The struggle for justice and accountability continues as human rights violations persist under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.
Since he assumed office on June 30, 2022 until November this year, human rights watchdog Karapatan has recorded 119 extrajudicial killings (EJKs), 201 illegal or arbitrary arrests, 14 enforced disappearances, and 560 documented forced or fake surrenders.
These numbers signify the grim continuation of abuses under former President Rodrigo Duterte’s regime which has claimed the lives of over 12,000 Filipinos, according to Human Rights Watch.
Among the victims of human rights violations committed by the two regimes are Kian delos Santos, Frenchie Mae Cumpio, and Cris Bundoquin.
Kian delos Santos
On the night of Aug. 16, 2017, 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos became a tragic symbol of the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs.
The Philippine National Police was conducting its Oplan Galugad operation in Caloocan City when Kian was killed, falsely accused of being a “drug courier” who resisted arrest.
However, a witness said Kian was dragged to a basketball court where he pleaded to the officers, “Tama na po, may exam pa ako bukas!” followed by a series of gunshots. Two days after the incident, CCTV footage showed Kian being dragged away by cops. This evidence ran contrary to police officers’ claims, who said Kian drew fire at them.
The three Caloocan police officers involved in Kian’s killing were found guilty of murder a year later—a rare occurrence amid thousands of killings related to the anti-narcotics campaign. As of September 2023, only 52 police officers have been charged, while other cases remain unresolved and uninvestigated.
Despite prior statements taking “full responsibility” for EJKs during his drug war, Duterte refused accountability for Kian’s murder during a Senate blue ribbon subcommittee investigation on drug war on Oct. 28.
Related: Rights network demands Duterte’s prosecution, PH’s cooperation in ICC probe
Frenchie Mae Cumpio
On Feb. 7, 2020, Tacloban-based community broadcaster and human rights advocate Frenchie Mae Cumpio was detained due to trumped-up charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
State forces stormed Eastern Vista’s staff house in Tacloban without a warrant of arrest and took Frenchie alongside co-accused Mariel Domequil, Marissa Cabaljao, Mira Legion, and Alexander Philip Abinguna into custody. They were collectively called the “Tacloban 5.”
Frenchie worked under alternative media outlet Eastern Vista wherein she would cover cases of alleged abuses and human rights violations by state security forces across the province. Her advocacy work led to her being red-tagged by state agents.
The now 25-year-old was also charged with terrorism financing while still detained in 2021.
On Nov. 11, she took the witness stand in the Regional Trial Court for the first time since their arrest where she denied involvement with the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army.
Related: A decade and a half later: Impunity for Filipino journalists persists
Cris Bundoquin
Meanwhile, Cris Bundoquin, a radio broadcaster and commentator based in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, was shot at least five times by two motorcycle-riding gunmen while opening his store on May 31, 2023.
The 50-year-old victim was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Bundoquin was known in Occidental Mindoro for hosting the radio program Ayos Mandin of DWXR 101.7 Kalahi FM. Through this show, he denounced corruption by local politicians.
Before his killing, he had reportedly received death threats linked to his coverage of illegal activities in the province.
One of the two suspects died immediately after they killed Bundoquin after his son rammed their motorcycle with a vehicle. While the other gunman, Isabelo Bautista, was arrested on July 11th of the same year.
Bundoquin is the third journalist to be killed under the Marcos Jr. administration and is the 198th journalist killed in the country since 1986, according to data from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.
With the Marcos Jr. administration preparing to adopt a National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) this month, rights advocates urge Filipinos to criticize the administration’s “hypocrisy” in implementing such action plan, while not being held accountable for his crimes and continuing anti-human rights operations, including National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.