Statement
November 14, 2025

On November 2^nd, the governments of Canada and the Philippines announced the signing of a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA). A Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the two countries is an agreement to have closer military ties, making it easier for the armed forces of the two countries to work together.

Canada becomes the fifth country with a VFA deal with the Philippines. The Philippines’ defense network has expanded considerably in recent years—three of those agreements were signed only in the past two years. Manila is a treaty-ally of the United States, bound by a Mutual Defense Treaty and a VFA. The Philippines has SOVFAs with Australia and New Zealand, and a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan. The agreement has also been signed simultaneously to an announcement of the intention of the Philippines, United States, Australia, and Japan to establish the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Cooperation Council.

The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) condemns this agreement which is purported to ‘ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific’. It will do the opposite, and further heighten tensions between the USA and China in the South China Sea. 

These military agreements further embolden the fascist Philippine military to violate human rights and international humanitarian law against valiant Filipinos who are defending their national sovereignty and longing for genuine democracy, social justice, and a just peace. These agreements amplify the increasing US militarization of the Asia-Pacific and do nothing to further peace in the region. These agreements are a complete betrayal of human rights and international humanitarian law. Their sole objective is to preserve failing US economic and geo-political dominance in the region and not human rights.

Tensions are high in the South China Sea – West Philippine Sea with both China and the US using the waters around the Philippines as a zone for their ongoing competition for influence in the region. The US and its allies, including Canada, are becoming increasingly provocative in the region, flying patrols 10,000 kms off the North American mainland and carrying out military drills that were clearly orchestrated to goad China. Further, the US has recently announced the planned construction of an ammunition manufacturing and storage hub in Subic Bay to forward-base munitions stockpiles and related materials. The US has also deployed advanced ground-based missile systems to northern Luzon, including the Mid-Range Capability system (capable of firing Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles) and Naval Strike Missile (NSM) launchers targeting the Chinese mainland.

As Canada lines up with New Zealand, Australia and the USA, in the struggle for control of the South China Sea, the prospects for peace diminish and the people of the Philippines find themselves in the dangerous position of being on the front line in the escalating tensions between two superpowers. According to ICHRP Chair Peter Murphy, “The China containment question seems to be the only consideration in the equation – there is no consideration of the risk of being drawn into the Philippines’ internal civil war, where under repeated regimes the Philippine military has a record of war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law.”  

In the interests of peace for the people of the Philippines, ICHRP calls on the government of Canada to uphold an independent foreign policy, to terminate the VFA, and to use its diplomacy and influence to call for a just peace in the Philippines. We further call on people around the globe to rise up in opposition to the growing war mongering of the US and its allies in the Asia-Pacific.

Media statement
November 8, 2025

“The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) welcomes indications from within the Philippine government that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is issuing an arrest warrant for Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, who as Chief of the Philippine National Police supervised former President Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’ from July 1, 2016,” said ICHRP Chairperson Peter Murphy.

“This is welcome news to families of the victims, who have waited far too long for justice,” Murphy said.

The report came from Philippine Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla speaking in a radio interview. But the warrant has not been announced by the ICC itself. However, a warrant against dela Rosa as Duterte’s co-perpetrator of crimes against humanity should emerge, based on evidence presented to the ICC Prosecutor.

A command memo issued by dela Rosa on Duterte’s first day in office immediately kicked off ‘War on Drugs’ operations. The memo provided directives for Project Double Barrel and its component, Project Tokhang, ordering police to conduct house-to-house visitations of ‘suspected drug personalities’. Warrants were not required, and individuals lacked legal recourse to challenge their inclusion on target lists, denying them due process. The visitations quickly became pretexts for summary executions. Dela Rosa’s command memo encouraged officers to “neutralize” drug suspects, a term echoed in police reports to indicate a target has been killed. There was a quota system, with cash rewards to police who executed suspects.

The PNP has admitted to 4,999 deaths in the ‘war on drugs’ during Dela Rosa’s leadership, and credible estimates put the real figure at 30,000 for the whole of Duterte’s six-year term.

“When the warrant is served, ICHRP calls on the Marcos Jr administration to enforce his arrest and surrender to the ICC as part of the Philippines’ continuing obligations to the court,” said Murphy. The ICC recently ruled that it had jurisdiction to prosecute former President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte, facing a charge of the crime against humanity of murder, had challenged the legality of his detention.

Dela Rosa served as Davao City police chief when Duterte was mayor. Two witness who were members of Duterte’s ‘Davao Death Squad’ have stated that dela Rosa was an “enabler” of Duterte and knew of the squad’s extrajudicial killings.

