A/HRC/44/22 Freedom of Association, of the International Labour Organization, has also raised concerns about “blanket linkages of trade unions to an insurgency” placing unionists in situations of extreme insecurity.82 56. Lawyers’ groups worldwide have been raising the alarm about killings of legal professionals since 2004 in the Philippines, 83 but the numbers documented have risen considerably over the past five years. OHCHR has corroborated information that, since 2015, over 40 legal professionals have been killed, many of whom were working on politically sensitive cases or advocating for land rights of farmers and indigenous peoples. Others have faced attempts on their lives. Most cases remain unresolved. Reprisals, threats and criminal charges – often for non-bailable offences – against legal professionals involved in human rights cases are also prevalent.84 Many lawyers and judges decline or recuse themselves from such cases. 57. In 2018, the Supreme Court removed from office the Chief Justice, Maria Lourdes Sereno – a prominent critic of the “war on drugs” and of the extension of martial law in Mindanao85 – following a government petition in relation to her non-declaration of assets prior to her appointment in 2012. The Commission on Human Rights denounced her removal, recalling that under the Constitution, a Chief Justice can only be removed through impeachment by Congress.86 United Nations special rapporteurs warned that her dismissal had a “chilling effect” on judicial independence.87 58. Two Senators, Leila de Lima and Risa Hontiveros, are among women officials who have faced reprisals for criticizing government policy. Ms. De Lima has been arbitrarily detained for three years88 and Ms. Hontiveros faces various criminal charges. Furthermore, the Vice-President, Leni Robredo, and a former Senator, Antonio Trillanes, were among individuals accused of conspiracy to commit sedition, although charges against the VicePresident have been withdrawn. On 20 April 2020, seven people linked to the Anakpawis political party were charged with sedition for reportedly carrying printed material critical of the Government while handing out food packets to quarantined communities in Bulacan, Luzon, during the COVID-19 outbreak.89 59. Some welcome steps have been taken to address impunity for killings of journalists. In December 2019, 43 people were convicted in relation to the 2009 killing of 32 media workers in Ampatuan, Maguindanao Province. Several legal cases against journalists and prominent media organizations are, however, pending. For instance, in 2018 the Securities and Exchange Commission revoked the licence of the prominent news website Rappler. Although Rappler continues operations, its Chief Executive Officer, Maria Ressa, has been arrested multiple times on various charges. OHCHR and United Nations special rapporteurs have raised concerns about what appears to be “a pattern of intimidation” of independent news sources.90 In February 2020, the Office of the Solicitor-General filed a petition to revoke the franchise of major broadcaster ABS/CBN, after the President had threatened to shut it down, claiming that its reporting was biased against him. On 5 May 2020, the National Telecommunications Commission issued a “cease and desist” order against ABS/CBN when its legislative franchise expired, leading to the immediate shutdown of its broadcasting services and raising serious concern about freedom of the press. Congressional hearings on renewal of the network’s licence were ongoing at the time of writing. 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 12 Case No. 2528, report No. 356, March 2010. See https://lawyersforlawyers.org/en/philippines-lawyers-organizations-worldwide-call-on-aquinogovernment-to-address-attacks-against-filipino-lawyers/. Numerous submissions from lawyers’ groups corroborate these reports. See https://pcoo.gov.ph/aug-09-2016-news-releases/. See https://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-the-chr-on-the-sc-decision-to-oust-chief-justice-sereno/. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23163&LangID=E. See www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Detention/Opinions/Session82/A_HRC_WGAD_ 2018_61.pdf, https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublic CommunicationFile?gId=23035, A/HRC/42/30, A/HRC/40/60/Add.1 and A/HRC/40/52. See www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1100378. See www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24171&LangID=E.