Marcos admin failed to curb killings – group

As the country marked International Human Rights Day yesterday, rights groups said the pattern of abuse extends well beyond the Duterte administration and continues under President Marcos.

- By DELON PORCALLA

Members of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights and other groups march from España Boulevard to Mendiola in Manila during an anti-corruption protest marking International Human Rights Day yesterday.

(EDD GUMBAN)

Watchdog Karapatan accused the current administration of failing to curb extrajudicial killings and attacks on activists.

Since Marcos took office in July 2022, the network said 134 people have been killed and 15 forcibly disappeared, with state forces allegedly involved in many of the cases.

“International humanitarian law, which is supposed to protect civilians during armed conflict, has been consistently violated by the Marcos Jr. regime as the vast majority of EJK victims are leaders or members of peasant organizations who are falsely portrayed by the military as rebels killed in armed encounters,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.