Latest news with #ICHRP
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
NTF-ELCAC 'Victory' Claim Negated By Its Demands For More Extensive Repression
Eight days before the Mid-Term Elections, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) claimed that an 'insurgency-free Philippines' was in sight, and at the same time warned against any complacency allowing a 'resurgence of insurgency in electoral disguise'. It called for greater repression of civil society and young people in particular and endless war. 'NTF-ELCAC can't have it both ways, claiming victory and calling for greater repression,' said Peter Murphy, Chairperson of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP). 'This organisation of military and police generals are shameless war mongers, demanding a bigger budget and more powers, plus less oversight. ICHRP fully supports the calls from United Nations Special Rapporteurs for NTF-ELCAC to be abolished, and we ourselves have called for this since it was established in December 2018,' said Murphy. The NTF-ELCAC called for: thorough vetting of foreign financial grants to Filipino development agencies, alleging that these fund the New People's Army rebellion. more intensive red-tagging of 'legal democratic forces' whom it accuses of 'ideological insurgency'. multi-year funding without oversight of its Barangay Development Program, used to pay local government units which declare themselves 'insurgency-free'. Since 2018 this fund has paid out P36 billion (US$720 million). forcing university administrations to crack down on student activism to channel 'critical thought and youthful idealism' to support government strategies. Government support for a national federation of rebel surrenderees (former rebels). More intensive local community control through permanent local peace councils, barangay task forces and grassroots monitoring systems to repress any critical discussions and organizing. In the Mid-Term Elections, the progressive party-lists and the Makabayan Senate candidates won 5 percent or more of the votes, despite the intense denunciation as 'communist terrorists' which they endured from NTF-ELCAC. The 3.5 to 4.5 million Filipinos who voted for these candidates are the target of the NTF-ELCAC under the criterion of 'legal democratic forces'. Looked at this way, the NTF-ELCAC is the greatest threat to democratic rights in the Philippines. Its claim that former rebels are its greatest asset in the fight against insurgency is undermined by extensive data that unarmed peasant farmers and indigenous people are routinely ordered to 'surrender', then paid a small compensation, and then continually pressed to denounce other members of their communities. Of course, the Barangay Development Program and funds for surrenderees are a great slush fund for military and police commanders. Meanwhile, the rhetoric of the NTF-ELCAC empowers the AFP to further cause terror in rural communities, including employing tactics of hameletting – surrounding communities with military presence – and aerial strafing and bombing. Development workers who server rural communities face ongoing attacks under false pretenses of 'financing terrorism.' The grand boast that the communist insurgency is almost over, and that 89 guerilla fronts have been dismantled since 2018, is not borne out on the ground.1 Fighting is reported in many provinces, and the social conditions that give rise to the armed conflict – especially poverty and landlessness – remain unchanged. 'ICHRP amplifies the long-standing demands of Filipino people for genuine land reform, an end to stultifying poverty and genuine respect for democratic rights. If there is to be peace, then NTF-ELCAC should be abolished and the government of the Philippines return to the peace talks agenda still outstanding with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines,' said Murphy. 'Top of the agenda right now is a draft Comprehensive Agreement on Economic and Social Reforms, which already includes free distribution of land to the landless.'
