Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Calling the Philippines a “beacon of hope” for accountability, lawyers for survivors of war crimes in Myanmar filed their second motion to resolve at the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the investigation of an arson attack on the Chin town of Thantlang. The lawyers cited Section 17 of RA 9851 in claiming that war crimes committed against their clients are criminal offenses under Philippine law.The case was initiated in 2023, but the DOJ only returned documents submitted without docketing them, according to Attorney Romel Bagares.“We filed this actually three years ago in 2023 under the IHL Act, the Philippine Humanitarian Law Act. And Section 17, which is also very familiar to us, all of us, is actually the basis for our claim that the Philippines should take universal jurisdiction over the war crimes complaint. But the DOJ returned the documents to us without actually docketing them,” Bagares said. Bagares added, the DOJ said they do not think they could take cognizance of the complaint. “We have the IHL Act. We&#x27;re the only country in Southeast Asia that has such a robust legal framework. And that&#x27;s why they look to the Philippines as a beacon of hope really for accountability with respect to war crimes and crimes against humanity. And in fact, what the government did with respect to the drug cases was something that inspired them… Our legal framework allows for actions like this,” Bagares added.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/2/myanmar-nationals-ask-doj-to-act-on-motion-for-reconsideration-for-war-crimes-complaint-vs-junta-1529">Myanmar nationals ask DOJ to reconsider junking war crimes complaint vs junta</a></div>ABS-CBN News sought the DOJ’s comment on Bagares’ statement regarding alleged return of documents, but has yet to receive a response.Chin Human Rights Organisation Executive Director and complainant Salai Za Uk said they believe the Philippines offers an avenue to address their grievances.“In Chin State, 162 separate charges through airstrikes, arson, vandalism, shelling, and all sorts of things. And that has displaced an entire community. Now, more than two-thirds of the population have now been displaced. Imagine, in a community that the majority of them are displaced and survive in the jungles, even seek shelter in another country, unprotected,” the complainant told the media.“And in all these times, you risk attacked from the air every day. So, this is truly a war crime and a crime against humanity. And we believe that Philippines offers an avenue that will address our grievances,” Salai Za Uk added.

Calling the Philippines a “beacon of hope” for accountability, lawyers for survivors of war crimes in Myanmar filed their second motion to resolve at the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the investigation of an arson attack on the Chin town of Thantlang.

Calling the Philippines a “beacon of hope” for accountability, lawyers for survivors of war crimes in Myanmar filed their second motion to resolve at the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the investigation of an arson attack on the Chin town of Thantlang.

Lawyers for Myanmar war crime survivors call PH ‘beacon of hope’ for accountability

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Lawyers for Myanmar war crime survivors call PH ‘beacon of hope’ for accountability

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 31, 2026 04:58 PM PHT

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Myanmar

war crimes

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