ICC rejects Manila government request to stop investigations

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan rejected on 22 September the request of the government of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, to stop the resumption of the court’s investigation on crimes against humanity allegedly perpetrated by the past Rodrigo Duterte regime. In a 21-page statement, Khan rejected as “having no merit” the arguments of the Marcos II regime that cite lack of jurisdiction, admissibility and complimentarity.

Read more: ICC rejects Manila government request to stop investigations

Protests mark 50th Martial Law Anniversary

Thousands of people joined protest actions in various parts of the Philippines and around the world on 21 September, marking the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in 1972 by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.. Protesters in Australia, Thailand, Hongkong, the Netherlands, USA and in the Philippines, decried the Marcoses’ return to power, condemning the historical revisionism and whitewashing of the atrocities committed during the dictatorship.

Read more: Protests mark 50th Martial Law Anniversary

Manila court dismisses terrorist tag against CPP, NPA

Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar dismissed on 21 September the petition of the Department of Justice to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army as terrorist groups. The court stated that the Manila government failed to establish any basis for their petition, classifying the struggle being waged by the CPP and NPA as “rebellion” and not terrorism.

Read more: Manila court dismisses terrorist tag against CPP, NPA

NPA launches 4 consecutive armed offensives in Sorsogon, Negros and Agusan

The New People’s Army launched four consecutive armed offensives against security forces of the Manila government in the provinces of Sorsogon and Agusan del Sur, and in Negros Island in the period between 5 to 14 September.

Read more: NPA launches 4 consecutive armed offensives in Sorsogon, Negros and Agusan

Sen. Legarda urges Marcos II government to resume peace talks

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda urged the government of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to resume the stalled peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. In a speech delivered during the Philippine Senate’s plenary session on 30 August, she said, “I am in favor of peace talks that are built upon a genuine desire to come to an agreement, which are within our democratic framework and in accordance with all our laws.”

Read more: Sen. Legarda urges Marcos II government to resume peace talks

CPP publishes anthology of articles on Martial Law

The Communist Party of the Philippines’ official publication Ang Bayan released on 1 September a 400-page anthology of its key editorials and news articles, “Resistance to Martial Law in the pages of Ang Bayan”, to mark the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. on 21 September 1972.

Read more: CPP publishes anthology of articles on Martial Law

NPA checkpoint, armed offensives strike Marcos troopers

The New People’s Army launched a series of armed offensives in various parts of the country against the mercenary troops of the Marcos II regime in the second half of August. These resulted in the death of at least seven elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police, and the wounding of several others. The successful NPA offensives belie claims by the Manila government of these regions as ‘insurgency-free’.

Read more: NPA checkpoint, armed offensives strike Marcos troopers