HRW calls on Bongbong to stop alleged human rights violations, end drug war

International group Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday called on presidential candidate and former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to address alleged violations of human rights in the Philippines, starting with ending the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

HRW issued the call with Marcos Jr. leading the presidential race with 30,731,560 votes as of 10:32 a.m. Tuesday based on partial and unofficial quick count via the Comelec transparency media server. Vice President Leni Robredo on the other hand, is second with 14,665,180 votes. 

"Once in office, presumptive President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should take immediate and decisive action to improve the human rights situation in the Philippines. He should declare an end to the 'war on drugs' that has resulted in the extrajudicial killing of thousands of Filipinos, and order the impartial investigation and appropriate prosecution of officials responsible for these unlawful killings," Phil Roberton, deputy Asia director for HRW, said in a statement.

Likewise, HRW said "Marcos should publicly order the military, police and other security forces to cease targeting activists, human rights defenders and journalists for killing and other rights violations."

"He should end the practice of 'red-tagging' [or] accusing activists and government critics of being Communist fighters or supporters," Roberton pointed out.

In addition, HRW called on Marcos to "fully cooperate with the International Criminal Court investigation into allegations of 'crimes against humanity' implicating outgoing president Rodrigo Duterte and others" in the war on drugs.

"He should support the Philippines rejoining the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court" and "seek to reverse human rights violations by the Duterte administration, notably by dropping the charges against Senator Leila de Lima and ordering her release from detention," Roberton added.

GMA News Online contacted Marcos Jr's camp for comment but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.

Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, said back in January that he will welcome ICC probers in the country but only as tourists in the event he is elected president.

In 2013, former President Benigno Aquino III signed the Human Rights Reparation and Recognition Act, a law which provided financial compensation to victims of human rights violations during the Martial Law imposed by the elder Marcos from 1972 to 1981 and up to the latter's last day in office on February 25, 1986.

The compensation for these victims, which was based on the severity of their suffering during that time, was sourced from Marcos funds that the Philippine government recovered from Swiss banks.

At least 11,000 Martial Law victims were found eligible to receive compensation provided under this law based on the records of the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board. —With a report from Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News