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Rights Group Sounds Alarm: Marcos, Candidates Manufacturing Consent For US Soft Invasion Of PH
Balikatan exercises escalate proxy war during midterm elections April 28, 2025 While Filipinos prepare to head to the polls for the 2025 midterm elections, the Philippine government has allowed 16,000 US, Japanese, and Australian troops to hold the largest-ever Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercises. The US-led exercises, in which armed forces from 19 countries are involved, are a blatant show of force by the United States in Philippine territory. ICHRP is gravely concerned over the threat this year's Balikatan exercises pose to the freedom and sovereignty of the 2025 elections. Yet the Marcos administration remains focused on China as the main threat to election interference. On April 25, 2025, the Marcos coalition, Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, accused China of meddling in the elections. Sen. Francis Tolentino presented a 930,000 php check allegedly linking the Chinese Embassy to a local marketing firm to operate 'keyboard warriors.' In an interview with ANC, National Security Council Assistant Director General Malaya suggested that social media influencers and electoral candidates criticizing the Balikatan exercises are acting as local proxies of China. Malaya stated, 'you will see narratives coming from Beijing that the Balikatan exercises are a threat to regional peace and stability, and you will also see that coming from local proxies.' While decrying supposed Chinese online influence, they turn a blind eye to thousands of heavily armed US troops on Philippine soil during election season. In fact, by fear-mongering and promoting a 'national security emergency,' the Marcos administration seeks to stampede voters into supporting their chosen candidates who will further facilitate and justify the US pivot to Asia and military build up against China. This is political manipulation at gunpoint: democracy under siege. Filipinos now face an election under the shadow of foreign soldiers, live-fire drills, and a full scale battle simulation as part of escalating US war preparations against China. The exercises heighten fear of external threats (China) to justify their presence and skew voters' perception towards pro-US candidates like Marcos's Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate. Meanwhile, US anti-ship missiles (NMESIS) are deployed in Batanes, directly pointing toward Taiwan. Balikatan joint exercises involve island seizure operations, cyber warfare training, and maritime blockade rehearsals — not humanitarian defense, but full-spectrum war scenarios. In Quezon, US soldiers have even been seen in civilian communities conducting 'civil-military operations,' blurring the line between military and civilian spaces. While the Marcos administration is presenting Balikatan as 'defensive' and 'for Philippine security,' communities in Northern Luzon, Palawan, and Mindanao are impacted by further militarization as US EDCA military bases operate. Fisherfolk are banned from their own fishing grounds while US warships dominate the seas. ICHRP Chairperson, Peter Murphy, stated, 'The government and military have unleashed an aggressive, full-spectrum PR blitz to push anti-China narratives – saturating media, social media, and public discourse until these claims are treated as 'facts' beyond question. Through relentless repetition, they are manufacturing consent for heightened militarization and foreign intervention, drowning out any critical voices or calls for an independent, truly Filipino foreign policy. As an alternative, ICHRP calls for complete demilitarization of the South China Sea and diplomatic resolution of territorial claims.' 'Elections must be free from fear, free from foreign soldiers, and free from proxy war manipulations' continued Murphy. ICHRP demands an immediate halt to Balikatan and all foreign military exercises this election and beyond. We support the call of Filipinos for a truly independent Philippine foreign policy, not one dictated by Washington or any other foreign power.
Scoop
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
World Is Watching: Int'l Observers To Monitor PH Mid-term Polls Amid Escalating Election Violence
The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) has officially launched its International Observer Mission (IOM) for the 2025 midterm elections, vowing to monitor the polls amid rising concerns over electoral violence. 'The Philippines has long been a hotspot for election-related violence, particularly in rural areas,' said ICHRP Vice-Chairperson Patricia Lisson in the online press conference. 'As a global human rights coalition, we are once again deploying the IOM to support Filipinos in protecting their civil and political rights, including the right to free and honest elections. The eyes of the world are on the Philippines.' This is the second IOM mounted by ICHRP after deploying more than 60 observers in the heated 2022 presidential elections. The previous mission was able to document election-related human rights violations, including vote buying, failure of the vote-counting system, misinformation, red-tagging and threats, and killings. 'The 2022 election did not meet the standard of 'free, honest and fair' because prevailing conditions robbed the voters of access to reliable information, access to the voting places without intimidation, and access to credible vote counting system,' says former Australian Senator Lee Rhiannon and now serving her second time as IOM commissioner. This 2025, the IOM is led by a group of Commissioners with long-standing records in monitoring elections, democratic governance, humanitarian work, and peace-building. Aside from Lee, the IOM Commission includes General Secretary Rev. Michael Blair of the United Church of Canada, Sylvain Goldstein, Asia Director for General Confederation of Labor–CGT (France), and Colleen Moore, the director of Peace With Justice at the General Board of Church and Society (USA). Additionally, Xavier Cutillas, who is the President of the Catalan Association for Peace–ACP. The mission responds to the call for impartial, international scrutiny of the Philippine electoral process, amid persistent reports of state-sponsored harassment, and election-related killings, and fraud. The IOM will be looking closely at the disenfranchised Filipino communities, particularly in rural areas where it's highly militarized with state and private armed groups. 