APCHRP Endorses IPT Guilty Verdict for War Crimes, Condemns US-Backed Human Rights Violations Under Marcos and Duterte regimes
The Asia Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (APCHRP) expresses its support and endorses the GUILTY verdict of the International Peoples Tribunal (IPT) last May 17-18. The verdict exposes the clear violation of international humanitarian law committed by the Philippine government under President Marcos and former President Duterte administrations.
The APCHRP equally condemns the support of the United States and its current President, Joe Biden, on these offenses against humanity by covertly enabling the Philippine military’s sweeping counterinsurgency program that indiscriminately terrorizes civilian populations.
On the first day of the hearing, various witnesses provided detailed accounts of the crimes committed. These include the brutal murder of unarmed peasant leader, Ka Randy Echanis, who was mercilessly murdered at the height of the Covid pandemic. Another was the blatant disregard of the laws of war in parading the slayed NPA fighter Jevelyn Callumat. Her body was paraded and a firearm was placed on her chest to make her murder appear as an encounter with the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Brandon Lee, a Chinese-American human rights activist from the San Francisco Committee for Human Rights recounted his experience as a volunteer human rights officer with the Ifugao Peasant Movement. He was shot by an unidentified assailant who is believed to be from the 54 Infantry Battalion.
Other witnesses include Marison Diaz, the daughter of Maurito Diaz, a farmer and a highly respected leader in the Tumanduk organization. She believes that her father was specifically targeted and murdered due to his unwavering dedication to defending their ancestral land.
Jenny Rose, an indigenous woman human rights defender and volunteer teacher from the Lumad School Community in Mindanao, shares her firsthand experience of the militarization of Lumad School communities and the government’s decision to close them.
On the second day, environmental worker Jonila Castro shared her experience of abduction with fellow environmentalist Jhed Tamano and the subsequent attempt by the military and the NTF-ELCAC to present them as surrenderees.
Other incidents testified by the witnesses include the Massacre by the Philippine Army’s 19th Infantry Division soldiers of five unarmed civilians undertaking research work in New Bataan, Davao de Oro on Feb. 23, 2022; the terrorist labeling, filing of false charges against four human rights workers in July 2022, and the killing of unarmed civilians including children in August 2023, both in Southern Tagalog, perpetrated by the military; and the bombing and militarization of two barangays of Balbalan, Kalinga in March 2023 and May 2023 by composite elements of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, including the 503rd Brigade and 50th Infantry Battalion soldiers.
All these crimes were committed under the Duterte and Marcos administrations under the bloody counterinsurgency program which has been inspired, financed, trained, and supplied by the United States government.
Hence, the US has been a key force in the execution of the Philippine counterinsurgency drive, leading to human rights and International Humanitarian Law violations, as well as the ongoing attacks and harassment by NTF-ELCAC. Marcos and Duterte’s administrations in strengthening their political interests and subservience to the US dictated the human rights of the Filipino people were disregarded and violated, and Filipino people’s interest in economic development and justice was set aside.
We commend the bravery and firmness of the witnesses, as well as the principles of the legal personalities during the IPT to expose the US-sponsored trampling of human rights in the Philippines. Hence, the APCHRP vows to strengthen its support for the Filipino people’s long-standing demand for just and lasting peace.
#KatarunganIPT2024 #USGuilty #MarcosGuilty #DuterteGuilty
Cover Image from IPT Press Images
