Statement of Pagtatanim Organizing Committee
April 7, 2025

The Pagtatanim Conference Organizing Committee welcomes the arrest of former President Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his crimes against humanity. Duterte’s arrest is a crucial first step toward accountability for the countless victims—especially the bereaved families of those murdered—who have courageously spoken out about their experiences despite grave risks.

We honor the tireless efforts of Philippine faith leaders, community leaders, and human rights lawyers—particularly those from Rise Up for Life and Rights! and the National Union for People’s Lawyers—who have worked alongside the victims’ families for years. These organizations have played an instrumental role in documenting testimonies, providing spiritual and material support, and guiding survivors through the arduous legal process. Their courage and resilience serve as an inspiration to all who seek truth and justice.

We recognize, also, that the struggle for justice is far from over. Families of victims, as well as the legal professionals and human rights defenders representing them, continue to face threats and persecution from Duterte’s supporters, and we are equally concerned with the continued human rights atrocities under the Marcos Jr. administration.
It is for this reason that our commitment must not waver. We call upon faith communities worldwide to persist in solidarity with the victims and their families until comprehensive justice is achieved—not only against Duterte but also against those who executed his directives, including former Philippine National Police Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

Throughout Duterte’s administration, international faith leaders have visited the Philippines—both in person and virtually—to listen firsthand to the harrowing testimonies of those affected by extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. We have stood in solidarity with mothers from urban poor communities who lost their children in Duterte’s so-called “war on drugs,” which was, in reality, a war on the poor. We have wept alongside rural community organizers targeted for supporting farmers and peasants. We have mourned the assassinations of indigenous leaders defending their ancestral lands from corporate encroachment and witnessed the brutal killings of Catholic priests who ministered to the most vulnerable. These stories are not just statistics; they are real human lives irreparably altered by state-sanctioned violence.

Disturbingly, these atrocities have not ceased under the current administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The same marginalized communities continue to bear the brunt of systemic oppression. The extrajudicial killings in the name of the “war on drugs” persist, farmers remain under attack for merely seeking the right to cultivate their land, indigenous communities continue to face displacement and persecution, and thousands of displaced Moro residents from Marawi remain unable to return to their homes and rebuild their lives. Activists and human rights defenders continue to be harassed, abducted, and forcibly disappeared with impunity.

As the ICC proceedings against Duterte unfold in Europe and the human rights situation in the Philippines deteriorates, the need for a unified faith-based response has never been more critical. In response to this ongoing crisis, we extend an urgent invitation to faith communities worldwide to join us in Rome for the Pagtatanim Conference, June 27-28, where we will shine a light on the struggles and aspirations of the Filipino people in addressing the root causes of the armed conflict leading to a just and lasting peace.

We call upon religious leaders, congregations, and advocacy groups to stand together in prayer, action, and solidarity. Let us reaffirm our collective commitment to upholding human dignity, defending the oppressed, addressing human rights violations, and striving for a just and lasting peace in the Philippines. Now is the time to strengthen our resolve, amplify the voices of the victims, and work tirelessly toward a future where justice prevails over impunity.

Statement
April 1, 2025

The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) strongly condemns the harassment and threats perpetrated against the families of victims of Rodrigo Duterte’s war on the poor.

Human rights group Rise Up for Life and for Rights (Rise Up), an organization of families of the victims of Duterte’s war on the poor, reports that since Duterte was arrested by the ICC on March 11, their members have received death threats, while online hate speech against them has spiked. These are clearly funded and supported by the Duterte camp in an attempt to silence and intimidate the victims to not testify as witnesses or cooperate with the ICC.

According to the data forensics group The Nerve, Duterte’s supporter networks have used paid ads in Facebook to manipulate online discourse on the ICC arrest of the former president. In one particular Facebook page, the paid ads’ budget ranged from P1,000 to P1,499 (USD 17.44 to USD 26.15). The campaign manipulated networks by embedding political propaganda in entertainment communities and fan pages. It used vlogger networks to amplify its content, turning social media into a political tool. The most expensive ads reached over 1 million viewers, with messages synchronized across platforms. 

