Philippines: Report details widespread human rights abuses by gov't

Summary

The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines reports ongoing state-sponsored human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, against its citizens. Despite the pandemic, attacks on activists and workers have increased. The group has investigated over 50 cases involving a hundred victims, implicating the military, police, and President Duterte. They are calling for international intervention, as domestic remedies have failed, and urging the International Criminal Court to investigate Duterte for possible crimes against humanity.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The Global Council of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines reports systematic human rights violations by the government.
• 🗯️ The government is accused of state-sponsored attacks on activists, environmental advocates, and workers, which have intensified during the pandemic.
• 📊 The rights group has investigated over 50 cases involving a hundred victims since the previous year, finding evidence against military, police, and President Duterte.
• 🏥 The so-called 'war on drugs' launched by Duterte in 2016 has resulted in the deaths of at least 6,000 Filipinos, with rights groups estimating up to 20,000.
• 🛡️ Allegations of extrajudicial killings in the anti-drug campaign and the fight against communist insurgency have been denied by the government.
• 📜 The group calls for independent investigations both domestically and internationally into the reported human rights abuses.
• 🏛️ They are urging the International Criminal Court to continue investigations into Duterte for possible crimes against humanity.
• 🔍 The Philippine government has yet to comment on the latest report but has historically denied such allegations.
• 🏢 The Department of Justice claims to be investigating cases and has taken action against implicated officials and officers.
• 🚫 Critics argue that domestic remedies have failed to address the abuses, prompting calls for international intervention.
• 📍 The report is from Manila, highlighting the ongoing situation in the Philippines.

Q & A

What is the main allegation against the Philippine government according to the global council of the international coalition for human rights?

The main allegation is that there is a systematic, state-sponsored, and sustained pattern of human rights violations being committed against its own people over the past five years.

How has the coronavirus pandemic affected the situation of human rights in the Philippines as per the report?

The pandemic has not slowed down the human rights violations; instead, attacks against activists, environmental advocates, and trade unionists have intensified.

How many cases of human rights violations has the rights group investigated involving victims since last year?

The rights group has investigated over 50 cases involving a hundred victims since last year.

Who does the rights group find overwhelming evidence against for human rights violations?

The rights group finds overwhelming evidence against members of the military, police, and even President Rodrigo Duterte.

What are the three 'wars' mentioned in the report that are actually guises for human rights violations?

The three 'wars' mentioned are a war on poor people under the guise of anti-drug operations, a war on dissent under the guise of a war on communism, and a war on the Moro people under the guise of a war on terror.

Since the launch of President Duterte's war on drugs in 2016, how many Filipinos have been killed according to the report?

At least 6,000 Filipinos have been killed, but rights groups estimate the number to be at least twenty thousand.

What has been the impact of President Duterte's campaign against communist insurgency on activists and labor union leaders?

The campaign has resulted in the death of tens of activists and labor union leaders, described as extrajudicial killings.

What is the government's response to the allegations of extrajudicial killings?

The government has repeatedly denied such allegations and claims to be trying to stop drug trafficking, with the Department of Justice continuing to investigate cases and remove implicated officials and police officers from office.

What actions is the rights group asking the Philippine government to take?

The rights group is asking the Philippine government to allow independent investigators both domestically and internationally to probe the cases.

Why is the rights group also asking the International Criminal Court to pursue investigations on President Duterte?

They are asking the International Criminal Court to pursue investigations for possible crimes against humanity due to the overwhelming evidence of human rights violations.

What has been the response of the Philippine government to the latest report from the rights group?

The Philippine government has yet to comment on the latest report, but it has consistently denied such allegations in the past.

Why are domestic remedies considered to have failed according to the report?

Domestic remedies are considered to have failed because the rights group believes that the government's actions have not effectively addressed the abuses, leading them to call for international intervention.