Press Statement
April 8, 2024

On April 2, 2024, the Philippine Air Force bombed and fired rockets in the area of Brgy. Nagcanasan, Pilar, Abra and Sitio Paring, Brgy. Babalasioan, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, forcing the closure of schools and the evacuation of up to 212 families – 650 individuals. The aerial attacks followed clashes over seven hours between elements of the New People’s Army (NPA) and the 50^th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, in which one soldier was reported wounded.

“The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) joins with the local Ilocos Human Rights Alliance and Kaammoyo Ti Kappia, and the national human rights alliance Karapatan in their calls for an end to indiscriminate bombing in civilian areas,” said its Global Chairperson, Peter Murphy.

Video taken by the fleeing civilians showed helicopters and an aircraft, which the military reported was an A-29B Super Tucano, a single engine close military support aircraft made in the USA.

“International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is the law related to war and applies to wars between states, and to intra-state conflicts such as the long-running armed rebellion by the NPA, the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP),” said Murphy. “IHL requires that military forces discriminate between civilians and armed fighters, and that civilians are protected. Indiscriminate bombing, artillery strikes or small arms fire are illegal under IHL”.

“We are relieved that there are so far no reports of civilian casualties from this attack in Abra and Ilocos Sur, but the massive upheaval and trauma of this farming community, already suffering from inflation of their arm inputs and from a severe drought, is still a terrible burden. We urge for a thorough independent investigation of this incident.

“The bombing as described by the people affected is illegal. The nations who supply the weapons, particularly the United States, must cease their support while these violations of IHL continue,” Murphy said.

“Instead of recklessly continuing to arm the Philippine military, the international community should press Marcos Jr to immediately re-start the formal peace talks with the NDFP, which could address the root causes of this long-running conflict – landlessness, poverty, lack of industrial development and lack of the rule of law,” Murphy concluded.

Karapatan reports that civilian victims of bombings by the Armed Forces of the Philippines increased from 2,354 in 2022, to 20,391 in 2023. This demonstrates a sharp increase in human rights violations under the new President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, compared to his notorious predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.

Defend Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law!
Stop the Bombings in the North!
Re-commence the Peace Talks!
Address the Roots of the Armed Conflict!

Further comment: Peter Murphy, ICHRP Chairperson. WhatsApp: +61 418312301. Email: media@ichrp.net.

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.