On the day marking the observance of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Ang Bayan is publishing this special report detailing war crimes and grave violations committed by Ferdinand Marcos Jr, together with his defense officials and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in the course of their war against the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army.

This report strongly refutes Marcos’ claims that his regime adheres to the IHL, which he even boasts about while hosting the Asia Pacific Regional Conference on International Humanitarian Law. Marcos’ claim that the human rights situation has “improved” and that there is now “peace,” especially in rural areas, is utterly false.

Doubling down on Duterte’s bloody Development Support and Security Plan (DSSP) Kapayapaan (Peace), Marcos crafted the PLEDS (Peace, Law Enforcement, Development Support) “Pagkakaisa” (Unity) policy to sustain a brutal campaign of gradual constriction, embellished with trappings of “stability” and “local peace.” Similar to Duterte’s DSSP, Marcos’ PLEDS systematically unleashes massive military campaigns targeting communities alleged to have standing “revolutionary infrastructure,” subjecting them to military rule, violating civil freedoms, and crippling their means of livelihood, all in the name of preventing the resurgence of the people’s army.

Ang Bayan issues this special report as part of efforts to hold Ferdinand Marcos Jr, his defense officials, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and paramilitary groups accountable for their war crimes and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. The report primarily focuses on violations related to both direct and indirect participants in armed conflict. It covers cases involving armed and unarmed members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), and the New People’s Army from July 2022 to July 2025.

The report includes incidents involving 78 individuals who were willfully killed by state forces, including six NDFP peace consultants; six abducted and disappeared; 13 in secret detention; two subjected to forced and inhumane detention; four instances of excessive use of force violating the principle of proportionality; and 10 arrested and charged with fabricated cases, including six NDFP consultants.

A broader accounting of the Marcos regime’s crimes is documented in Ang Bayan’s semiannual special reports, which are available on the PRWC website.