Corruption, state terrorism mar NTF-ELCAC as billions vanish in fake projects

News Release
19 September 2025

“The Marcos Jr. administration must be held accountable for the massive theft of funds for flood control projects since July 2022,” said the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) today as it strongly supported the protest planned for Sunday, September 21. “Figures indicate that 60 per cent of project budgets have been stolen, and it is impossible that Malacanang itself has not taken a share,” said ICHRP Chairperson, Peter Murphy.

“September 21 marks the 53rd anniversary of the Martial Law declaration of President Marcos Sr., which allowed him to plunder the country at will for the next 14 years,” said Murphy. “This connection between authoritarian rule and grand theft of public funds should spur the people to demand a massive cleanout of contractors and politicians involved.”

In the third week of July this year, the combined impact of the monsoon, Tropical Storm Wipha, and Typhoon Co-may, caused widespread flooding, displacing tens of thousands, and resulted in at least six fatalities demonstrating that the massive spending on flood controls has been a serious failure. 

During 2023-25 the Marcos Jr administration approved over P1 trillion (USD17.58 billion) in flood control projects. “Far from being a commendable response to the climate crisis, this huge new public spending has been another opportunity for the wealthy to plunder the public purse,” said Murphy.

“Under Estrada it was illegal gambling, under Arroyo it was mega projects, under Aquino III it was the Pork Barrel, now it is flood control,” said Murphy. “The wealthy elite in the Philippines are endlessly creative at enriching themselves illegally, but the great majority of the people are left in grinding poverty with overseas migration the main option to sustain life,” he said. “This is a massive violation of the human rights of the Filipino people.”

NTF-ELCAC: ghost projects

The Barangay Development Program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has also been exposed as a scheme to channel billions of pesos into the pockets of military generals and their cronies through anomalous infrastructure projects.

Reports during budget hearings have shown that none of the 885 NTF-ELCAC barangay projects for 2024 have been completed, yet billions continue to be allocated to its budget. This systematic plunder of public resources comes at the expense of genuine social services desperately needed by Filipino women and their families – healthcare, education, livelihood programs, and others.

Finally, ICHRP reiterates “Kurakot managot!” (The corrupt, be made accountable!). The rights groups notes that the massive theft through flood control projects and through the NTF-ELCAC “pacification“ programs share the characteristic of impunity that enables the rampant state terrorism, red-tagging, and violation of human rights that marks Filipino reality in 2025, and hark back to the formal Marital Law period that was never really abolished. 

“This impunity is why the International Criminal Court had to arrest former President Duterte. This entrenched impunity under Marcos Jr. is why the international community must withdraw military and political support for the Marcos Jr. administration,” Murphy ends.#

For more information or to request for interviews, please contact: 

Peter Murphy, ICHRP Chairperson, +61418312301, 
Philippine office: ICHRP +63 927 987 2842 (WhatsApp/Viber)Or use the contact form at ichrp.net/contact; secretariat@ichrp.net

Support the ICHRP Global Secretariat’s travels to the Hague

Donate to support our travel at ichrp.net/donate

With the delay of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s first ICC hearing – previously scheduled for September 23rd – justice hangs in a balance. The delay does not mean we should be silent – more than ever, we must increase the urgency of our solidarity with the victims of Duterte and their struggle for justice.

From Sept 19-23, members of the ICHRP Global Secretariat will travel to the Hague to join and promote activities led by the Duterte Panagutin Network, surrounding Duterte’s original hearing date. While Duterte’s side wants the international community to forget about his case, ICHRP plays a crucial role in using its platform to project and amplify the people’s campaign for justice and accountability.

To help support ICHRP in carrying out this important campaign, please make a donation at ichrp.net/donate.

Statement on the 34th Anniversary of the Ouster of US Bases in the Philippines

Additional resource: Not Your War Game Zone: A Primer on the Violation of People’s Rights Under US-led Military Build Up in the Philippines

Today, 34 years after the Philippine Senate rejected the extension of US military bases in the country, the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) joins the call of the mass movement in the Philippines for an end to US-led military intervention. We call on all governments around the world to end military agreements and support to the fascist Marcos Jr regime, and for a diplomatic solution to the escalating political and military tensions in Southeast and East Asia.

Following the so-called “independence” of the Philippines from US rule after World War II, the various governments in Manila accepted a series of unequal treaties and agreements with the US. These allowed the continuing domination of the country by the US in economy, military, and politics, firming up the neo-colonial relationship that continues until today.

The US maintained military bases in the Philippines under the 1947 Military Bases Agreement until 1991, when the Filipino people rallied to push the Philippine Senate to reject then President Cory Aquino’s proposed extension to the agreement. Using the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the later Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the US military has continued to operate de facto military bases in the Philippines. These US troops train, advise, and practice alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and are stationed inside of Philippine bases for extended periods of time.

ICHRP condemns the increasing presence of the US military and its allies in the Philippines over the past year, which has been welcomed by the Marcos Jr regime with open arms. This year alone, a US surveillance plane carrying four personnel crashed in Mindanao during operations; more than 14,000 Philippine, American, Australian, British, and Japanese soldiers participated in full battle simulation during Balikatan 2025; and the US proposed the creation of a munitions plant in Subic Bay. In August, Australia announced a new Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) that would allow for Australia to construct “military infrastructure” in the country. While Philippine authorities have denied the Australian DCA is based on the US EDCA, which allows US troops to base in Philippine bases, one fact is sure: the deal will increase foreign troop presence. 

Contrary to claims of disaster relief efforts or national defense, the presence of foreign troops in the Philippines only puts the Filipino people in a more precarious situation. The entry and stationing of foreign soldiers not only makes the Filipino people more likely to be collateral damage in a war against China; it also requires occupation of people’s lands and destroys the people’s crops and livelihood. Foreign military presence is a display not only of US economic dominance over the country, but also of foreign protection for Filipino landlords and corrupt politicians who are now exposed for pocketing funds meant for flood control projects for their own profit.

ICHRP calls on the international community to stand with the Filipino people in their fight for national sovereignty, and the removal of all foreign military bases.

ICHRP statement on postponement of Duterte ICC hearing

September 9, 2025

Just weeks before the confirmation of the charges hearing of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Duterte’s defense team has issued a request for indefinite adjournment of the trial, creating an immediate delay The defense issued this request on the basis that Duterte is “not fit to stand trial”.

“The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) urges the court to swiftly investigate and decide on this matter so that the trial can proceed,” said ICHRP Chairperson Peter Murphy. “Any further delays to the process are an affront to the thousands of victims of Duterte in their quest for justice and accountability.”

The hearing, originally scheduled for September 23, 2025, has been postponed indefinitely while the ICC investigates the fitness claim. Duterte was issued a warrant of arrest by the ICC earlier this year for the alleged crime against humanity of murder carried out during his bloody “war on drugs”. The hearing, which has now been postponed, would confirm these charges and begin the official trial process of the court.

“The charge and arrest of Duterte are an important step in the struggle of the Filipino people for accountability and justice,” continued Murphy. “ICHRP stands in solidarity with the victims of former president Duterte, as well as the victims of the current Marcos Jr. regime in its brutal war of so-called ‘counter-insurgency’.”

Contact: Peter Murphy, +61 418 312 301, ichrp.net/contact