'Now, we are seeing an intensification of violence on the ground as reported by our local partners. We are determined to carry out this mission and document these cases,' says Commissioner Colleen Moore. "The situation remains that political elites operate their own bailiwicks, private armies, and patronage networks, which fuel the highest levels of violence in the archipelago's rural areas," says Prof. Danilo Arao, convenor of election watchdog Kontra Daya and official partner of IOM 2025. The country's Elections Commission, Comelec, recorded 46 incidents of political violence between January 12 and April 11. However, according to the monitoring of IOM local partner Vote Report PH, 'red-tagging is still the highest among violation categories, amounting to 78.72% of our 733 reports as of April 11. Since the official start of the campaign period in the local government, election-related violence rose in numbers,' says Vote Report PH data analyst Ian Aragoza. 'Red-tagging in the Philippines poses a grave threat to democracy, and we're seeing its intensification during election season,' warned Prof. Danilo Arao, convenor of election watchdog Kontra Daya. 'Activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens are being harassed, attacked, and in many cases, killed, often by state forces such as the military and police.' Arao said, adding that Kontra Daya will continue working with the IOM 2025 to document election-related violations and political repression on the ground. A UN human rights expert has recently sounded the alarm on red-tagging, as it frequently leads to threats, unlawful surveillance, and even unlawful killings. This practice not only intimidates individuals but also stifles freedom of expression, undermining legitimate activism, journalism, debate, and criticism, all of which are essential components of a democratic society. In its methodology, the mission will monitor election-related violations in the Philippines, including political violence, red-tagging, vote-buying, electoral fraud, and disinformation campaigns on both mainstream and digital platforms. It will also closely track violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and human rights, particularly in militarized areas and communities of rural and indigenous peoples. 'These elections are unfolding under the shadow of deepening repression and the entrenchment of political dynasties,' said ICHRP Vice-Chairperson Patricia Lisson. 'We are here in solidarity with the Filipino people, and we are committed to documenting the truth on the ground.' From February to May, the mission will cover the official campaign period, election day on May 12, and the critical post-election phase. International delegates will be stationed across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, especially in areas known for electoral violence. Teams will document violations through interviews with voters, poll watchers, and local groups, while remote observers will monitor overseas absentee voting and digital election manipulation. According to the IOM commission, initial findings will be released shortly after election day, while the final, comprehensive report will be shared with the country's commission on election, relevant United Nations bodies, international human rights groups, foreign embassies, and media partners.
BBC News
11-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Why dem arrest and dey send Philippines ex-leader Rodrigo Duterte go ICC Hague?
One plane wey carry di former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, don leave di kontri capital Manila, hours afta International Criminal Court (ICC) issue warrant wey accuse am of crimes against humanity over im deadly "war on drugs". Di 79-year-old land police custody shortly afta im arrive di capital international airport from Hong Kong on Tuesday morning. Hours later, di current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr confam say Duterte dey on chartered jet wey dey go Di Hague in di Netherlands, wia ICC dey. Duterte bin challenge im detention but im fail to prevent im extradition. During im time for office, dem bin kill thousands of small-time drug dealers, users and odas without trial. President Marcos say im predecessor go face charges relating to wetin im describe as Duterte "bloody war on drugs". "Interpol ask for help and we ansa," President Marcos tell one press conference. "Dis na wetin di international community expect of us... as democratic kontri wey be part of di community of nations." Duterte daughter Sara, wey escort am go di Hague, na vice president and political rival of Marcos. She say di arrest equal to persecution. Rodrigo Duterte no apologise for im brutal anti-drugs crackdown, wey lead to killing of 6,000 suspects wen im bin be president from 2016 to 2022, and mayor of Davao city before dat. Nevertheless, im bin question di basis for di warrant, asking: "Which crime I commit?" for one video wey anoda of im daughter Veronica Duterte post online on Tuesday. "If I commit sin, prosecute me for Philippine courts, wit Filipino judges, and I go allow myself to go jail for my own kontri," im tok for anoda video. In response to im arrest, dem launch one petition on im behalf for Supreme Court – asking dem make dem no comply wit di request. According to one statement from di court tok tok pesin, di former president bin also call for declaration make di Philippines withdraw from ICC for 2019, "effectively terminate" im jurisdiction over di kontri and im pipo. D ICC say e still get authority for di