This past October 21st, members and allies of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines from around the world mobilized as part of our global day of solidarity with the peasant struggle against land-grabbing in the Philippines. Groups from Canada, the US, the UK, Belgium, and Australia joined the day of action by holding rallies and forums, and sharing statements and selfies echoing our calls:

SUPPORT THE PEASANT STRUGGLE FOR GENUINE LAND REFORM!
END AID TO THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY AND POLICE!
END SUPPORT FOR THE US BACKED MARCOS JR REGIME!
END SUPPORT FOR CORRUPTION & PLUNDER IN THE PHILIPPINES!
SOLIDARITY IS NOT A CRIME! LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!

Although peasant month is coming to an end, ICHRP will continue to campaign in support of the peasant struggle for land and just peace. We are continuing to collect funds to support the travel costs of peasant organizers and human rights activists in the Philippines who held activities throughout the month. You can contribute to our fundraiser at ichrp.net/PeasantFundraiser

This article is the fourth in a series on the important work of KMP. The other three articles are available to read here on the ICHRP website: ICHRP celebrates KMP’s 40 years, KMP and the struggle for land, KMP and the struggle against fascism.

Since its founding under the U.S.-backed Marcos Sr. dictatorship, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) has united farmworkers and the peasant masses against not only the local tyranny of the Philippine state’s fascist attacks against the people, but the foreign interests of U.S. neocolonial rule, forging itself over decades into an unshakeable force in both the Philippine and global struggles against imperialism.

Over four decades of struggle, KMP has been among those in the Philippines leading the charge against neoliberal policies such as Marcos Sr.’s version of the “green revolution” of foreign institutions such as the IMF-World Bank, USAID, and other transnational corporations, which bankrupted farmers, destroying traditional farming and locking the peasant masses into a foreign-dependent system.

In recent years, KMP has also fought against Charter Change (ChaCha) to allow foreign land ownership, the Rice Liberalization Law (RLL), and 99-year foreign land leases.

KMP has waged intense struggle against militarization, and was among those who led the call in 1991 to expel U.S. military bases from the Philippines.

U.S. military intervention in the Philippines has not ceased, however, and KMP has continued to oppose military programs like the Balikatin Exercises, large scale military exercises which have resulted in environmental destruction and disrupted the lives and livelihoods of citizens. KMP has also opposed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which gives U.S. troops even greater access to Philippine land.

KMP is also an active participant in global anti-imperialist efforts, carrying the voice of Filipino peasants across the world. KMP has engaged with international alliances like the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS), Asian Peasant Coalition (APC), and People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS), to expose and resist imperialist domination.

With another Marcos back in power, KMP’s role in uniting farmers for the anti-imperialist struggle is more vital than ever. ICHRP looks to the example of KMP’s militant history of struggle – that true national freedom and social justice are never given, but must be fought for – and joins the peasant masses in building, strengthening, and advancing the anti-imperialist movement worldwide!

[Spanish and French translations follow]

ICHRP Stands in Solidarity with the Peasant Movement of the Philippines

From the rice fields of the Philippines to the streets of the world, people are rising together to break land monopolies, end state violence, and defend the dignity of those who feed nations.

The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) proudly supports the October 21st day of action of the peasant movement of the Philippines and echoes the call of Filipino peasants for land, democracy, and sovereignty.

ICHRP stands in full support of today’s Peasant March (Lakbayan) in the Philippines— a powerful, coordinated mobilization bringing together peasants from across the archipelago to unite in Manila, while rallying supporters worldwide to stand in solidarity with their ongoing struggle for land, justice, and human dignity.

Marking the anniversary of Marcos Sr.’s failed land reform program, this day of protest amplifies the urgent call of people’s organizations such as the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines – KMP) for genuine agrarian reform and an end to militarization, land-grabbing, and forced displacement of peasants and indigenous people from their land. ICHRP calls on allies everywhere to stand in solidarity by organizing actions, issuing statements, and supporting initiatives such as ICHRP’s Peasant Support Fund.

When Farmland Becomes a Battlefield

For four decades, KMP has been a defiant voice against hunger and oppression. Since 1985, the organization has fought for equitable land distribution, insisting that democracy cannot thrive while those who feed the nation remain landless. Yet the crisis deepens: the Philippines loses an average of 27,000 hectares of farmland each year as productive fields are converted into subdivisions, shopping malls, golf courses, plantations and export-oriented industrial zones. Each project erases farmland, pushes farmers toward eviction and poverty, and undermines food sovereignty and the indigenous people’s right to self-determination. As rice prices soar and agricultural policy falls under foreign control, the very people who sustain the nation are being driven to the brink of desperation.

Since the rise of neoliberal policies under the regime of Ferdinand Marcos, this is no longer just a domestic issue – it is a global concern. Transnational interests continue to profit from policies that uproot communities, deepen inequality, and silence resistance. Solidarity across borders is essential to reverse this injustice.

