Ched Rick Gatchalian

Officials inspect the troops as the Commission on elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) hold a simultaneous Multi-Agency Send-Off and Turnover Ceremony of Security Forces (AFP, PNP, PCG DepEd, and COMELEC) for the 2022 National and Local Elections at PNP Transformation Oval, Camp Crame, Quezon City on May 4, 2022.  
Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

​Marcos says PH now more peaceful, safer for human rights

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175369753259920220503-election-security-send-off-JC-6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Officials inspect the troops as the Commission on elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) hold a simultaneous Multi-Agency Send-Off and Turnover Ceremony of Security Forces (AFP, PNP, PCG DepEd, and COMELEC) for the 2022 National and Local Elections at PNP Transformation Oval, Camp Crame, Quezon City on May 4, 2022.<br id="isPasted"/><em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and former rebels are linking hands to maintain peace in the country.</p><p>During his fourth State of the Nation Address, he claimed there are no more guerrilla groups left in the countryside.</p><p>Marcos Jr. also said thousands of rebels have surrendered to the government and are already living normally with their families.</p><p>&quot;Sa wakas, wala na ring nalalabing grupong gerilya sa bansa at titiyakin ng pamahalaan na wala nang mabubuo muli,&quot; he said. </p><p>(Finally, there are no more guerrilla groups in the Philippines and we will make sure that no more will form again)</p><p>Marcos already made that claim in January 2024, saying the 89 guerrilla fronts of the New People&#x27;s Army had all been dismantled. </p><p>Government forces over the weekend reported the deaths of seven supposed NPA fighters in a clash in Masbate province.</p><p>In a statement on Monday, the Communist Party of the Philippines called the SONA statement farcical, saying his &quot;grand declaration of having crushed the people&#x27;s armed resistance will explode in Marcos&#x27; face.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Magkasangga ngayon ang AFP, PNP, at mga dating rebelde sa pagpapanatili ng kaayusan at kapayapaan sa Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,&quot; Marcos added in his SONA.</p><p>(Now, the AFP, PNP and former rebels are working together to maintain peace in the BARMM)</p><p>The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was created as part of a final peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/07/24/23/marcos-jr-offers-amnesty-to-rebel-returnees"><strong>Marcos offers amnesty to rebel returnees, asks for Congress support</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;SOCIETY NOW MORE PEACEFUL, CONDUCIVE TO HUMAN RIGHTS&#x27;</strong></div><p>In 2023, the president offered rebel returnees amnesty and asked for congressional support for the move, as he saw that the armed struggle in the Philippines supposedly &quot;evolved&quot; towards &quot;peace and development&quot;. </p><p>He stated this during his second SONA.</p><p>Two years since, Marcos said the country is now &quot;more peaceful and safer for human rights&quot;.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/21/environmental-activists-castro-tamano-post-bail-on-defamation-cases-1807"><strong>Environmental activists Castro, Tamano post bail on defamation cases</strong></a></div><p>&quot;Mas mapangalaga rin sa karapatang-pantao, anuman ang edad, kasarian, kundisyon, o pangkat,&quot; he said.</p><p>(We are now more mindful of human rights, regardless of age, gender, condition or group)</p><p>The Commission on Human Rights has had more space to operate than it did during the Duterte administration, which was openly hostile to it and to rights defenders.</p><p>Rights watchdog Karapatan said, however, that the Marcos Jr. presidency &quot;has been marked with rampant violations of human rights and international humanitarian law&quot;, including 129 alleged extrajudicial killings, 15 enforced disappearances and 288 cases of arbitrary arrest.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/17/crimes-in-metro-manila-down-by-nearly-24-percent-police-0956"><strong>Crimes in Metro Manila down by nearly 24 percent: police</strong></a></div><p>Marcos said crime rates have been going down but acknowledged numbers cannot ease the worry over crime prevalence, especially for the victims.</p><p>He said the government will help address these by having police go on more patrols and by being able to &quot;respond in a matter of five minutes.&quot;</p><p>Marcos also vowed that the government would provide more weapons, armaments, and vehicles for the police and military — as part of the country&#x27;s modernization efforts for the defense sector.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/24/more-funding-sought-for-afp-modernization-amid-west-ph-sea-tension-1346"><strong>More funding sought for AFP modernization amid West PH Sea tension</strong></a></div>

<p>During his fourth State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. claimed there are no more guerrilla groups left in the countryside.</p>

During his fourth State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. claimed there are no more guerrilla groups left in the countryside.

​Marcos Jr. says PH now more peaceful, safer for human rights

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​Marcos Jr. says PH now more peaceful, safer for human rights

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 28, 2025 06:35 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 28, 2025 08:46 PM PHT

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Marcos Jr. says PH now more peaceful, safer for human rights

Marcos Jr. says PH now more peaceful, safer for human rights