During the previous regime, human rights had been ridiculed, and social institutions like the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Commission on Audit (COA), social and human rights movements, and the church were constantly insulted and attacked by the former President Duterte himself. And human rights defenders, especially women were constantly shamed and assaulted by his misogynistic pronouncements and actions.

The widespread killings that most of time had only hardly hit the poor populations under the government policy double barrel and “tokhang” were proudly claimed by the previous administration under former President Duterte as accomplishments.

The intervention of the International Criminal Court is to provide Mr. Duterte with a fair trial to prove himself innocent (the victims did not enjoy the same privilege) and justice for the victims’ relatives and survivors. More so, to bring back the rule of justice. As correctly pointed out by the Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla during the Senate hearing to discuss the legality of Duterte’s arrest, the victims of “tokhang” had no recourse but bring their case to the ICC because the justice system in the country was not functioning.

Meanwhile, the arrest of Duterte does not exempt the Marcos Jr administration from its accountability to the Filipino people. Human rights violations persist, corruption is widespread, inequalities remain high, and natural wealth is offered to the few and the capitalists and foreign interests.

In the context of Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces, summary executions persist without justice. Red-tagging and harassment to land, environment, and human rights defenders continue despite the promise of the Marcos Jr administration that it is different from the previous one. The development orientation of the 3-year-old Marcos Jr administration and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) remains pro-capitalist and pro-foreign capital which put the ancestral domains and natural resources in the hands of the oligarchs from both Bangsamoro and Non-Bangsamoro at the expense of the people and environment only to greedily secure and earn more profits.

As a human rights movement, Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan para sa Karapatang Pantao (AMKP) stands for Justice, and our loyalty belongs to the exploited and victims of injustices, to human rights and dignity, Philippine sovereignty and respect of Peoples’ right to self-determination, and integrity of creation.

We, therefore, call on the tri-people to collectively work for a society where social justice and people’s interests are the core of governance. Let us support all types of investigation and judicial processes in pursuit of justice and defending people’s and human rights, holding the duty-bearers accountable.

We call on the Congress and the Philippine President that it is high time for the Philippine Republic to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prevent abuse of power by political leaders and private groups and individuals.

In time of the 2025 National, Local, and BARMM Regional elections, let Human Rights, Environment and People’s welfare be the center of our decisions. Let us collectively work to have an informed decision for the majority of our people as well as for the next generations.

Stand for Human Rights, Democracy, Accountability, and Justice!

April 3, 2025

Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan para sa Karapatang Pantao (AMKP)