On international human rights day, the Council for Peopleโs Development and Governance stands firm in its unwavering commitment to assert the economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR) of every Filipino.
While the Marcos-Duterte clans quarrel for powers, attacks on human rights defenders, development workers, non-government organizations and communities continueโviolating their ESCR, their right to life, freedom of association and participation in governance – as the government pursues its counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism programs. We stand on our call for accountability against the violations of humanitarian laws by the previous Duterte administration that are then being continued by the Marcos Jr. administration through the use of weaponized laws such as the Anti-Terror Act and Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act.
Poverty persists as more and more Filipinos struggle to cope with inflation, stagnant wages and unemployment, leaving families behind in the administrationโs pursuit of โBagong Pilipinasโ. But absent people-centered policies, it fails to address the reality of living conditions in the country and continue to boast its capability to be exploited, undermining the needs of the people and prioritizing the desire to do business as usual.
We stand in solidarity with human rights defenders, development workers and civil society organizations in asserting human rights and reclaiming civic spaces. We call for a stronger action against corrupt government officials that are continuously violating the Filipino peopleโs right to development. We encourage civil society organizations, human rights defenders and non-government organizations to unite and assert their rights.
The impunity and the quarreling against the interests of the Filipino people must stop NOW.