ICHRP-US is gravely concerned about projections of a Marcos-Duterte victory despite signs that point to systemic fraud and cheating. The International Observers Mission have noted troubling incidents that undermine the Filipino peoples’ right to democracy, self determination, and genuine peace through heavy militarization around voting stations, massive red-tagging of government critics, including members of the international community, political arrests, and civilian electoral boards being replaced by police. Additional anomalies call into question the integrity of the election including the failure of 1800 vote counting machines and reports of widespread vote buying. 

ICHRP-US shares the concerns of the Filipino people that a Marcos-Duerte tandem will only continue and worsen crimes against humanity already committed under Duterte and shield Duterte from being held accountable for those crimes. We urge the US people to join ongoing vigils for hope and democracy and other actions rejecting a Marcos-Duterte victory built on disinformation and cheating. To support and ensure the Filipino people can freely exercise their right to determine their future, we must turn our eyes onto the Philippines and let corrupt leaders know the world is watching. The militarization and violence around the election and the initial results, which all but guarantee impunity for the Marcos and Duterte regimes, further substantiate the justness of the Philippine human rights Act and the call for accountability for the Philippine Dirty Dozen, including Duterte himself. We must amplify the call for the PHRA and accountability for the Dirty Dozen to a much higher level than we have yet achieved; we cannot allow for the United States to once again back a Marcos or Duterte dictatorship. 

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