Cagayan de Oro – On the last leg of the launch of its State of the World’s Human Rights 2023/24 Report, Amnesty International celebrates its 63rd anniversary with a press conference in Mindanao on 28 May. The rights group said that in all its years of existence, their annual reports have established one thing – that undermining peoples’ agency to strip them of their dignity is a force entrenched in human rights violations.
A situation that is worsened by the government’s neglect of its obligation to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights is at the core of abuses and violations. This time of the year is a celebratory season for Amnesty International around the world, but it seems as though there isn’t much to celebrate following our human rights report’s rolling launch.
Butch Olano, Section Director
“A situation that is worsened by the government’s neglect of its obligation to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights is at the core of abuses and violations. This time of the year is a celebratory season for Amnesty International around the world, but it seems as though there isn’t much to celebrate following our human rights report’s rolling launch. We thank the Commission on Human Rights, however, for taking time to join us at our press conferences around the country. We now know from their reactions and comments that on the ground, the Philippine entry to the report holds true. In fact, there are more local human rights issues that needs to be addressed according to their regional offices,” said Butch Olano, Amnesty International Philippines Section Director.
Amnesty shared earlier that as part of its policy advocacy with the government, they reached out to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. through the Office of the Executive Secretary in their effort to include the President’s input in its global launch and provide a space for the Marcos Administration to respond. They recently confirmed that through the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC), a dialogue with relevant agencies has finally been arranged for this purpose.
“The upcoming dialogue is the result of our relentless attempt to engage the government in our work to demand for accountability. While we received a positive response this time, we’ve already felt the dismissive nature of President Marcos in addressing human rights concerns from the beginning of his term. His stance emboldens all levels of government to commit violations with impunity, from his cabinet down to local government units. We need the president to lead by example, whenever he shows non-commitment in responding to human rights issues, a shift is felt down the line,” explained Olano.
Amnesty noted that Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s pronouncement on reviving his father’s “war on drugs” and siding with erring cops is also a reflection of President Marcos’ indifference to human rights. This displays what they both lack, as with most elected and appointed officials, a rights-based approach to governance.
No one is minding the store when leaders get away with distorting human rights principles. And when the government leads the way it does, bad businesses see this as a sign that they, too, can get away with exploiting workers, the environment, and the most vulnerable – women, children, members of LGBTQI+, and indigenous peoples
“No one is minding the store when leaders get away with distorting human rights principles. And when the government leads the way it does, bad businesses see this as a sign that they, too, can get away with exploiting workers, the environment, and the most vulnerable – women, children, members of LGBTQI+, and indigenous peoples while no one is watching,” added Olano.
The interrelatedness of human rights also makes the violations interrelated, Amnesty reiterates that the phenomenon of “red-tagging” has not been limited to political activists, more and more environmental and land rights defenders are becoming targets.
“The Manobo-Pulangiyon tribe joins Amnesty International today as an addition to our report on indigenous peoples falling victims to “red-tagging”. While President Marcos denies the existence of this practice and further supports NTF-ELCAC, businesses that encroach upon indigenous peoples’ ancestral lands go about their interests, collecting profit. In the case of MP, at the expense of the lives of more than 1,490 families including the elderly, women, and children. This continues to happen as their leaders struggle to face the added challenge of fending off accusations and trumped-up charges made both by the local government and big business,” Olano said.
The very survival of the Manobo-Pulangiyon tribe is at greater risk with the practice of “red-tagging” said Amnesty International. Like many indigenous groups who have been driven away by big businesses, they are not asking for more than what is rightfully theirs. The government has not only forsaken them but added more barriers for them to get the justice they deserve.
Several issues, not just human rights concerns, hang in the balance. It is the command responsibility of President Marcos, problems plaguing the country won’t solve itself while he looks away.
“President Marcos may not be directly involved in alleged human rights violations such as what is happening in the “war on drugs” in Davao and elsewhere or the plight of IPs in Mindanao but during tough times like where we’re at now, the entire country follows the slow pace of the president. Several issues, not just human rights concerns, hang in the balance. It is his command responsibility, problems plaguing the country won’t solve itself while he looks away.” Concluded Olano.