Philippines over alleged crimes wey dem commit before di kontri withdraw as member. Some of Duterte supporters gada for di airport compound, wia dem bin carry di former president go after dem arrest am. "I dey sad becos I bin no tink say e go reach point wia dem go arrest am. For me, im do a lot for our kontri and dis na wetin dem do to am," one supporter, Aikko Valdon, tell tori pipo Reuters news agency. State media say more dan 370 police na im dem send go airport and to oda "key locations" to make sure say dem maintain peace. While im supporters dey criticise di arrest, activists call am "historic moment" for di pipo wey perish for im drug war and dia families, di International Coalition for Human Rights for di Philippines (ICHRP) tok. "Duterte arrest na di beginning of accountability for di mass killings wey define im brutal rule," ICHRP chairman Peter Murphy tok. Di former leader bin dey Hong Kong to campaign for di upcoming 12 May mid-term elections, wia im plan to run again for mayor of Davao. Duterte arrest mark di "beginning of new chapter for Philippine history", political scientist Richard Heydarian tok. "Dis na about rule of law and human rights." Heydarian add say authorities arrest Duterte sharply for airport instead of letting di mata go normally through di local courts to "avoid political chaos". Duterte and Marcos families bin form one ogbonge collabo for di last elections in 2022, wia against di elder Duterte wishes, im daughter Sara run as Marcos Jr vice-president instead of contesting as president. Di relationship scata for public in recent months as di two families pursue separate political agendas. Marcos initially refuse to co-operate wit ICC investigation, but as im relationship wit Duterte family scata, im change im mind, and later indicate say di Philippines go co-operate. Di 'war on drugs' Duterte bin serve as mayor of Davao, one metropolis for south of di kontri, for 22 years and im don make am one of di kontri safest from street crimes. Im bin use di city peace-and-order reputation to cast imself as tough-talking anti-establishment politician to win di 2016 elections by landslide. Im bin use im im tok ginger security forces to shoot and kill drug suspects. More dan 6,000 suspects na im police plus unknown gunmen gun down during di campaign, but rights groups say di number fit dey higher. One former UN report find out say most victims na young, poor urban males and say di police, wey bin no need search or arrest warrants to conduct house raids, bin systematically force suspects to make statements wey implicate dem or risk facing lethal force. Critics say di campaign bin target street-level pushers and fail to catch big-time drug lords. Many families also claim say di victims - dia sons, brothers or husbands – bin just dey di wrong place at di wrong time. Investigations for parliament bin point to one "death squad" of bounty hunters wey bin dey target drug suspects. Duterte don deny di allegations of abuse. DI ICC bin first take note of di alleged abuses for 2016 and start im investigation for 2021. E bin cover cases from November 2011, wen Duterte bin be mayor of Davao, to March 2019, before di Philippines withdraw from ICC.
Express Tribune
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Duterte arrested Over ICC warrant for Crimes Against Humanity in drug war
Listen to article Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by police at Manila airport on Monday after arriving from Hong Kong, following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The warrant accuses Duterte of crimes against humanity related to his deadly "war on drugs." Duterte, 79, who served as president from 2016 to 2022, led a controversial anti-drugs campaign that resulted in thousands of deaths, many attributed to police or unidentified assailants. Despite widespread criticism from human rights groups, Duterte maintained his stance, once claiming he was prepared to face prison. The ICC launched its investigation into the drug war in 2021, covering crimes committed from 2011, when Duterte was mayor of Davao, until 2019, before the Philippines formally withdrew from the court. However, the ICC asserts that it retains jurisdiction over crimes committed before the withdrawal. The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) hailed Duterte's arrest as a 'historic moment.' ICHRP Chairperson Peter Murphy emphasized, 'Today, the moral universe has bent towards justice. Duterte's arrest marks the beginning of accountability for the mass killings that defined his brutal rule.' However, Duterte's former spokesperson, Salvador Panelo, condemned the arrest, calling it "unlawful," citing the Philippines' withdrawal from the ICC. Duterte's camp has denied the allegations of crimes committed during the drug crackdown. Duterte, who was in Hong Kong to campaign for his senatorial slate in the upcoming May 12 elections, appeared in public using a cane. Authorities have stated that he is in good health and is being attended to by government doctors. During his presidency, Duterte's "war on drugs" was marked by extreme rhetoric, including a controversial statement comparing drug addicts to Jews killed in the Holocaust. He ordered security forces to kill drug suspects, with human rights groups estimating that over 6,000 individuals were killed, though some reports suggest the number could be higher. Despite international backlash, the anti-drug campaign remained popular locally, with a survey revealing that 82% of Philippine citizens supported President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial war on drugs. In recent years, Duterte's relationship with the current Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos, has deteriorated, and it remains unclear whether Marcos would cooperate with the ICC's request for extradition. The ICC investigation continues, despite Duterte's attempts to block the proceedings. The case has sparked debates over the Philippines' engagement with the international court and its accountability for human rights violations.
