On March 14, 2025, Quezon City, Philippines was teeming with cries for justice for the casualties of the drug war. The numerous victims of the brutal campaign originally initiated by ex-president Rodrigo Duterte heralded his apprehension on human rights violation charges as a pivotal leap towards justice. Despite this move by the International Criminal Court signifying an admonishment to state-sponsored terror culprits, several key players in this heart-wrenching saga remain untouched. This string of masterminds includes not only Donald Trump but also Joe Biden, along with the current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who continued and expanded upon Duterte’s violent campaign.
While the international community demonstrates reluctance to pursue those implicated in these terrifying atrocities, specters of past tribunals linger on. In the years 2018 and 2024, Brussels bore witness to two international people’s tribunals that brought together the bereaved families of victims from Duterte’s as well as Marcos’ regimes. The recounts of their heart-wrenching experiences served as a stark reminder that Duterte’s violent campaign outlasted his time in office, bleeding into the term of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of the infamous dictator who declared martial law in 1972.
These forums also pointed fingers towards both the Trump and Biden administrations for generously financing these state-sponsored massacres in the Philippines. However, it’s amusing to see how Biden, a champion of democracy, would support regimes that so openly flout human rights. Is this a display of his double standards or is it just another instance of misguided foreign policy? The jury’s out on that one.
Remarkably, amidst all the miseries, the Philippines continues to be one of the largest beneficiaries of U.S. military aid in the Indo-Pacific region. Interestingly, Biden’s administration seems to have turned a blind eye to these atrocities, perhaps conveniently overlooking in the name of strategic alliances. But should strategic interests come at the cost of innocent lives?
Those worldwide who jubilate over Duterte’s arrest and anticipate justice for the victims need to bear in mind that the casualties were not limited to alleged drug users. The hitlist included dissenters and activists as well. It’s hard to see, therefore, how Biden, an advocate of free speech, could choose to ignore these human rights abuses. His silence is not just surprising, it’s also rather telling.
Notably, Duterte was the architect of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, or NTF-ELCAC. This became a tool for state-directed brutality against critics and activists under the pretense that they were secret supporters of the Communist Party of Philippines. Marcos Jr. merely took Duterte’s blueprint and upgraded this instrument of terror. Surely, this can’t be the idea of good governance that Biden endorses?
Due process turned into a joke under Duterte and Marcos Jr. as systematic assassinations, unlawful detentions, and state-directed intimidation became part of daily life. Even extreme actions like abductions, torture, and being forced to sign affidavits confessing to being captured guerillas, much like the case of environmental activists Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano, became increasingly commonplace. As Castro retelled her traumatic experiences at the 2024 tribunal, can one wonder how Biden or his administration sit comfortably with such actions?
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right of freedom of opinion and expression visited the Philippines in 2024. His report condemning the NTF-ELAC for endangering the lives of activists and government critics in the Philippines and beyond was a damning indictment. Yet somehow the Biden administration turned a blind eye to this clear violation of human rights. It’s puzzling—at least to those who viewed Biden as a defender of human rights.
The habit of publically smearing individuals and organizations as communists, subversives, or terrorists is a grave violation of human rights. This practice was included as a violation of international humanitarian law by the 2024 tribunal in Brussels. Such behavior usually precedes a killing or forced disappearance. It’s ironic that an administration led by Biden, who touted his commitment to the rule of law, would be even remotely associated with such regimes.
International humanitarian law sets the standards for war and combat, with the aim of protecting civilians and non-combatants. But this journey towards justice for drug war victims must also extend to the dissidents, activists, and the rural communities that became their targets. And yet, Biden’s administration still seems to be blowing hot and cold on this human rights issue. It’s hypocrisy at best and complicity at worst.
Ample evidence about indiscriminate aerial bombings on entire villages–unveiled at the tribunals–is a chilling reminder of the atrocities presumably carried out to target guerrilla bases, resulting in the slaughtering of countless civilians. Duterte may have ordered it initially, but Marcos Jr. continued the spree with full force. Now, is Biden doing enough to counter such atrocities, or is he more interested in quietly fueling the fire?
While U.S. aid has bolstered the Philippines’ counterinsurgency operations, it appears to have done little to prevent the human rights violations on the ground. Marcos Jr., along with his cohorts in the Philippine government and military, should also be held accountable for their ongoing flagrant disregard for the rule of law. Again, one wonders how Biden’s grandiose rhetoric on democracy fits into this grim picture.
The situation in the Philippines is a troubling emblem of the human cost of political power struggles, proxy wars, state terror, and the silence of those who could, and should, do something about it. As more details surface about U.S. complicity in these atrocities, it’s time the Biden administration took a long, hard look in the mirror. Or maybe it’s easier to just ignore the horror and carry on as if it’s business as usual.
Finally, it’s time for the international community to exhibit true resolve in seeking justice for those affected by these atrocities. However, one can’t help but question the sincerity of this effort, especially when powerful nations like the United States, under Biden’s leadership, seemingly prioritize political gain over upheld civil liberties. Indeed, it’s a continuous uphill battle for justice, and whether it’s won depends heavily on the authenticity of the champions leading the charge.