Statement of Pagtatanim Organizing
Committee
April 7,
2025
The Pagtatanim Conference Organizing
Committee welcomes the arrest of former President Duterte by
the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his crimes
against humanity. Duterte’s arrest is a crucial first step
toward accountability for the countless victims—especially
the bereaved families of those murdered—who have
courageously spoken out about their experiences despite
grave risks.
We honor the tireless efforts of
Philippine faith leaders, community leaders, and human
rights lawyers—particularly those from Rise Up for Life
and Rights! and the National Union for People’s
Lawyers—who have worked alongside the victims’ families
for years. These organizations have played an instrumental
role in documenting testimonies, providing spiritual and
material support, and guiding survivors through the arduous
legal process. Their courage and resilience serve as an
inspiration to all who seek truth and justice.
We
recognize, also, that the struggle for justice is far from
over. Families of victims, as well as the legal
professionals and human rights defenders representing them,
continue to face threats and persecution from Duterte’s
supporters, and we are equally concerned with the continued
human rights atrocities under the Marcos Jr.
administration.
It is for this reason that our
commitment must not waver. We call upon faith communities
worldwide to persist in solidarity with the victims and
their families until comprehensive justice is achieved—not
only against Duterte but also against those who executed his
directives, including former Philippine National Police
Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and former Presidential
Spokesperson Harry Roque.
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Throughout Duterte’s
administration, international faith leaders have visited the
Philippines—both in person and virtually—to listen
firsthand to the harrowing testimonies of those affected by
extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. We have
stood in solidarity with mothers from urban poor communities
who lost their children in Duterte’s so-called “war on
drugs,” which was, in reality, a war on the poor. We have
wept alongside rural community organizers targeted for
supporting farmers and peasants. We have mourned the
assassinations of indigenous leaders defending their
ancestral lands from corporate encroachment and witnessed
the brutal killings of Catholic priests who ministered to
the most vulnerable. These stories are not just statistics;
they are real human lives irreparably altered by
state-sanctioned violence.
Disturbingly, these
atrocities have not ceased under the current administration
of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The same marginalized
communities continue to bear the brunt of systemic
oppression. The extrajudicial killings in the name of the
“war on drugs” persist, farmers remain under attack for
merely seeking the right to cultivate their land, indigenous
communities continue to face displacement and persecution,
and thousands of displaced Moro residents from Marawi remain
unable to return to their homes and rebuild their lives.
Activists and human rights defenders continue to be
harassed, abducted, and forcibly disappeared with
impunity.
As the ICC proceedings against Duterte
unfold in Europe and the human rights situation in the
Philippines deteriorates, the need for a unified faith-based
response has never been more critical. In response to this
ongoing crisis, we extend an urgent invitation to faith
communities worldwide to join us in Rome for the Pagtatanim
Conference, June 27-28, where we will shine a
light on the struggles and aspirations of the Filipino
people in addressing the root causes of the armed conflict
leading to a just and lasting peace.
We call upon
religious leaders, congregations, and advocacy groups to
stand together in prayer, action, and solidarity. Let us
reaffirm our collective commitment to upholding human
dignity, defending the oppressed, addressing human rights
violations, and striving for a just and lasting peace in the
Philippines. Now is the time to strengthen our resolve,
amplify the voices of the victims, and work tirelessly
toward a future where justice prevails over
impunity.
