The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines and local election watchdog Kontra Daya announced on 6 February the launching of an International Observer Mission to monitor the forthcoming Philippine national and local elections which will take place on 9 May 2022. The IOM aims to provide independent monitoring from the start of the campaign period on 8 February until the confirmation of elected candidates in June 2022.

The ICHRP is a global network of human rights defenders and legal experts concerned with the rights situation in the Philippines. It had initiated international tribunals in the past several years to investigate systematic violations of human rights in the Philippines and provided submissions to the International Criminal Court for further investigation and prosecution. Philippine organization Kontra Daya (Against Fraud) is a nationwide network of social scientists, teachers, IT experts, religious officials and activists. It has a track-record of documenting and exposing election fraud and election-related violations of human rights in the past several elections.

Peter Murphy, ICHRP Chairperson, recalled that Philippine elections have historically been marred by inter-elite rivalry, warlordism, vote-buying corruption, intimidation and various forms of violence against candidates, voters and even journalists. In the 2019 congressional elections, at least 33 people were killed and 19 others wounded in poll-related incidents. Murphy added that the current elections are taking place under the Duterte government which is being investigated by the International Criminal Court for its tens of thousands of killings in the so-called ‘drug war’.

The ICHRP reiterated that policies of the Duterte government, including the Anti-Terrorism Act, embolden the police and military to attack activists, peasant leaders and indigenous peoples. These incidents, they said, highlight the dangers of the electoral process under the Duterte government that seeks to escape culpability for the crimes against humanity it is being charged.

Danilo Arao, Kontra Daya convenor, said, “The 2022 elections are important in defending whatever remains of our democracy.” He said the initiative for international observers is much appreciated, because it helps bring worldwide attention to the country as it battles state-sponsored repression.

Murphy and Arao agreed that the IOM could offer a “protective presence,” during the forthcoming elections.