(ChurchLeaders) Amid continued violence in the Philippines, international church groups and human rights organizations are demanding an independent, impartial investigation into atrocities that have characterized President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. Extrajudicial killings—those committed by government officials or vigilantes without court sanction—have reportedly increased by 50 percent during pandemic-related shutdowns.
In a document titled “Unity Statement for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights in the Philippines,” the groups affirm support for Filipinos who are enduring a “deteriorating situation of civil liberties and human rights.”