The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) has launched the Philippine Election 2022—International Observer Mission (IOM) to conduct an independent monitoring of the forthcoming elections.
Monitoring activities will cover the start of the campaign in February to the May 9 vote, vote counting and confirmation of elected candidates in June 2022.
The ICHRP said historically, Philippine elections have been characterized by inter-elite rivalry, warlordism, assassination, vote-buying corruption, intimidation and other forms of violence (Guns, Goons and Gold). It added that the current elections are occurring under a government whose members are under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) that was documented by INVESTIGATE PH 2021 to be not only perpetrating human-rights violations but to be actively suppressing dissent and the opposition.
“These concerns compel the international community to cast an inquiring eye on the Philippine elections to monitor the campaign, the vote and the outcome,” the ICHRP said in a news statement.
ICHRP has initiated the IOM in partnership with Kontra Daya, a Philippine based election watchdog.
ICHRP is a global network of organizations, concerned on human rights in the Philippines and committed to campaign for just and lasting peace in the country.
Previous elections have witnessed high levels of violence against candidates, voters and even journalists. On the 23rd of November 2009, 32 journalists along with 26 other civilians were killed in an election-related massacre in Maguindanao, Mindanao, perpetrated by an incumbent candidate of the ruling party.
It was the deadliest incident in the history of the mass media, but it is not an isolated incident. In the most recent elections in May 2019, at least 33 people were killed and 19 others wounded in several poll-related incidents leading up to voting day. The victims included 18 incumbents, four candidates, three former elected officials including a member of Congress and eight civilians including a broadcaster.
According to IOM Commissioner Rev. Michael Yoshii, “the election context itself is deeply troubling. As noted last year in the reports of INVESTIGATE PH findings, state policies including the Anti-Terrorism Act have emboldened the police and military to attack activists, peasant leaders, and Indigenous Peoples. This suggests that those charged with protecting the polls are potential perpetrators of election violence.”
The INVESTIGATE PH report provides testimony about how the Philippine National Police (PNP) and The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have been activated to conduct a war on dissenters morphing from killings in “anti-drug operations” to killings of oppositionists and political opponents of the government. These reports highlight the heightened danger of the electoral process under the Duterte presidency.
IOM Commissioner Ms. Sharan Burrow of the International Trade Union Confederation said, “It is expected that the government will favor candidates who will assist Duterte in escaping culpability for the alleged crimes against humanity his government has committed in its six-year reign of terror.” 30
Image credits: AP/Bullit Marquez