Rights defenders launch MANINDIGAN Network vs violations on human rights, international humanitarian law
KARAPATAN Public Information
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PRESS RELEASE
6 September 2025
Rights defenders launch MANINDIGAN Network vs violations on human rights, international humanitarian law
As Congress begins deliberations on the 2026 budget of the Office of the President—including billions of pesos in confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) and allocations for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC)—rights defenders today launched MANINDIGAN, a national network to resist worsening violations of human rights and international humanitarian law under the Marcos Jr. administration.
San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, the network’s lead convenor, stressed the urgency of collective action: “Communities, especially in rural and Indigenous areas, continue to suffer from bombings, harassment, and militarization. MANINDIGAN is a call to stand up for the people whose lives and dignity are being trampled by state terror funded with people’s money.”
The network denounced the misuse of public funds to bankroll military operations that have resulted in aerial bombardments, forced evacuations, red-tagging, fake surrenders, and harassment of civilians and activists. “Every peso funneled into CIF and NTF-ELCAC is a peso stolen from public funds for health, education, housing and disaster response,” MANINDIGAN declared.
Despite the change in leadership, the Marcos Jr. administration continues to enforce Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 and NTF-ELCAC’s so-called “whole-of-nation approach,” which has intensified red-tagging, terrorist-labeling, and criminalization of dissent. Under this framework, civilians, activists, and critics are branded as “enemies of the state” and subjected to military operations that blur the line between civilian governance and military control.
According to MANINDIGAN, militarization has created martial law-like conditions in the countryside. Communities opposing land grabs, mining, and destructive projects are targeted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) through bombings, artillery strikes, and hamletting. Soldiers have occupied villages, barangay halls, schools, and health centers; coerced residents into signing false surrenders; and committed abuses, including harassment and sexual exploitation of women.
“These operations are funded by the people’s money,” MANINDIGAN said, pointing to billions funneled into fake surrender schemes and repression while social services remain neglected. The alliance added that laws such as the Anti-Terrorism Law further institutionalize red-tagging and silence dissent, shrinking democratic space and spreading fear across society.
The launch drew broad support from faith-based leaders, human rights defenders, academia, lawyers, writers and artists, environmental advocates, peasants, and representatives from Indigenous and Moro communities. Their participation signaled unity across sectors against repression.
Together with Bishop Alminaza are the following convenors of MANINDIGAN: United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Middle Luzon Jurisdictional Area Bishop Francisco "Nonie" Aviso, Jr., UCCP Bishop Dan Palicte, United Methodist Church (UMC) Davao Episcopal Area Bishop Israel "Ace" Painit, UMC Rev. Glofie Baluntong, Vannessa Jane Dabay of UMC AWomen, Blessy Grace De Leon of the Association of Women in Theology, UP Diliman Political Science Assistant Prof. Danilo Reyes, UP Manila Political Science Prof. Doroteo Abaya, multi-awarded writer Jun Cruz-Reyes, editor and writer Kris Lanot-Lacaba, Karapatan deputy secretary general Atty. Maria Sol Taule, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chairperson Danilo Ramos, rural development worker and environmental activist Germaine Jalandoni de Runa, food activist Mabi David of Good Food Community, artist Kevin Raymundo aka Tarantadong Kalbo of SAKA, political prisoner and UP Diliman USC councilor Amanda Echanis, Katribu spokesperson Beverly Longid, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers president Atty. Ephraim Cortez, Adamson University College of Law Dean Atty. Ana Maria Abad, UP Diliman College of Science Dean Dr. Giovanni Tapang, UP Diliman College of Science Student Council chairperson Sergio Manuel Biglaen, UP Diliman College of Engineerings Student Council chairperson Angel Lopez, and environmental activist Jonila Castro of Kalikasan.
“We cannot allow impunity to continue, even as Marcos Jr. whitewashes the human rights situation in the country. We stand with rural, Indigenous, and marginalized communities whose voices are drowned out by those in power,” MANINDIGAN emphasized.
The alliance vowed sustained campaigns and nationwide protests to oppose state terror, challenge the misuse of public funds, and demand accountability from those in power.
Reference: KARAPATAN Public Information Desk, 09189790580
publi...@karapatan.org
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KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.