Police round up suspected drug users on Palanca Street, Manila. The so-called drug war of the Duterte administration was most notorious for the killings, but many cases reaching the courts during this period ended in acquittals. - PDI
MANILA: Despite the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2025 over his alleged role in the drug war killings, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said domestic accountability remains “inadequate,” with only nine cops convicted for their involvement in the campaign.
In a report released Wednesday (Feb 4), HRW criticised President Ferdinand Marcos Jr for taking “little action” to address human rights violations last year, noting that government security forces implicated in abuses were rarely held accountable.
“President Marcos should move beyond rhetoric and take concrete measures to improve human rights in the Philippines,” HRW Deputy Asia Director Bryony Lau said.
“Killings and other abuses by security forces will persist unless the government thoroughly investigates and prosecutes those responsible, regardless of their rank or position,” he added.
HRW recalled that Duterte was arrested in March 2025 over his alleged involvement in thousands of extrajudicial killings during his presidency and as Davao City mayor, calling it a “historic step toward justice.”
However, while Duterte remains in ICC custody, HRW noted that only five drug war cases involving nine policemen have resulted in convictions in the Philippines.
The group also said drug-related killings by police officers or unidentified assailants have continued under the Marcos administration.
As of Jan 23, monitoring by the Dahas project of the University of the Philippines showed over 1,100 reported drug-related killings during Marcos’ term, 271 of which occurred in 2025 alone.
Targeted killings by “death squads” or hired assassins, often carried out on motorcycles “riding in tandem,” have also persisted. HRW cited the case of transgender rights activist Ali Macalintal, who was gunned down in June last year by a hooded gunman in General Santos City.
The group noted that the country remains dangerous for media workers, citing the killings of three journalists last year: Juan Dayang on April 29, Erwin Labitad Segovia on July 21, and Noel Bellen Samar on Oct 20.
“Red-tagging,” or labelling individuals as supporters of the communist insurgency, also persisted despite a Supreme Court ruling that the practice threatens the right to life, liberty, and security, creating a “chilling effect” on freedom of expression and association.
HRW recalled that the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division accused members of the indigenous rights group Cordillera People’s Alliance of being part of the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, in a video released in February last year.
Meanwhile, calls to disband the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict were rejected by the government, with the Department of Interior and Local Government even proposing a 314-per cent budget increase for the agency in 2026.
Activists, as well as land rights and environmental defenders, continue to face the risk of enforced disappearances.
HRW cited the case of indigenous leader Genasque Enriquez, whose whereabouts remain unknown after he was reportedly arrested in Surigao del Sur in March 2025.
The group also highlighted abuses under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which granted authorities “broad powers” to designate groups or individuals as “terrorists” and recommend freezing bank accounts linked to alleged money laundering or terrorism financing.
With the Philippines serving as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) this year, HRW urged President Marcos to promote human rights in the region and address violations occurring in the country. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
