Press Release
July 13, 2023

“The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) condemns the July 10, 2023, designation of four Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA) leaders, Windel Bolinget, Jennifer Awingan, Sarah Abellon-Alikes, and Steve Tauli as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC),” said Peter Murphy, ICHRP Chairperson, today.

In its press statement, the ATC spelt out the practical legal effect of this designation – it enables the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to perform its mandate based on the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 to investigate and freeze the financial assets and properties of designated individuals, group of persons, organization or association. “We now have reports that the CPA bank accounts are frozen, a malicious attack on a legal organization,” said Murphy.

The ATC is composed of senior military and police officers.

“As well, the designation is also a high profile red-tagging of these four individuals, greatly increasing the threats to them and their families and the possibility of their extrajudicial killing,” he said.

“We vehemently condemn the relentless attacks against these four, the CPA and many other indigenous peoples’ organizations. Clearly, the Anti-Terrorism Act is being used as an instrument to stifle dissent and target civilian political activists, a breach of the basic human rights of these people as set out in the Philippine Constitution, the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, and the International Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” said Murphy.

Earlier this year, these four CPA leaders were part of the Northern Luzon 7 who were charged with a trumped-up case of rebellion, which was subsequently dismissed. Because of sustained state harassment, the CPA had appealed to the Supreme Court for the Writ of Amparo last year. CPA Chair Windel Bolinget also filed a counter charge against those who were behind another failed trumped-up charge of murder filed against him in far-off Tagum City in Mindanao, for which he had been subjected to a “shoot-ot-kill” order by the Cordillera Police Chief, and detained, before finally being vindicated.

Jennifer Awingan is a CPA staff worker. Steve Tauli is a CPA Regional Council member and torture survivor. Windel Bolinget is the CPA Chairperson, Sarah Abellon-Alikes is a development worker.

The CPA has long been an effective community-based organisation for indigenous communities to resist massive development aggression projects on their ancestral lands. This is the underlying reason for the killings, persecution and harassment of their leaders over many years.

At the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Philippines on November 14, 2022, Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla claimed that human rights in the Philippines were fully protected by an independent judiciary and well-trained police. The true picture is exposed in this latest non-judicial assault by the ATC on the CPA leaders, with reckless charges that these unarmed civilian activists – who use all available democratic processes to assert the rights of their communities – are terrorists. Windel Bolinget actively participated in the UPR representing the Indigenous Peoples. 

ICHRP urges the international community to join our call for the immediate cancellation of the terrorist designation by a government executive body of these four Indigenous Peoples’ community leaders, and for the unfreezing of the CPA bank accounts. We also call for the abolition of the ATC and the repeal of the repressive Anti-Terrorism Act.

ICHRP urges the international community to support the current investigation of the Duterte administration by the International Criminal Court, and to take more action to politically, militarily and economically isolate the Marcos Jr administration until basic human rights are genuinely upheld in the country.

For further comment: Peter Murphy +61 418 312 301 chairperson@ichrp.net 

Statement
July 2, 2023

The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) condemns the continued killing of children under the watch of President Bongbong Marcos. Last June 16, 17-year old Rey Almario Belan was shot by the 2nd Infantry Battalion (IB) in Sitio Manaybanay, Barangay Calabad, Dimasalang, Masbate. He and his four companions were allegedly mistaken as members of the New People’s Army (NPA) while hunting for food.

“Rey Belan’s death adds to the long list of minors and children killed under the Marcos Jr. administration’s counterinsurgency program. Children are clearly non-military targets and should be protected during military operations,” said Peter Murphy, ICHRP Global Chairperson.

The killing of Belan happened just two days after the alleged massacre of the Fausto family under the hands of the 94th IB in Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental which killed brothers Ben Fausto (15) and Raven Fausto (12), who are both minors.

“The Philippine military’s utter disregard for the rights of children in the conduct of war violates the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions,” continued Murphy.

Belan and the Fausto brothers are not the only children to have fallen victim to state forces. On January 13, 2021, 2-month old baby Marx Caio Salino was abducted by armed soldiers of the 79th IB after raiding the home of Edwin and Marlyn Madin at 2 AM in Hacienda Ambulong, Barangay San Fernando, Talisay City. Paraded as an “NPA child”, the military claimed that Baby Marx was abandoned by his parents, who are both alleged members of the NPA in Negros. The military has used the infant as a hostage to force his parents to come out and surrender.

