presidential hopefuls will strive to present themselves as the cleanest candidate as campaigning kicks off in earnest. Impacts The election of an anti-corruption candidate could pave the way for the CICIG’s mandate to be reinstated. A new president would enable a reset of relations with Washington, which is becoming increasingly critical of the Morales administration. The new administration could halt controversial proposed legal changes to allow amnesties for civil war human rights abusers.

Trump trade bluster will alienate US allies in Asia

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
East Asia ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Authoritarian Regimes ◽  
Arms Sales ◽  
Content Type ◽  
East Asia Summit ◽  
Rights Issues ◽  
Sticking Point

Significance Even without Trump's scheduled participation in the East Asia Summit (EAS) in the Philippines -- he left Manila just before the meeting began -- he made his foreign policy priorities clear throughout the trip, which, on his return to Washington, he hailed as a "tremendous success". Impacts Trump’s pursuit of quick arms sales could increase regional tensions and cause dissent in Congress. The Trump administration’s relative silence on human rights issues removes a sticking point from talks with authoritarian regimes. Trump’s interventions with foreign leaders undermine the credibility of US officials.

Proximity to broad bond rating change and employee performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1309-1326
Author(s):  
Jose Miranda-Lopez ◽  
James Sander ◽  
Li Sun
Keyword(s):  
Employee Performance ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Credit Ratings ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Bond Rating ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Standard And Poor's ◽  
Research Stream ◽  
Rating Change

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the employee performance of firms with a plus or minus specification in their bond credit ratings (i.e. firms near a broad bond rating change) because prior research suggests that these borderline firms demonstrate different behavior, relative to firms that are not near a broad bond rating change. Design/methodology/approach The authors use regression analysis to test the research question. Findings The authors posit and find that employees work harder when their firms are borderline in the context of bond credit ratings. The authors obtain similar results using firms on the Standard and Poor’s CreditWatch list. The authors also find that the results become stronger for firms with higher ability managers or when firms are faced with a more volatile business environment. Originality/value The results suggest that managers of these borderline firms have stronger incentives to improve employee performance. The study contributes to the large research stream on bond rating in finance literature and the research stream on employee performance in management and accounting literature. Specifically, our findings not only strengthen the notion in Kisgen (2006) that borderline companies often show different behavior, compared to average companies, but also can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the determinants of employee performance. The study, to the authors’ knowledge, is one of the few empirical studies that directly examine the employee behavior (i.e. performance) when their firms are at the borderline in the context of bond credit ratings.

Philippines' Duterte could reshape courts and banks

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Central Bank ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Supreme Court ◽  
Legal System ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Supreme Court ◽  
Legal Challenges ◽  
Central Bank Governor

Subject Bank and judiciary appointments in the Philippines. Significance This year, President Rodrigo Duterte has the chance to shape the future of the Philippine economy and legal system through his power of appointments, with implications stretching well beyond the conclusion of his single presidential term in 2022. Who the president selects as the central bank's next governor will affect perceptions of the Philippines' political economy and market risk. Duterte's appointments to the Supreme Court will influence the outlook for the Philippines' judiciary and legal system. Impacts A politically motivated central bank governor appointment would put pressure on the Philippines peso and interest rates. The Supreme Court is likely to become more pro-Duterte, even though his two latest appointees will have short tenures. This is likely to diminish the success of legal challenges against the drug crackdown, insulating Duterte's team politically.

New Myanmar labour laws threaten foreign workers

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Foreign Worker ◽  
Workforce Training ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Foreign Workers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Domestic Worker ◽  
Positive Economic ◽  
Legal Challenge ◽  
National League

Subject Foreign and domestic worker-relevant legislation in Myanmar. Significance The National League for Democracy (NLD)-led government has introduced draft legislation into parliament -- the Law Concerning Foreigners (LCF) and the Foreign Worker Law (FWL) -- that could pass by the end of this month. Both bills are causing concern among foreigners with interests and businesses in Myanmar. Impacts If the laws are not passed within the current session, they can be brought to the next session in June. If Myanmar employers are to hire more local workers, they may need to invest in workforce training. The positive economic effects of the LCF and FWL would be diminished without progress on countering corruption. Both laws, if passed, could be subject to human-rights-related legal challenge.

Philippines majorities will hold together, for now

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Capital Punishment ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
House Of Representatives ◽  
Policy Agenda ◽  
Content Type ◽  
First Session ◽  
The Catholic Church

Subject Outlook for congressional politics under the new Duterte administration. Significance The 17th congress begins its first session on July 25, following the election of President Rodrigo Duterte and new senators and representatives in May. Despite running with the minor, Mindanao-based PDP-Laban party, Duterte has quickly built majority coalitions in the Senate and House of Representatives, with key members already readying bills in support of his bold, controversial policy agenda. Impacts The greatest challenge for democracy under Duterte could be the lack of an effective opposition. Reintroducing capital punishment will concern the Catholic Church and human rights advocates; popular protests are likely. If Duterte's popularity erodes, his 'super-majorities' of convenience could quickly dissolve.

Gulf states’ austerity will hit foreign workers

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Oil Prices ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Foreign Workers ◽  
Demographic Shift ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
Gulf States ◽  
Firing Line

Subject GCC austerity squeezing foreign workers. Significance The fall in oil prices has put pressure on expatriate workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Their jobs and salaries are first in the firing line when governments look to cut costs, their living costs have been rising and they could face new taxes. They also face rising resentment from nationals, who feel swamped by the scale of expat numbers. However, labour laws are slowly improving and a strong dollar has boosted the value of remittances. Impacts Countries that rely on remittances from the Gulf, such as Nepal and the Philippines, may face current account pressures. Opportunities will rise for consultants to fill expertise gaps created by excessive cuts to expatriate professionals in the public sector. If oil dips lower for longer than expected, GCC countries could launch new nationalisation drives. A demographic shift may be underway, as highly paid Western professionals are gradually replaced by cheaper Asian/Arab alternatives.

Philippine anti-terrorism law will sow discord

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Task Force ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Financial Action Task Force ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Autonomous Region ◽  
Terrorist Financing ◽  
Legal Challenges ◽  
Financial Action Task ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Government

Significance The legislation significantly increases the executive’s power to determine what constitutes terrorism. The government of the fledgling Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, in the Philippine south, had requested Duterte not to endorse it, believing it will be used primarily against people there. Impacts Authorities will use the law to curb communists, whom Duterte regards as terrorists, as well as suspected Islamist militants. The law may help keep the Philippines off a Financial Action Task Force watchlist of states with weak measures against terrorist financing. Legal challenges to the law will not lead to significant changes to it.

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