Philippines’ mainline Protestant churches have renewed their call for the respect of human rights amid what they described as “immense human suffering” caused by militarization, climate disasters, and economic distress.
In a statement for World Humanitarian Day 2025, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) condemned what it called the “proliferation of suffering through the rampant International Humanitarian Law (IHL) violations in the rural areas of the country by the Philippine government.”
Citing data from rights group Karapatan, the council noted that the number of civilians affected by bombings rose from 2,354 in 2022 to 51,206 by June 2025.
The group also reported an alarming trend of “fake armed encounters,” which has affected 129 civilians between July 2022 and June 2025.
“As of writing, there is an active case of bombing of civilian communities in Mindoro. Recently, an indigenous person and farmer, Juan Sumilhig, was extrajudicially killed by the 4th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” the NCCP said, adding that the cases “are put under the guise of ‘counter-insurgency’ to evade accountability.”
The NCCP urged its member churches to respond to the crisis by documenting rights abuses and violations of IHL, supporting humanitarian and investigative missions, and giving platforms for victims to tell their stories in churches.
“The damaging effects of IHL violations to individuals and communities urgently require concrete solidarity through care and services from our churches and faith communities,” it said.
The council also pressed the Philippine government to reverse its 2018 withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“We recognize the ICC’s crucial role for investigating and prosecuting genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity – a role that the national government should also recognize if it is to respect human rights and international humanitarian law,” the statement said.
“This sends a powerful message that no one is above the law, and that the crimes that shock the conscience of humanity must not go unpunished,” it added.
The statement further expressed solidarity with civilians in Gaza, demanding a ceasefire and “concrete and urgent steps saving lives trapped under blankets of massacres, bombardments, and siege.”
“As Christian humanitarians, we follow the call to prioritize humanity at all costs, uphold the international law, and work urgently towards just and lasting peace,” the NCCP said.