Baby Marx has since been in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Escalante City. For the past two years, his grandparents have been refused custody by the DSWD and the military while being subjected to various forms of harassment and surveillance from state forces.

“ICHRP holds the Marcos Jr. administration accountable for its gross track record of violating the rights and welfare of children. It remains steadfast in its call to respect the agreements signed between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). It calls on the Philippine government to address the root causes of the armed conflict to lay the ground for achieving a just and lasting peace for the Filipino people. We also call on the attention of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other international bodies, to conduct an investigation on the reported children’s rights violations by the Philippine government,” concluded Murphy.

Press Release
June 22, 2023

“The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) strongly condemns the horrific massacre of the Fausto family of four, Emelda Fausto (50), Roly Fausto (52) and two sons Ben (15) and Ravin (11), in Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on June 14, 2023,” said Peter Murphy, Chairperson of the ICHRP Global Council.

According to the Himamaylan City police, their bodies sustained close-range gunshot wounds allegedly from an M16 rifle. Police said they found 53 M16 bullet shells at the crime scene.

According to a Rappler report, photos show Emelda’s body just outside the hut’s doorway, her skull shattered, and her left leg riddled with bullet wounds. The body of one boy dangled out of a separate doorway at the back. Another body was found inside the hut. Rolly’s body was found 50 metres from the hut. Neighbours reported hearing gunfire at about 10pm on June 14. The victims were found by their daughter, who lives in another house, next morning.

The Fausto family were sugar workers and active members of the Baclayan, Bito, Cabagal Farmers and Farmworkers Association (BABICAFA). Prior to their murder, the Fausto parents had been relentlessly red-tagged, and were subjected to physical and mental torture, grave coercion, and illegal searches. The Fausto family also belonged to the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), which has also been heavily red-tagged by state agents.

According to the human rights alliance Karapatan, on May 15 Emelda had reported break-ins and searches of their home to the office of the September 21 Movement in Negros Occidental. One incident was mid-April, the other on May 4.

“In the May 4, 2023 incident, Emelda reported that she saw muddy combat boot marks left on the door, giving the impression that the door had been kicked in. When they got inside, they saw that their belonging/clothes have been scattered around the house,” said Karapatan.

The May incident followed a clash that started in Barangay Buenavista on May 3 and spilled over to Kabankalan City. A farmer tagged by the military as an alleged communist rebel was killed and two soldiers wounded. Himamaylan was been in the news because of fighting that has sent thousands of residents fleeing farms and homes for safety. Buenavista figures high in the clashes that have dogged the populace.

The Fausto family massacre was allegedly committed by the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who have been sowing terror among the people in Negros. “ICHRP rejects allegations by the AFP that this crime was committed by the New People’s Army (NPA),” said Peter Murphy, based on the statement made by Karapatan.

In 2023, the 94th IB attacks began with the alleged abduction and killing of farmer Jose Gonzales in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, on January 9. In mid-May, the 94 the IB allegedly murdered farmer Crispin Tingal Jr. in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

In Kabankalan City, five farmer associations have already denounced the coercion and harassment carried out by the 94th IB. These farmer associations were summoned in their barangay to sign a resolution denouncing the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA and their alleged front organizations. Subsequently, elements of the 94th IB repeatedly approached and pressured the leaders of these farmer associations to adopt the resolution.

“ICHRP joins the growing demand for a genuine investigation of the killings and justice for the Fausto family,” said Peter Murphy.

Since President Marcos Jr. was sworn in almost a year ago, 24 farmers have been killed by state forces in Negros alone.

“We call on the Marcos Jr. administration to rescind the 2017 Memorandum Order 32 and Executive Order 70 which put Negros under virtual martial law, and set up the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict which drives the red-tagging and subsequent political killings nation-wide. We also call on the Marcos Jr. administration to repeal the 2020 Anti-Terrorism Law, which gives free rein to Executive violation of human rights,” concluded Peter Murphy.

Further comment: Peter Murphy +61 418 312 301 chairperson@ichrp.net

Press Release
June 1, 2023

As the world marked the International Week of the Disappeared, soldiers from the Philippine Army’s 501st Infantry Brigade (Bde) are alleged to have abducted peasant and youth organizers Michael Cedrick Casaño and Patricia Nicole Cierva. According to reports from concerned citizens, on May 16, 2023, Cedrick and Cierva were captured alive by elements of 501^st IBde in Barangay Cabiroaoan, Gonzaga town, Cagayan.