Among the false narratives promoted were claims of unfair treatment of Duterte during his arrest and targeted online attacks on victims’ families, their legal counsels, and those supportive of the movement for justice. 

The Duterte camp, in desperation, has resorted to dirty tactics to try to derail the proceedings and divert the people’s attention from the real issue, which is accountability. Duterte is trying to sway public opinion by playing the victim card, when in fact he was the mastermind of a brutal and bloody war on the poor that claimed 30,000 lives under his presidency. 

ICHRP calls on the international community to stand in solidarity with the victims by launching mobilizations and releasing statements condemning the harassment and re-echoing the calls of families for full accountability. We must not allow this re-victimization of the families and survivors who have been at the forefront of the movement for justice. We must continue to stand behind them, provide any support possible, and demand justice for the thousands of victims of Duterte’s war on the poor and dissent.

We demand an end to the attacks on the victims and their families. We reiterate our call for full accountability for Duterte and all those complicit in his crimes against humanity, including former high-ranking government officials, cabinet members, and the list of PNP chiefs who served under him.

ICHRP also supports the call to deny Duterte an interim release. He should be prohibited from returning to the Philippines to ensure the safety of the victims and to prevent him from interfering with the investigation. Finally, we call on the Marcos Jr. government to fully cooperate with the ICC.

What you can do

1. Organize and participate in mobilizations in your country to support the movement of families and Filipinos seeking justice for the thousands of victims of Duterte’s war on the poor and dissent.
2. Release statements condemning the harassment and re-echoing the calls of families for full accountability. 
3. Share the stories of victims of the war on poverty and dissent to highlight how they are denied due process and face execution and violations, contrasting this with the due process afforded to Duterte.

(Sources: Investigate PH Final Report, 2024 IPT Book of Proceedings, Rise Up Facebook Page)

Register for Pagtatanim at ichrp.net/Pagtatanim

About

This year, the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) together with the International Interfaith Network of ICHRP and EcuVoice are calling for a global interfaith conference on human rights in the Philippines, titled “Pagtatanim: Sowing Seeds of Faith, Solidarity for the Filipino People’s Struggle for Peace.”

Background & Objectives

In the 1980s, faith communities played a critical role in international solidarity with the Filipino people, gathering at Stony Point to denounce the Marcos dictatorship. That historic moment strengthened global coordination for justice and human rights. Today, under the Marcos Jr. regime, we face an alarming escalation of state violence, widespread violations of international humanitarian law, and increasing militarization of the Philippines. Counter-insurgency and militarization under Marcos Jr. are fueled by U.S. military aid, placing the Philippines at the center of geopolitical conflict.  

As we mark the Jubilee Year, a biblical tradition of justice, land redistribution, and liberation, this conference seeks to:  

1. Mobilize faith communities to accompany and support the most marginalized in the Philippines, especially in rural areas.
2. Strengthen the global Interfaith Solidarity Network for the Philippines in partnership with ICHRP and Ecumenical Voice for Human Rights & Peace in the Philippines (EcuVoice).
3. Advance broad condemnation of escalating human rights violations, including attacks on economic, social, and cultural rights.
4. Develop a work plan for international faith-based solidarity, including preparations for major ecumenical gatherings.

Registration Details

For individuals, the conference registration cost is $75 USD. For representatives of faith institutions, registration is $125 USD. Registration costs will go to costs of the conference, including meals, coffee and snacks, as well as to support the costs of witnesses to human rights abuses and human rights defenders to attend the conference from the Philippines. Breakfast and Lunch will be provided both days of the conference. 

A conference advisory, including conference venue and recommended housing options will be sent upon submission of registration. Participants are responsible for their housing costs. For more information contact ichrpglobalsecretariat@ichrp.net