The struggle of Filipino peasants is not only about land; it is about life, dignity, and the future of generations to come. They have endured decades of broken promises, systemic violence, and displacement, yet continue to resist with courage and hope. We are boldly saying: impunity will not stand. The land belongs to those who till it, and the fight for human rights knows no borders. 

Turning Outrage Into Action

We call on civil society organizations, trade unions, faith communities, and people of conscience to amplify the voices of Filipino peasants, host public forums, and mobilize actions that challenge land monopolies and state violence. Most importantly, we invite individuals and movements everywhere to join us on October 21 and beyond in the streets, on social media, and in every public space to transform solidarity into power and power into justice.

The October 21 Global Day of Solidarity is part of a growing international campaign to hold perpetrators accountable and defend the rights of rural communities. In the weeks and months that follow, ICHRP Global and its partners will continue coordinating global actions, advocacy initiatives, and humanitarian support, strengthening peasant movements that build a future where those who feed nations will never go hungry.

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ICHRP se solidariza con el movimiento campesino de Filipinas

Desde los arrozales de Filipinas hasta las calles del mundo entero, la gente se está levantando para acabar con los monopolios de la tierra, poner fin a la violencia estatal y defender la dignidad de quienes nos alimentan a todas y todos.

La Coalición Internacional por los Derechos Humanos en Filipinas (ICHRP) apoya firmemente la jornada de acción del 21 de octubre del movimiento campesino de Filipinas y se hace eco del llamamiento de los campesinos filipinos en favor de la tierra, la democracia y la soberanía.

ICHRP apoya plenamente la Marcha Campesina (Lakbayan) que se celebra hoy en Filipinas, una movilización poderosa y organizada que congrega a campesinos de todo el archipiélago en Manila, al tiempo que convoca a simpatizantes de todo el mundo para que se solidaricen con su lucha continua por la tierra, la justicia y la dignidad humana.

Con motivo del aniversario del fallido programa de reforma agraria del dictador Marcos padre, esta jornada de protesta amplifica el urgente llamamiento de organizaciones populares como el sindicato Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Movimiento Campesino de Filipinas, KMP) en favor de una auténtica reforma agraria y el fin de la militarización, el acaparamiento de tierras y el desplazamiento forzoso de campesinos e indígenas de sus tierras. ICHRP hace un llamamiento a sus aliados de todo el mundo para que se solidaricen organizando acciones, emitiendo declaraciones y apoyando iniciativas como el Fondo de Apoyo a los Campesinos del ICHRP.

Cuando las tierras de cultivo se convierten en un campo de batalla

Durante cuatro décadas, KMP ha sido una voz desafiante contra el hambre y la opresión. Desde 1985, la organización ha luchado por una distribución equitativa de la tierra, insistiendo en que la democracia no puede prosperar mientras quienes alimentan a la nación sigan sin tener tierras. Sin embargo, la crisis se agrava: Filipinas pierde una media de 27 000 hectáreas de tierras agrícolas cada año, ya que los campos productivos se convierten en urbanizaciones, centros comerciales, campos de golf, plantaciones y zonas industriales orientadas a la exportación. Cada proyecto borra del mapa las tierras agrícolas, empuja a los agricultores hacia el desalojo y la pobreza, y socava la soberanía alimentaria y el derecho de los pueblos indígenas a la autodeterminación. A medida que los precios del arroz se disparan y la política agrícola cae bajo control extranjero, las mismas personas que dan de comer al país se ven empujadas al borde de la desesperación.

Desde el auge de las políticas neoliberales bajo el régimen de Ferdinand Marcos, esto ya no es solo un problema interno, sino una preocupación mundial. Los intereses transnacionales siguen beneficiándose de políticas que desarraigan a las comunidades, profundizan la desigualdad y silencian la resistencia. La solidaridad internacional es esencial para revertir esta injusticia.

La lucha de los campesinos filipinos no es solo por la tierra, es por la vida, la dignidad y el futuro de las generaciones venideras. Han soportado décadas de promesas incumplidas, violencia sistémica y desplazamientos, pero siguen resistiendo con valentía y esperanza. Afirmamos con rotundidad: la impunidad no prevalecerá.  La tierra pertenece a quienes la cultivan, y la lucha por los derechos humanos no conoce fronteras. 

De la indignación a la acción

Hacemos un llamamiento a las organizaciones de la sociedad civil, los sindicatos, las comunidades religiosas y a toda la ciudadanía concienciada para que amplifiquen las voces de los campesinos filipinos, organicen foros públicos y se movilicen a través de acciones que desafíen los monopolios de la tierra y la violencia estatal. Y lo que es más importante, invitamos a personas y movimientos de todo el mundo a unirse a nosotros el 21 de octubre y más allá, en las calles, en las redes sociales y en todos los espacios públicos, para transformar la solidaridad en poder y el poder en justicia.

