2022 Philippine Elections

The past six years under Rodrigo Duterte has caused so much suffering and misery to the Filipino people. Human rights, democracy and sovereignty have been constantly attacked and drastically eroded.

This coming May 2022 Philippine General Elections, the heirs of two political dynasties, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte are running for the president and vice president. They are backed by some of the most corrupt politicians, political clans and parties in the Philippines.

While we recognize the limitations of Philippine elections as a means for change, we understand that the upcoming elections will be a key arena of struggle. This is an opportunity to bring an end to the tyrannical rule of Duterte, prevent the return of the Marcoses to power, and advance human rights, democracy and sovereignty in the Philippines.

In pursuance of our mission and based on this agenda, we, the Malaya Movement, and our allies declare our support for the candidacy VP Leni Robredo and Sen. Francis Kiko Pangilinan for president and vice-president of the Philippine Republic. These candidates have the most alignment with our mission and as outlined in the Justice and Accountability Agenda.

Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan are the diametrical opposite of the Marcos-Duterte tandem. Vice President Leni Robredo, a human rights lawyer, has consistently opposed and denounced human rights violations committed by the Duterte regime. Robredo denounced the massacre of activists in Southern Tagalog and called for an independent probe of the case. Robredo pledged to hold accountable high officials and others who are involved in the violation of human rights and corruption, allow the investigation of the International Criminal Court and the prosecution of Duterte, et al. on the EJKs and crimes against humanity. Robredo also pledged to pass a law that will give indemnification for the victims of human rights violations and tyranny of the Duterte regime. Robredo also vows to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and to pursue the resumption of the peace talks.

Kiko Pangilinan, a former student leader and activist, is one of the only two senators who voted no against the Anti-Terror Act of 2020. Pangilinan has called for the release of political prisoners like Reina Mae Nasino and he has also pushed for the Anti-Political Dynasty Act. As it stands, Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan are in the best position to defeat the Marcos and Duterte tandem.

We demand that the Marcoses be brought to justice for their direct role in the dictatorship and its crimes against the Filipino people.

We demand that the Marcoses be banned from holding any public office.

We demand decisive efforts in pursuing the return of all ill gotten wealth of the Marcoses.

We demand the exhumation of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ body from the Heroes’ cemetery. Marcos is not a hero.

We also demand a thorough review of the educational curriculum in the Philippines to include the atrocities of the Marcos dictatorship to combat historical revisionism.

We demand the immediate resumption of the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. This must be based on and in recognition of previous agreements such as the Joint Hague Declaration, Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CAHRIHL) and pursue its completion.

We demand that the roots of the armed conflict be resolved through a Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER).

We demand an end to the government’s counter-insurgency programs.

We call for the immediate release of all political prisoners and and those subjected to the Anti-Terror Law.

We call for the immediate abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and the repeal of the Anti-Terror Law.

We demand the immediate investigation and termination of all projects created by the Duterte regime that have demonstrated irregularities in spending, such as Pharmally, Starpay, the sale of Malampaya and others. Duterte and his cronies must be prosecuted and be held accountable for their graft and corruption.

We demand the abolition of the pork barrel system and other “pork” funds as a major source of corruption.

We demand the end to the system of political dynasties and call for the adoption of House Bill 110, the Anti-Political Dynasty law, that was introduced in 2019.

We call for the demilitarization of the COVID-19 pandemic response, and demand a pro-people, science-based pandemic response that centers national free mass-testing and vaccinations for all, free and accessible healthcare, and community education.

We demand economic relief be provided to the poor, and all Filipinos have access to housing, clean water, and public information on COVID-19.

We demand the protection of all healthcare workers, including adequate access to PPE, hazard pay, etc.

We call on the new government to defend all Filipino workers at home and abroad. We demand strong labor laws that will protect and ensure the rights of Filipino workers to a living wage, to job security and the right to organize and create a union.

We demand the end of labor contractualization and other laws that legitimizes labor contractualization.

We demand full protection for overseas Filipino workers and overseas Filipinos. End the government’s Labor Export Policy by developing jobs at home.

We demand genuine agrarian reform that will redistribute land to the landless and end the monopoly control of transnational corporations and agribusiness.

We demand the full protection of women and the LGBTQIA+ community from discrimination and gender based violence. We demand the passage of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression Equality Bill (SOGIE), increased access to gender affirming healthcare, reproductive health, and equal rights to education, employment, and expression without fear of reprisal or discrimination.

Uphold the economic, political, cultural, and social rights of the indigenous people, especially their rights to their ancestral lands. Reopen Lumad schools that were closed down.

Uphold the people’s rights to freedom of speech, assembly, to organize and free press.

We demand an end to all forms of political repression, including red-tagging, arbitrary arrest and filing of trumped up charges, enforced disappearance, and others.

We demand the rights of journalists, writers, photographers and all media workers be upheld, especially those who face harassment and persecution.

We call on our leaders to combat the spread of disinformation and weaponization of social media.

We demand the reinstatement of the ABS-CBN franchise, an end to the attacks against Rappler, and other alternative media outlets such as Altermidya, Pinoy Weekly, Kodao, and others.

We call on our new leaders to defend the West Philippine Sea and review all unequal agreements with other countries, such as the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the US and the Philippines that have detrimental effects on our people’s interest.

Uphold the landmark 2016 ruling by The Hague, which nullified China’s legal and historic claim to the West Philippine Sea and upheld the 2012 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) ruling affirming the Philippines’ sovereign rights to the West Philippine Sea, including the islands, marine life, and natural resources.

Repeal the amendment to the Public Services Act that allows for 100% foreign ownership of public utilities and telecommunications.

Repeal the Mining Act of 1995.

We call on our leaders to create and promote a new Philippine studies curriculum which highlights the rich history of Philippine people especially in response to tyranny.

We call for the implementation of a curriculum that encourages critical thinking and inquiry which will allow for generations of Filipinos to analyze their current and past conditions so as to better the Philippines.

We demand the new curriculum promote equity, genuine democracy, and justice for all peoples so as to ensure the advancement of human rights and civic participation.

We demand an end to the government campaign of banning books that talk about the peace talks between the GRP-NDFP.