April 1, 2024

Over this Easter Weekend, the International Interfaith Network of ICHRP would like to present four Prayers for Peace, which we will publish daily over the weekend. These prayers were submitted by members of the Interfaith Network. They help us reflect on our role as people of faith in the struggle for justice, peace, and human rights in the Philippines.

Today’s prayer was written by Deaconess Sharon McCart of the United Methodist Church

Merciful God, giver of all good gifts,

We come to you to ask for the gift of peace, a true peace, a lasting peace. We are weary of violence and death. Have mercy, God! Teach all people to pursue peace instead of waging war. Teach us how to live together without violence and domination. Lead us in the footsteps of the Prince of Peace until all people live in peace and no one learns war anymore. Have mercy on us and grant us peace! We ask this in the name of the one who was a victim of violence and who also is the source of true peace, your only begotten, Jesus Christ.

Amen and amen.

March 31, 2024

Over this Easter Weekend, the International Interfaith Network of ICHRP would like to present four Prayers for Peace, which we will publish daily over the weekend. These prayers were submitted by members of the Interfaith Network. They help us reflect on our role as people of faith in the struggle for justice, peace, and human rights in the Philippines.

Today’s prayer was written by Chris Ferguson of the United Church of Canada, and International Professor for Peace and Justice at Universidad Reformada, Colombia.

O God of Life: In the midst of suffering, oppression, persecution, violence, intimidation, impoverishment, red-tagging, bombing and death, the crucified peoples of the Philippines bear witness to the power of the Resurrection in history, as they affirm through their struggle and resistance, that hope is more powerful than resignation and that even in the face of colonization and Empire, death does not have the last word.

This Easter Day we give thanks for your hope-filled YES to life, freedom and justice seen in the rising up of the crucified people of the Philippines as they affirm their solidarity and dignity and seek to overturn injustice and demand a just and lasting peace. In this rising up to seek abundant life for all, we cry out: Christ is risen! Risen indeed!

Amen and Amen.

March 30, 2024

Over this Easter Weekend, the International Interfaith Network of ICHRP would like to present four Prayers for Peace, which we will publish daily over the weekend. These prayers were submitted by members of the Interfaith Network. They help us reflect on our role as people of faith in the struggle for justice, peace, and human rights in the Philippines.

Today’s prayer was written by Deaconess Joyous Prim of the United Methodist Church.

Holy Lord, today on this Holy Saturday we are reminded that you are no stranger to death and darkness. That in this day the world waited mourning Jesus death, We to remember communities in the Philippines who too are no stranger to death, darkness and mourning of killings, bombings and human rights violations. As we await the victory of your resurection Lord, As we face reports of the stories, help us to not close our ears but journey through the reality and discomfort at the news, that we may open with communities and hear their cries for just and lasting Peace. May our collective efforts pave the way for a future where peace and justice becomes a reality across the Philippines.

Amen!

March 29, 2024

Over this Easter Weekend, the International Interfaith Network of ICHRP would like to present four Prayers for Peace, which we will publish daily over the weekend. These prayers were submitted by members of the Interfaith Network. They help us reflect on our role as people of faith in the struggle for justice, peace, and human rights in the Philippines.

Today’s prayer was written by Reverend Ariel Siagan of the United Church of Canada.

Jesus, the suffering servant, you who bear the sins of the world bringing it with you on the Cross, we come to you with a heavy heart compounded by the unjust situations in our country. You have come to the world to make right and restore our relationship with you, and us to one another. Because of your suffering on the cross we live under the regime of grace, that you may be able to forgive us and us to forgive one another. But Lord, the relationships we have with one another are the opposite of your regime of grace. Our government officials are leading a regime of greed for power and money. Lord, peasant communities in our beloved country still do not own the land they till. Because many rich families still hold on to the land they inherited from the colonial past, genuine agrarian reform has remained an unrealized dream. Lord, many people in the urban communities are suffering from threats of hunger and unemployment. Because our government leaders prioritize charter change that will open floodgates of exploitation affecting our people and land rather than creating industries where our people can realize their full humanly potential.

We realized that genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization are key issues that have to be talked through on the table of peace. May you illuminate the mind of our government that they may be compelled to talk with the National Democratic Front in the Philippines, to institute peace that is based on justice.

This we pray in the name of our Lord, who is suffering with His people. Amen.

Oppose greater US military presence in the Philippines, ongoing violations of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law

Press Statement
March 19, 2024

The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) salutes the protests organised by the New Patriotic Alliance (BAYAN) today in Manila against the Blinken-Marcos Jr. meeting taking place in Malacanang Palace.

“BAYAN is highlighting the bloody hand of the US in the Israeli genocidal war against the Palestinian people in Gaza, and protesting against the extension of the US military bases in the Philippines in preparation for a war against China. ICHRP upholds human rights and International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and sees these rights as universal and indivisible,” said Peter Murphy, ICHRP Chairperson.

“We call on the international community to hold both the Philippine and US governments accountable for the gross violations of these rights being perpetrated in the Philippines.”

In February 2023, the Marcos Jr administration agreed to provide four more military bases to the US, under their Enhanced Defence Cooperation Arrangement (EDCA). These are the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; Balabac Island in Palawan; and Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan. Three of the four are oriented towards Taiwan, the flashpoint for a potential war by the US against China.

“Filipino people don’t want to be a battlefield for a great power war, and ICHRP urges all nations in the region – South East Asia and North East Asia – to deescalate the frightening military buildup towards war,” said Murphy.

In the Philippines, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and the Anti-Terrorism Law drive the repression of unarmed civilian critics of the government, and are part of the broader counterinsurgency war which is now escalating its aerial bombardment and artillery attacks of farming and indigenous peoples’ communities.

Two United Nations Special Rapporteurs, Ms Irene Khan and Mr Ian Fry, have called in recent months for the NTF-ELCAC to be abolished, but the Marcos Jr. administration continues to reject the call of the international community.

The US, Australia, Canada, and Japan turn a blind eye to the gross violations of human rights and IHL in favour of deepening military cooperation and arms sales to the Philippines as part of their broader China containment strategy.

No to US military expansion in the Philippines!
Defend Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law!
Stop the Bombings, End State Terror!
Address the Roots of the Armed Conflict! ###

Further comment: Peter Murphy, ICHRP Chairperson. WhatsApp: +61 418312301. Email: [email protected].