Statement
September 26, 2025

Following the massive September 21st anti-corruption protests in the Philippines, human rights organizations including KARAPATAN and the National Union of People’s Lawyers have exposed the cruel treatment of children at the hands of the Philippine police. Human rights groups have reported the violent dispersal of protestors and community members nearby by police, who arrested over 200 individuals including over 90 children. Five days after the protests, multiple children still remain in detention. 

The Philippine National Police (PNP) have beaten, dragged off, and separated children from their families. According to the National Union of People’s Lawyers, the PNP also denied adequate food and water and kept children in filthy holding areas. Some were left barefoot and received no proper medical care for injuries sustained during the protests and arrests. Families who tried to visit and provide basic necessities were turned away. 

It was the people’s justified outrage at the mass corruption in the Philippines that resulted in the Sept 21 protests. The people deserve genuine accountability, and yet the police responded with violence and the severe deprivation of people’s rights, especially children’s rights. The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) along with the Foundation for Filipino Children call for the immediate release of the children, along with the others unjustly detained. We call on the international community to respond to the urgent need of the Filipino people and donate to ICHRP’s joint bail fund with KARAPATAN. 

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. 

Donate at ichrp.net/bailfund

Press Statement
September 23, 2025

Faced with the short-notice delay of the September 23, 2025 hearing to confirm the charges against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) is urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to deflect all spurious manoeuvres by the accused to delay his trial, and to urgently re-start the trial process.

While Duterte’s lawyer is claiming that he is “unfit to stand trial”, even his daughter Sara has proclaimed that her father is okay. Another daughter, Veronica Duterte, says the same.

The delay has hit the families of Duterte’s many victims, who have mobilized funds to be in-person at the Hague today to demonstrate their profound call for justice before the Court and the international community. Duterte’s brazen theatrics should not be allowed to hurt these victims’ families anymore.

Based on evidence previously presented at an International Peoples Tribunal and compiled in its first Investigate PH report, ICHRP has found domestic remedies in the Philippines ineffective in addressing the massive violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. This is why the international community must support the victims campaigning for justice while their own government neglects to render justice.  

“We oppose any manoeuvres aimed at absolving Duterte or securing his interim release be squashed,” said ICHRP Chairperson Peter Murphy. “We appeal to all member countries of the ICC to oppose Duterte’s interim release. If any third party government would accept Duterte into their country, it would raise serious questions about that country’s commitment to human rights. Duterte must remain in detention and face justice in the ICC.”

ICHRP is circulating an open letter to the ICC to press it to expedite the trial and raising funds to amplify the voices of the victims’ families. A chorus of international institutions have also joined the call for justice.

KAIROS Canada, a member of ICHRP, stated: “The ICC case against Duterte is a historic opportunity to affirm the primacy of human rights and the rule of law. International solidarity remains vital in amplifying the voices of victims, strengthening grassroots movements and ensuring that impunity is replaced with justice.“ 

Rev. Dr. Japhet Ndhlovu, Executive Minister of Church in Mission with the United Church of Canada, also stated, “This hearing represents a critical moment for international justice… We stand with our Filipino siblings in their call for truth, accountability, and the protection of human dignity. Our hope is that the ICC will uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice is done.”

The Marcos Jr. regime, which has neglected to use its power to hold Duterte – as well as military and police – accountable for crimes, must fully cooperate with the ICC investigation and cease all acts of obstruction or protection of Duterte. While the Marcos Jr government is technically beyond the jurisdiction of the ICC, there is no reason for the Marcos regime to distance itself from the trial. 

“We call on the Philippine government to protect the families who have taken their cases against Duterte to the ICC, as they faced a torrent of threats when Duterte was arrested in March this year,” said Murphy. #

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