Disbar Duterte! Victims of extrajudicial killings and repression campaign filed a disbarment complaint against former president Rodrigo Duterte on January 17 in the Supreme Court. Among the 17 who filed a complaint were Atty. VJ Topacio, son of murdered revolutionary couple Eugenia Magpantay and Agaton Topacio; Liezel Asuncion, wife of slain leader-activist Manny Asuncion; and Llore Pasco, mother of two murdered in the “war on drugs”.

Students oppose tuition increase in UST and NTC. Students of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) protested at its campus in Manila on January 14 to denounce the university’s tuition and other fees increase (TOFI). The mass action was led by UST-based national-democratic groups. Tuition rate increases in UST hit 6% during the previous academic year, and for the academic year 2023-204, students face a 4%-10% increase depending on the college.

At the National Teachers College in Manila, more than 100 students signed a petition led by the Ayokong Magmahal NTC to oppose the impending TOFI. The activity was carried out in time with the “consultation” on January 16 regarding the proposed increase in NTC tuition.

LRT fare hike plan denounced. Youth groups and students held a protest during the first trip of the LRT-1 on Doroteo Jose Station in Santa Cruz, Manila on the morning of January 15. They opposed the ₱15 maximum fare hike plan pushed by the Light Rail Manila Corporation, the company that operates the LRT service in Metro Manila. On January 9, representatives of progressive organizations attended a public hearing on fare hikes conducted by the Department of Transportation. They expressed strong opposition to it.

Handyman strike. Handyman-True Value-Pet Lovers Empowered Workers Union members went on strike on January 6 at Handyman’s main depot at the Manila Bay Spinning Mills Compound in Marikina City. The illegal dismantling of their strike forced them to transfer and setup picket at the headquarters of Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc, (RRHI) owner of Handyman in Quezon City. The strike is the union’s response to the illegal layoff of at least 122 workers in November 2024. The RRHI fired them for promoting their union.