War Over Welfare: APCHRP Condemns $5.58B Fighter Jet Deal Amid Philippine Crisis, Warns of Escalating Human Rights Violations.
The Asia-Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines vehemently condemns the approval of the sale of F-16 fighter jets by the United States government and the purchase of these war materials by the Marcos Jr. administration, amounting to $5.58 billion or approximately ₱320 Billion, at a time when the country is facing both economic and political crises. The taxes paid by Filipino citizens are being used to perpetuate human rights violations further, as these weapons of war will be turned against the Filipino people themselves.
Since assuming the presidency, the number of Filipinos living in poverty and experiencing hunger has increased under the Marcos Jr. administration. The Social Weather Stations (SWS) reports that in June 2022, approximately 2.9 million families, or 11.6% of the population, faced hunger. By March 2025, this number had risen to 7.5 million families, or 27.2%. The IBON Foundation states that the minimum daily wage for Filipino workers nationwide is around PHP 469, which is significantly lower than the estimated family living wage of PHP 1,227 for a family of five. Additionally, food prices have surged by 16% from June 2022 to February 2025, according to inflation data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
This alarming situation highlights the urgent need for the Marcos Jr. administration to prioritize increasing workers’ wages and lowering the prices of basic goods. However, instead of addressing these pressing needs, the government has diverted funds from critical social services toward the military, allocating budgets for war materials and fueling militarization, especially targeting dissent and civilian communities in rural areas.
The approval of the purchase of war materials such as the F-16 fighter jets highlights the deepening military ties between the United States and the Philippines. This move aligns with the ongoing militarization in the Philippines and the unrestricted intervention of U.S. military forces in the country through various military agreements—such as the Balikatan Exercises, Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG), and many other deals that largely favor the interests of the United States. This also reflects the assertion of U.S. hegemony in the Indo-Pacific region, escalating tensions, and warmongering against rival states like China.
The APCHRP strongly urges the Marcos Jr. administration to halt the purchase of war materials, as this decision will only escalate violations of international humanitarian law and further harm the Filipino people. The Marcos Jr. administration’s decision to prioritize military spending over essential social services stands in stark contrast to the urgent needs of the Filipino people.
The APCHRP calls on the international community to intensify efforts to expose the U.S. government’s actions and hold it accountable for its role in bloody counterinsurgency, escalating militarization in urban and rural areas, and contributing to human rights violations in the Philippines.
#NoToBalikatanExercises
#StopUSWarMachine
#JunkEDCA
#JunkVFA
