Malaya Movement USA and the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP)-US strongly condemned the Philippine government for blacklisting human rights defenders based in the US.

The groups launched an online press conference on December 9 denouncing the blacklisting of Malaya secretary general Julie Jamora; ICHRP US Deputy Secretary General-Internal Gordon Mutch; and ICHRP US vice chairperson Copeland Down. They are among the growing number of Filipinos and individuals banned from entering the Philippines for their human rights advocacy in the Philippines and criticism of the Marcos regime.

Jamora, a Filipino-American, traveled to the Philippines in November to participate in the Bayan Peace Mission. The Bureau of Immigration immediately stopped her upon her arrival in the country. She was told she was on the blacklist and was promptly sent back to the US. She was not given any explanation as to how and why she was blacklisted.

Mutch had the same ordeal when he came to the Philippines in April, and Down in October 2024. The officials they spoke with said the reason they were blacklisted in the Philippines was “confidential” and a “matter of national security.”

Also blacklisted and sent back to their home countries when they came to the Philippines were Migrante-Netherlands member Marikit Saturay in March 2024 and Filipina-Swiss and Anakbayan-Switzerland chairperson Edna Becher in December 2023. They were accused of participating in “anti-government” activities.

They said the reason for their blacklisting was most certainly their attendance as observers in the peace mission in the Philippines. They witnessed state violence against indigenous peoples and farmers in these activities, as well as the 2022 elections’ rampant fraud and violence.

“It breaks my heart not to be able to go back to the Philippines. Not to see my family and friends. The use of blacklist and travel ban is meant to intimidate activists, but I’m even more committed to continue to fight for a democratic and sovereign Philippines. And the Marcos government cannot stop me from doing what is right.” said Jamora.

“The Philippine government is clearly blocking foreign defenders of human rights of Filipinos from entering the country and investigating what is truly happening in the Philippines,” Down explained.

“We are ironically prohibited from entering the Philippines, while thousands of American soldiers can freely enter and operate in the country,” Mutch said.

The press conference also discussed the continuing injustice in the attempted killing of Brandon Lee, the current chairperson of ICHRP and former Cordillera Human Rights Alliance volunteer.

The groups demand delisting activists from the Philippine government’s blacklist. They also called for justice for Lee.