El Día Mundial de Solidaridad del 21 de octubre forma parte de una campaña internacional cada vez más amplia para exigir responsabilidades a los autores y defender los derechos de las comunidades rurales. En las semanas y meses siguientes, ICHRP Global y sus socios seguirán coordinando acciones globales, iniciativas de defensa y apoyo humanitario, fortaleciendo los movimientos campesinos que construyen un futuro en el que quienes alimentan al planeta nunca pasarán hambre.

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L’ICHRP est solidaire du mouvement paysan aux Philippines

Des rizières des Philippines aux rues du monde entier, les peuples s’unissent pour mettre fin au monopole foncier, à la violence étatique et défendre la dignité de ceux qui nourrissent les nations.

La Coalition internationale pour les droits humains aux Philippines (ICHRP) apporte tout son soutien la journée d’action du 21 octobre du mouvement paysan aux Philippines et se fait l’écho de l’appel des paysans philippins en faveur de la terre, de la démocratie et de la souveraineté.

ICHRP soutient pleinement la Marche paysanne (Lakbayan) qui se déroule aujourd’hui aux Philippines, une mobilisation puissante et coordonnée qui rassemble des paysans de tout l’archipel à Manille, tout en ralliant des sympathisants du monde entier pour qu’ils se solidarisent avec leur lutte constante pour la terre, la justice et la dignité humaine.

Marquant l’anniversaire de l’échec du programme de réforme agraire de Marcos père, cette journée de protestation amplifie l’appel urgent lancé par des organisations populaires telles que le syndicat Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Mouvement paysan des Philippines – KMP) en faveur d’une véritable réforme agraire et de la fin de la militarisation, de l’accaparement des terres et du déplacement forcé des paysans et des peuples autochtones de leurs terres. L’ICHRP appelle ses alliés partout dans le monde à se montrer solidaires en organisant des actions, en publiant des déclarations et en soutenant des initiatives telles que le Fonds de soutien aux paysans de l’ICHRP.

Quand les terres agricoles deviennent un champ de bataille

Depuis quatre décennies, KMP est une voix qui s’élève contre la faim et l’oppression. Depuis 1985, l’organisation lutte pour une répartition équitable des terres, affirmant que la démocratie ne peut prospérer tant que ceux qui nourrissent le pays sont des paysans sans terre. Pourtant, la crise s’aggrave : les Philippines perdent en moyenne 27 000 hectares de terres agricoles chaque année, les champs productifs étant transformés en lotissements, centres commerciaux, terrains de golf, plantations et zones industrielles orientées vers l’exportation. Chaque projet fait disparaître des terres agricoles, pousse les agriculteurs vers l’expulsion et la pauvreté, et sape la souveraineté alimentaire et le droit des peuples autochtones à l’autodétermination. Alors que les prix du riz montent en flèche et que la politique agricole tombe sous le contrôle d’acteurs extérieurs, ceux-là mêmes qui font vivre le pays sont poussés à bout.

Depuis la montée des politiques néolibérales sous le régime de Ferdinand Marcos, ce n’est plus seulement une question nationale, c’est une préoccupation mondiale. Les intérêts transnationaux continuent de tirer profit de politiques qui déracinent les communautés, aggravent les inégalités et réduisent au silence les voix de la résistance. La solidarité internationale est essentielle pour renverser cette injustice.

La lutte des paysans philippins ne concerne pas seulement la terre, elle concerne la vie, la dignité et l’avenir des générations futures. Ils ont enduré des décennies de promesses non tenues, de violence systémique et de déplacements, mais continuent de résister avec courage et espoir. Nous l’affirmons avec force : l’impunité ne saurait perdurer. La terre appartient à ceux qui la cultivent.

De l’indignation à l’action

Nous appelons les organisations de la société civile, les syndicats, les communautés religieuses et toutes les personnes sensibilisées à amplifier la voix des paysans philippins, à organiser des forums publics et à se mobiliser pour remettre en cause les monopoles fonciers et la violence étatique. Plus important encore, nous invitons les personnes à titre individuel et les mouvements sociaux du monde entier à se joindre à nous le 21 octobre et au-delà, dans les rues, sur les réseaux sociaux et dans tous les espaces publics, afin de transformer la solidarité en pouvoir et le pouvoir en justice.

La Journée mondiale de solidarité du 21 octobre s’inscrit dans le cadre d’une campagne internationale qui prend chaque jour plus d’ampleur, visant à demander des comptes aux auteurs de ces violations et à défendre les droits des communautés rurales. Dans les semaines et les mois à venir, ICHRP Global et ses partenaires continueront à coordonner des actions mondiales, des initiatives de plaidoyer et un soutien humanitaire, renforçant ainsi les mouvements paysans qui construisent un avenir où ceux qui nourrissent la planète ne souffriront plus jamais de la faim.