ICHRP: Filipino people inspire the world, Marcos gov’t must be held accountable for systematic theft of public funds

Press statement
September 23, 2025

The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) stands in full solidarity with the Filipino people who rose up on September 21, 2025, marking the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos Sr., to demand accountability and an end to the Marcos Jr. regime’s corruption and repression.

Across Manila, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and overseas, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos joined protest actions exposing the systemic theft of public funds. ICHRP notes that these mobilizations are an inspiration to the world and show that the people have not forgotten the abuses of the Marcos Sr. dictatorship and refuse to be silenced under Marcos Jr.’s continuation of that legacy.

ICHRP strongly condemns the police crackdown that resulted in severe injuries, the tragic death of one protester, and the wrongful imprisonment of over 200 individuals. The global coalition demands that they have access to legal counsel, communication with families and human rights organizations, and emergency medical treatment. 

“The demonstrations were a legitimate outpouring of people’s anger at a kleptocratic government,” says ICHRP chairperson Peter Murphy, rejecting  Philippine authorities’ framing of protests as mere riots. “The youth, urban poor, and workers who joined the standoff in the historic Mendiola Bridge were not ‘thugs.’ They are citizens whose communities are drowning in poverty and floodwaters while the powerful enrich themselves. Their rage was directed at a system that steals their future and violates their dignity,” Murphy adds.

On September 21 in Mendiola, the entrance to the president’s Palace, hundreds of mostly young and urban poor protesters were met with brutal acts of dispersal from the police. According to reports, at least 216 people were arrested, dozens were injured, and one was killed during the crackdown. Many of those detained are children (80) including a nine (9) year old boy and in urgent need of medical attention. 

“They come from poor families who now face crushing bail costs and hospital expenses. We call for their immediate release and for full accountability for the rights abuses committed,” Murphy asserts.

The injured and arrested Filipino youth and the urban poor are being unjustly labeled as criminals by authorities while those who are reportedly involved in massive corruption are seemingly protected and seeking witness protection. 

ICHRP asserts that the disgruntled youth are “far from being criminals, these protesters are the conscience of a nation outraged at Marcos’ and previous presidents’ corrupt flood-control and infrastructure projects.  The ‘anti-corruption’ posturing of Marcos Jr won’t hide his deep entanglement with political patrons and contractors.” 

As one 19-year-old vendor who joined the protest put it: “Kami lubog na lubog sa baha. Sila nasa mataas, paano kaming nasa baba? Kahit silipin nila kami ‘te, hindi nila kami matatanaw kasi sobrang taas nila.” (We’re submerged in the flood. While they’re up high. What about us down below? Even if they tried to look at us, they wouldn’t see us because they’re so far above.”

“As a human rights organization, we not only denounce the human rights violations committed by the Philippine state on September 21, but we also urge our members and the international community to show  support for the Filipino people. Now more than ever, we need to express our solidarity in any way possible,” says Murphy.

ICHRP calls on the international community, human rights defenders, and individuals to:

1. Condemn the violent dispersal, mass arrests, and death of a protester in Mendiola.
2. Demand the immediate release of all detained protesters and provision of medical care to the injured.
3. Support mutual aid efforts for bail, legal assistance, medical treatment, and the needs of victims’ families.
4. Continue amplifying the voices of the Filipino people who demand accountability, justice, and an end to systemic corruption.

“The Marcos Jr. government can smear, arrest, and kill, but it cannot erase the truth: the Filipino people are rising. We stand with them. We stand with their outrage, their courage, and their fight for genuine democracy,” Murphy ends. #

In partnership with Philippine Human Rights Alliance KARAPATAN, we are collecting donations to provide urgent support to the bail fund of protestors arrested during the ongoing anti-corruption protests in the Philippines. Donate at ichrp.net/bailfund

Donate at donorbox.org/bail-fund-support

KARAPATAN, a national human rights alliance based in the Philippines, and ICHRP are collecting donations to provide urgent support for the bail, welfare and logistical needs of protestors arrested during the ongoing anti-corruption protests in the Philippines. All funds raised will go towards supporting these needs. Since the violent acts of the police against the protesters on September 21, KARAPATAN has been providing on-the-ground support to the arrested protestors and their families. 

On September 21 in Mendiola, the entrance to the president’s Palace, hundreds of mostly young and urban poor protesters were met with brutal acts of dispersal from the police. According to reports of KARAPATAN, at least 216 people were injured, arbitrarily arrested and detained. There are at least 82 minors, including a nine (9) year old boy, who need urgent medical attention and care.

The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines stands in full solidarity with the Filipino people who rose up on September 21, 2025, marking the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos Sr., to demand accountability and an end to the Marcos Jr. regime’s corruption and repression.

Donate at donorbox.org/bail-fund-support

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.