Religious leaders, church people, human rights groups, and others established the Manindigan Network, a formation that will oppose violations of human rights and international humanitarian law (IHL) under the Marcos regime. They gathered on September 6 at the Shalom Center in Manila.
Incoming Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice, and Peace chairperson and San Carlos Bishop Most Rev. Gerardo Alminaza will lead the network. Joining him as convenor of the network are other church leaders, academics and professors, lawyers, political prisoners, student councils, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.
“Communities, especially in rural and Indigenous areas, continue to suffer from bombings, harassment, and militarization,” the bishop said. He added that the network will stand up for the people whose lives and dignity are being trampled by state terror bankrolled with the people’s money.
Ang Bayan recorded no fewer than 3,321 cases of human rights violations under the Marcos regime. More than 680,000 individuals have been victimized, of which 256 were killed.
AB also recorded AFP forces having arrested then willfully killed at least 78 members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines from July 2022 to July 2025. These acts constitute blatant violations of IHL and the rules of war.
According to the Manindigan Network, nothing has changed and the Marcos regime’s enforcement of the fascist policies and repression has become even more severe compared to the previous Duterte regime. The regime continued the National Task Force-Elcac, created through EO70, and has now reinforced it through the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development (NAP-UPD). Marcos also continues to weaponize the Anti-Terrorism Law against progressives and ordinary citizens.
“We cannot allow impunity to continue, even as Marcos Jr whitewashes the human rights situation in the country,” the network declared. The group expressed its support and stand with indigenous communities, rural farmers, and other oppressed sectors of society that the state seeks to silence.