“The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) demands an end to the reign of terror on political dissent, and calls for the immediate surfacing of all activists who have been forcibly disappeared by state forces,” said Peter Murphy, ICHRP Chairperson.

“The whole world must know that the new Marcos Jr administration in the Philippines continues the brazen violation of human rights carried out by former President Duterte. In particular, the forcible disappearance of progressive political activists is already worse than under Duterte,” Mr. Murphy said.

Patricia Cierva is a high-profile former student leader, held in affection by her generation of students. Pat was prominent at the University of the Philippines Manila 2016-19, and Chairperson of the Kabataan Party-List for the National Capital Region in 2018. A student in development studies, she opted to do her practicum in Cagayan Province in the north-east of Luzon in 2019. She went back to Cagayan province to share her knowledge and empower the farmer communities.

Cedrick Casaño is a former philosophy student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He was an active campaigner for the “Green Platform” in Cagayan, where magnetite sand mining operations were damaging the environment that would result to food insecurity and biodiversity loss. 

The reported incidents of Enforced Disappearance are alarming and seem to be the trend. One of the most recent cases is the enforced disappearance of indigenous peoples’ rights defenders Gene Roz “Bazoo” de Jesus and Dexter Capuyan, who went missing since May 18, 2023.

To date the Philippine Government has not ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED). It was one of the recommendations by several UN member states including Japan, France, Denmark, Italy and Brazil during the Universal Periodic Review in 2022, which the Philippines has not accepted.

“The spate of Enforced Disappearances during this first 11 months of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is a full proof that the lives of Filipino community activists are at stake. The Philippine government must surface the disappeared, and ratify and comply with ICPPED”, concluded Murphy.

Contact: Peter Murphy +61 418 312 301 chairperson@ichrp.net 

Press Release
May 29, 2023

“The Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on May 23 that the laws of war which protect civilians in conflict zones are being ignored. He rightly referred to conflicts in Ukraine and Africa, and his remarks also apply forcefully to the deplorable situation in the Philippines,” said Peter Murphy, Chairperson of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines.

“The terrible truth is that the world is failing to live up to its commitments to protect civilians; commitments enshrined in international humanitarian law. The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols are the cornerstone of that legal framework,” Mr. Guterres said.

“We must never lose sight of the meaning and purpose of international humanitarian law: it is the difference between life and death; between restraint and anarchy; between losing ourselves in horror and retaining our humanity. But law overlooked is law undermined. We need action and accountability to ensure it is respected. That depends on political will,” said Mr Guterres.

“ICHRP emphatically endorses the Secretary-General’s call for an end to attacks on civilians, for political dialogue to end armed conflicts, and for countries to refuse to sell weapons to any party that fails to comply with international humanitarian law,” said Mr Murphy.

“As Mr Guterres said, states must investigate alleged war crimes, prosecute perpetrators and enhance other States’ capacity to do so,” he said.

ICHRP initiated three reports on the human rights situation in the Philippines in 2021, which reported to the United Nations Human Rights Council and the International Criminal Court, and managed an International Election Observer Mission for the 2022 Presidential election.

“We documented cases of mortar, artillery and air strikes on civilian communities in the Philippines, including the use of banned phosphorus weapons, and many cases of red-tagging that resulted in arrests and detentions, involuntary disappearances and extra judicial killings/assassinations of civilian political critics at the hands of the Duterte government and now the Marcos government. ICHRP continues to receive reports of hamletting / the forcible reconcentration of communities, and the destruction or seizure of properties depriving the people of their sources of livelihoods,” said Mr. Murphy.

The longstanding peace process between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines remains afoot, with the Royal Norwegian Government as Third Party Facilitator. But these talks were stopped by President Duterte at the end of 2017, and instead, state forces have been filing trumped-up charges, jailing and even assassinating NDFP negotiators and peace consultants.

Despite all the evidence of breaches of international humanitarian law in its so-called counterinsurgency operations, the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Korea continue to provide weapons to the Philippine armed forces.

“The International Criminal Court is investigating crimes against humanity committed in the Philippines while it was a party to the Rome Statute, because its judicial system has failed to investigate, failed to provide remedies to the victims. And it is high time that the Security Council took the same view, that the Philippine government commits war crimes and the impunity must end,” concluded Mr Murphy.

Further comment: Peter Murphy +61 418 312 301 chairperson@ichrp.net