PRESIDENT MARCOS JR’S HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVES AND FAILURES
Human rights defenders and political activists have long been the subject of attacks from the government over the years. Government authorities increasingly subjected political activists, human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, and government critics to “red-tagging”. Primarily perpetrated by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and promoted by harmful legislations and willful inaction by the administration, this state-facilitated public vilification of any individual or group expressing concern or opposition has disproportionately targeted students, indigenous peoples, LGBTI activists, and other members of vulnerable groups. The state’s red-tagging tactics ranges from online harassment to offline intimidation and surveillance and even enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. PASS THE HRD PROTECTION ACT! REPEAL THE ANTI-TERRORISM ACT! DEFUND NTF-ELCAC!
A free media plays an indispensable role in upholding the right to freedom of expression and enabling people to seek and receive information. Amnesty International is concerned that press freedom in the Philippines has been severely eroded and assaulted over the last few years. The Philippines remains one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. CONDEMN ATTACKS AGAINST JOURNALISTS! REPEAL THE CYBERCRIME LAW!
Although drug-related killings have reduced under the Marcos government, they continue to be reported. The current administration has also failed to credibly investigate, let alone prosecute, those suspected of committing and ordering extrajudicial executions despite promises to deliver “real justice in real time” for victims of the “war on drugs.” REJOIN THE ICC! REVIEW THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT! ESTABLISH A NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE MECHANISM UNDER THE ANTI TORTURE LAW!
Killings and other violent attacks have escalated against leaders and members of Indigenous communities. Corruption, bureaucracy, and the domineering presence of corporations have made the ancestral domain claiming process even more complex, tedious, and life-threatening. The situation of Indigenous peoples remains concerning, with NCIP now under the Office of the President, the Legislative must fully exercise its mandate in ensuring that indigenous peoples rights are protected and upheld. REVIEW FPIC! AMEND IPRA!
The Philippine National Police recorded a total of 11,585 VAW-related cases in its Crime Information Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS) for 2023. This has slightly increased to 11,636 cases in 2024. As alarming as these numbers are, they are also underreported.
With shifting technological landscapes, there has also been a rise in online gender-based violence (OGBV). LGBTI people continue to face discrimination and live in constant fear of harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention, and remain vulnerable to violence and persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics. LGBTI people still face disproportionately high levels of inequality when accessing healthcare, education, housing, and employment. PASS THE EXPANDED ANTI- VAWC ACT! PASS THE SOGIE EQUALITY BILL AND THE COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BILL!
Climate change threatens the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of present and future generations of Filipinos. The Philippines is still recuperating from three typhoons one after another. PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THE IMPACT OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS! PASS THE ALTERNATIVE MINERALS MANAGEMENT BILL AND THE CLIMATE ACCOUNTABILITY BILL!
Despite President Marcos’s electoral promises to end endo and hence encourage Filipinos to work in the country instead of finding jobs abroad, the Philippines has not yet passed a security of tenure bill to end contractualization; neither have this administration listened to the calls of the labor sector for a nationwide wage increase. STRENGTHEN DOLE AND NLRC! INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE! FARE WAGES FOR ALL!
BBM Report Cards
Taon-taon tuwing SONA ni BBM, may pagbabago ba? Sinasagot nga ba nya ang kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino?
Hiningi ng Amnesty International Philippines ang Human Rights Action Plan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. — hindi lamang ang kanyang katayuan sa mga isyu, kundi mga konkretong plano, programa at aksyon na nakikita niyang sagot sa mga problema sa karapatang pantaong hinaharap ng mamayang Pilipino.
Ang pagkakaron ng tapat at maayos na pagkakaintindi sa karapatang pantao, at sariling initiative na bumuo ng planong sumasagot sa iba’t ibang human rights issues ay paunang tanda lamang ng tunay na pagkilala ng pangulo sa kanyang responsibilidad sa taumbayan.
Nilipon ng Amnesty International Philippines ang mga tinitindigang isyu tungkol sa karapatang pantao ni Pangulong Marcos, Jr. noong nakaraang halalan, narito ang ilan na maaring ikumpara sa kanyang mga naging prayoridad sa pagpapalakad sa bansa nitong nakaraang dalawang taon sa panunungkulan.
Nagpadala ang Amnesty International Philippines ng isang open letter sa lahat ng kumakandidato bilang pangulo, pangalawang pangulo at senador noong 2022. Nilalaman ng sulat ang isang paalala, panghihikayat, at hamon na isama ang karapatang pantao sa mga plataporma at action plan ng mga kumakandidato. Nagsisilbi itong tanda ng pagtataya nila bilang mga lingkod-bayan sa kanilang pananagutan sa karapatang pantao.
Hiningi ang malinaw na tugon patungkol sa mga sumusunod na usapin, at patuloy itong binabantayan hanggang sa kasalukuyang administrayon sa ilalim ni Pangulong Marcos, Jr.:
Makalipas ang ilang taong panunungkulan ni Pangulong Marcos, Jr., tila walang pagbabago sa mga usaping ito. Nananatiling bagsak ang marka.
