Shrinking space and human rights in the Philippines after #1yearpandemic
Apr 09 2021
6 minutes
'Human rights, universal rights.' This should be a certainty. But unfortunately. We see that more and more regimes and leaders are all too happy to push aside human rights to justify their policies. This is also the case in the Philippines, an archipelago of over 7000 islands that is currently groaning under the authoritarian regime of President Duterte. In these difficult circumstances, human rights organizations continue their work, including 11-partner PAHRA, the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates. Their job became even more difficult when the government introduced a strict lockdown in mid-March 2020: no more meetings, no direct contact with victims, mobilizations were impossible. Nevertheless, Niza and Egay remain optimistic: "We continue to do everything we can to stand up for human rights".
Niza is a press officer at PAHRA and Egay is a campaign officer at TFDP, a member organization of PAHRA. Together with them, we look back on an eventful year. In this article, we give them the floor about human rights and shrinking space in the Philippines after #1yearpandemic
€1750 for a human life
In the Philippines, a human life is cheap, for 100.000 pesos (€1750) you can order a hitman. He hires someone with a moped, together they look for the victim and wait for the right moment to shoot the person in question at close range. Then they quickly make off. In recent years, perpetrators have rarely been caught: such is the impunity and the targeted killings continue.
PAHRA documents the murders and other human rights violations that are reported. In normal times, we do a thorough investigation, to support the family in their search for justice. We also hand these files over to the Commission on Human Rights, the CHR. Despite many threats from Duterte, the CHR can continue to do its work. In this way, Duterte keeps up the appearance that he tolerates human rights, but it is clear that the CHR reports do not get the follow-up they deserve.
In the Philippines, human life is cheap, for 100.000 pesos (€1750) you can order a hitman
Defending human rights in times of corona
Unfortunately, this kind of investigative work has become more difficult due to Covid. As long as a file is not verified by an authorized person, we give it the status of 'follow-up' instead of 'completed' and we cannot officially hand it over to the CHR. But in exceptional times like these, you have to adapt. Nevertheless, we have been able to report quite a few violations, such as the arrest of people who had violated the strict lockdown rules, violence against human rights defenders and, strikingly, violence against women, especially in a domestic context.
In normal times, we would make appointments with members of parliament, competent government institutions and security services to address these violations. In this way, we draw attention to prevention and demand 'appropriate' action from the police and military. But now we have to stand in the digital queue to get an online appointment. This makes our work much more difficult, because in such digital meetings it is much easier to ignore tricky questions or to 'mute' your microphone.
If we were not heard, we went out into the streets, we called for mobilization at parliament or other strategic locations, but that is no longer allowed. That does not mean that we did not demonstrate a few times, for example against the new anti-terror law which has given the security services an incredible amount of power and space. This pandemic suits our government quite well. Because new measures suddenly give the government even more power to nip criticism and resistance in the bud.
This pandemic suits our government quite well. Because new measures suddenly give the government even more power to nip criticism and resistance in the bud
The opposition to the anti-terror law has led to many complaints to the Supreme Court and the question of whether this far-reaching law is constitutional. The hearings have begun, but we do not have much hope. During his term, President Duterte was able to appoint no less than 12 of the 14 judges, and it is clear that the president is doing everything he can to New People's Army, - about the oldest active leftist rebel group in Asia. He goes very far in this. Many leftist activists and organizations are targeted and blacklisted. In practice, this means a free pass for security services to criminalize, threaten or even eliminate these people in public. Since 2016, we have documented 69 murders of human rights activists, and there may be dozens more. Tens of thousands of other people have been killed on suspicion of links to drug trafficking or drug use.
Since 2016, we have documented 69 killings of human rights defenders, and there may be dozens more. Tens of thousands of other people have been killed on suspicion of drug trafficking or drug use.
NGOs in precarious position
On one point we have made very tangible and concrete progress. In 2019, SEC, the oversight committee that reviews the financial reports of NGOs, came up with a very extensive questionnaire for Philippine NGOs, supposedly to combat money laundering. But for the NGOs, this laundry list looked more like an extensive screening of the programs of the partners, and all the individuals and organizations they work with. After the protest, a number of meetings were held where we could express our objections, which eventually led to a drastic reduction of the questionnaire. But the good news was already spoiled by a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the embassies warning that a new procedure for foreign aid to Philippine NGOs is coming.
The position of President Duterte
In short, an atmosphere of fear and terror is being sown, which is now being reinforced by the lockdown. Everyone is looking forward to the end of this nightmare. In May 2022 are there again presidential election, and Duterte cannot run for the next term. A number of Duterte's supporters have already suggested that he could run as vice-president. That seems possible in theory, but after the increasing criticism of his policies, also in parliament where he nevertheless has a large majority, it remains to be seen how this story will develop further.
We feel encouraged by the clear language of the UN Human Rights Council. The council and numerous rapporteurs have been critical of Duterte and fully support the bill to protect activists, which Pahra has developed together with other organizations. A number of senators have put the bill back on the agenda, so there may be another discussion in the coming months. We will continue to use all possible means to exert pressure to enforce greater respect for human rights. In recent years, we have had to endure 2 pandemics, the terror of President Duterte and the lockdowns due to COVID-19. In the meantime, a vaccine has been developed, and vaccinations have cautiously started. And there is also a known medicine against terror: electing better politicians.
