New 3.3 Million Dollar “Anti-Terrorism” package to Philippine Police Underscores Need for Philippine Human Rights Act

ICHRP US, Kabataan Alliance and the Malaya Movement, along with over 250 organizational endorsers of the Philippine Human Rights Act, celebrate Representative Susan Wild’s March 7th reintroduction of the bill on the two-year anniversary of the assassination of labor leader Manny Asuncion and eight other activists on March 7, 2021, 

In this light, we are dismayed at the news of the United States sent 3.3 million dollars to the Philippine National Police for “anti-terrorism” efforts, the same kind of efforts that led to the killing of Manny Asuncion. The operation that took the life of Manny Asuncion was one of many in which Philippine state forces target activists under the guise of anti–terrorism work, especially since the 2020 passing of the widely condemned anti-terror law. This development further underscores the urgent need for the Philippine Human Rights Act, which calls not only for the restriction of aid but the prosecution of state forces guilty of human rights crimes. 

While the Philippine Human Rights Act was first introduced under President Duterte, the human rights crisis has continued under the Presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., who took office on June 30, 2022.  Since the inauguration of Marcos Jr., the infamous “War on Drugs” in the country has not ceased. Journalists and activists continue to face harassment, arrest, and killings. In the first six months of the Marcos administration alone, the Alliance for Advancement of People’s Rights (“Karapatan”) has documented 17 extrajudicial killings, 165 illegal arrests, 9,159 forced evacuations, 357,726 cases of harassment and intimidation, and 3,005 cases of indiscriminate firing.  

In February and March of this year the Philippine Army has maintained its practice of aerial bombings that largely impact civilians. While the bombings occur under the guise of the Governments war against the National Democratic Front, civilians and their families are the ones forced to leave their homes and flee the violence. In February, the Philippine Army’s bombings forced Farmers in Cagayan Valley to evacuate their homes; 150 families were affected. On March 5, a second round of Aerial bombings occurred in Kalinga, further intimidating civilians and noncombatants.  

Human rights violations and impunity, backed by US tax dollars, remain systemic in Philippine society; it is high time we take greater action to push for the passage of the Philippine Human Rights Act in Congress. We applaud the other ten legislators who joined as original co-sponsors of the bill, and urge community organizations, churches and unions to raise the level of support of the bill.