Philippines Killing’s: May 9 Elections must be a “historical” moment for human rights
The coming weeks elections in Philippines should be a new dawn for human rights in the Philippines, Amnesty International said today, as it released an eight-point agenda urging all Presidential candidates to ensure that the protection of human rights is a core part of their plans.
Since he assumed office in June 30 2016, human rights have been deteriorated drastically and were repeatedly attacked by President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, the May 9 elections should see a historic course.
“The coming elections are set to be some of the most paramount in recent history, and we hope they will help pave the way for a radically different approach to human rights,” said Erwin van der Borght, Interim Regional Director for Amnesty International.
“Over the years, thousands extremely poor citizens, have been assassinated by the police and other armed groups as part of the government’s so-called ‘’war on drugs”. Above all, justice and accountability are yet to be witnessed. The subsequent government must reinstate respect for human rights, including the right to life and due process, by abandoning with immediate effect this murderous policy and rather adopting an approach to drugs that puts health and human rights at the center.”
President Rodrigo Duterte’s increase human rights violations and devastating impunity across the country under his administration is disgusting.
“Political activists, human rights defenders, Indigenous Peoples, attorneys and others critical of the authorities have been threatened, attacked, arbitrarily detained and killed either because they were accused of aligning with the communist movement or because of their work to expose and condemn human rights violations.”
“In addition to ending these appalling attacks, the new administration must speak to the years of impunity, hold perpetrators of great violations to account in fair trials and ensure long-awaited justice and reparations for thousands of victims. Human rights violations must not be abused for political expediency.”
Post Covid-19
“The recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic offers an opportunity to improve long-standing concerns, including improving the public health system, the protection of workers, and quality of education for everyone in the Philippines,” said van der Borght.
“The next six years will also be crucial in ensuring that adequate measures are taken to protect human rights in the context of disaster response, to address the climate emergency, and to restore media freedom and protect freedom of expression.”
Amnesty International calls on all candidates standing for election to pledge to uphold the recommendations outlined in the agenda and address human rights explicitly in their campaigns.
Presidential Election:
The Philippines will hold its national elections on nineth May 2022, with an estimated 67 million Filipinos expected to vote for the country’s next president and vice president, as well as other national and local government leaders.
List of Presidential Hopeful’s
The list of presidential candidacy includes former presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella; labour leader Leody de Guzman; Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso; former defence chief Norberto Gonzales; Senator Ping Lacson; businessman Faisal Mangondato; former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr, son of the former President who presided over 10 years of martial law; doctor and attorney Jose Montemayor Jr; Senator Manny Pacquiao; and Vice President Leni Robredo.
Publishes By Amnesty International
Amnesty International traditionally publishes a human rights agenda for the Philippines’ next President for areas which the organization considers should be top of their new administration’s priorities should they be elected. Amnesty International previously published and shared legislative agendas on human rights to the 17th and 18th Congress under former President Benigno Aquino III and President Duterte.
In February 2022, Amnesty International Philippines launched a national campaign ‘Sagot mo ba ako?’ (Do you have my back?) to candidates running for the top positions to address pressing human rights issues in the country.
