The conviction of a Police Colonel Dante Lubos who killed Ryan Dave Almora in his home in 2016 in the context of the drug war is a welcome development, though it came 9 years after the crime was committed. Convictions remain limited to a few cases, with no one so far involving killings in Visayas and Mindanao.
Responding to news of attacks in Mindanao against human rights defenders, Amnesty International Philippines Acting Director Jepie Papa said:
Over the past six months, the headlines have been dominated by stories of fear, division and hatred. However, activists around the world are working away to ensure hope prevails. Here are some of the human rights wins we can be proud of from January to June 2025.
Thriving Amnesty leaders in their each chosen paths on organizational development, Jepie, Rocky, and Badhong share their vision of a truly integrated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) framework for human rights and development work. Listen to their experiences as managers who are members of the LGBTI community celebrating Pride in the workplace.
Listen to the stories of Muslim sister-femcees, Miss A & Fateeha of MoroBeats, Amnesty International Philippines featured Artists for Amnesty for 2025.
International Women’s Day episode with Miss A and Fateeha of Morobeats. They talk about their stories as Muslim FemCees in a male dominated industry, and how they use their music to inspire other people and express their personal advocacy on mental health and well-being and anti-discrimination.
Bae Theresa’s Kwentong Tibak, learn the struggles of the Manobo Pulangiyon Tribe and the case of MP1490 Bukidnon.
28 June 2025
Responding to news that a journalist and transwoman human rights defender was killed in Mindanao, Amnesty International Philippines Acting Director Jepie Papa, said:
Amnesty International agrees with the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur who has called for the Philippine Government to “embark on more significant legal, policy and institutional changes to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression”.
The Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court (PCICC) expresses its strong opposition and grave concern over any proposal or consideration for the interim release of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who remains under active investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity arising from the thousands of killings perpetrated during the so-called “war on drugs.”
Amnesty International Philippines emphasized a deteriorating human rights situation in the Philippines during the last leg of its rolling launch of Amnesty International Report 2025: State of the World’s Human Rights in Manila. Marked by widespread impunity, shrinking civic space, persistent red-tagging of human rights defenders (HRDs) including journalists, indigenous cultural community leaders, and environmental activists, Amnesty International Philippines Acting Director, Jepie Papa, said that these issues are all underscored in the organization’s Human Rights Legislative Agenda for the 20th Congress updated from 2022 national elections following the mid-terms.