“A lower number of reported cases does not necessarily mean fewer violations.”
By Shan Kenshin EcaldreBulatlat.com
CABUYAO, Laguna — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) described as a milestone the government’s removal from the United Nations’ (UN) list of grave child rights violations.
But for children’s rights advocates, it masks continuing, underreported, and systematic violations against Filipino children, particularly in rural and militarized communities.
In separate statements, the Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC) and Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns said that the country’s “delisting” from the UN report does not reflect the realities faced by children on the ground. They warned that it may even lead to reduced international scrutiny and further weaken mechanisms for accountability.
Killings continue
Despite government claims of improved child protection, cases of violence against children persist.
On January 1, 2026, three Mangyan-Iraya children were reportedly killed in an aerial bombing by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro. Two days later, in Samar, two children gathering charcoal were allegedly fired upon using an M203 grenade launcher by government soldiers.
Human rights alliance Karapatan documented at least 11 children and youth killed under the Marcos Jr. administration, many of them in the context of counter-insurgency operations.
Among them was nine-year-old Kyllene Casao who was shot in the head in July 2022 and is considered the first recorded child casualty under the current administration. Other victims like Everly Kee Jacolbe, Arjie Salvador, brothers Ben and Ravin Fausto, Rey Belan, Kuni Cuba, JP Osabel, and Jayson Padullo were also killed in separate incidents, often later described by the military as “armed encounters.”
Families and community members disputed the military’s claims, stressing that the victims were civilians. “These are not isolated incidents,” CRC said. “They form part of a pattern of violations committed under the guise of counter-insurgency.”
Underreporting
Rights groups stressed that the decline in officially reported cases should not be interpreted as an improvement in the human rights situation of children.
“A lower number of reported cases does not necessarily mean fewer violations,” CRC said, pointing to persistent barriers in documenting abuses, especially in militarized and geographically isolated communities.
According to the group, fear of reprisals, heavy military presence, and the absence of safe reporting mechanisms contribute to widespread underreporting. Community members, as well as journalists and human rights workers, often face harassment and red-tagging when trying to document cases.
Salinlahi said that the closure of Lumad schools, attacks on educators, and the targeting of child rights defenders further limit avenues for reporting and verification.
Criticizing CHR
In a statement, the CHR attributed the delisting to government initiatives, including the implementation of the Children in Situations of Armed Conflict (CSAC) Law and the establishment of so-called “zones of peace.” It also cited the AFP’s role in ensuring that children encountered in operations are treated as victims and rights-holders.
Children’s rights advocates challenged these claims. “They hail the very institutions accused of violations as protectors,” Salinlahi said. “This runs counter to the experiences of children who have been killed, injured, displaced, or red-tagged.”
The groups raised concerns over the dissolution of the Country Task Force for Monitoring and Reporting (CTFMR), a mechanism previously co-led by the United Nations Children’s Fund and civil society organizations.
Following the delisting, monitoring responsibilities have largely shifted to the Inter-Agency Committee on Children in Situations of Armed Conflict (IAC-CSAC) which is composed mainly of government agencies, including the AFP and the Philippine National Police.
“This setup raises serious questions on credibility and neutrality,” CRC said, noting that the government is effectively tasked with monitoring its own alleged violations.
Beyond individual cases
Aside from the documented killings, rights groups stressed the broader impact of militarization on children and their communities.
Indiscriminate bombings, forced displacement, demolition of homes, and land conflicts linked to mining and land conversion projects have resulted in long-term psychological and economic harm, they said.
“These violations are not just about numbers,” Salinlahi said. “They reflect the conditions of children growing up in fear, deprived of education, security, and dignity.”
The groups added that the framing of such incidents within the context of “counter-insurgency” obscures deeper structural issues, including landlessness and encroachment on ancestral domains.
No celebration
For child rights advocates, the Philippines’ removal from the UN list risks creating a false narrative of progress.
“The true measure of improvement is not delisting,” Salinlahi said, “but whether children are genuinely safe, whether perpetrators are held accountable, and whether justice is served.”
As long as killings, red-tagging, and militarization persist, they said, claims of progress remain premature.
“While a list may change,” CRC said, “the situation of Filipino children has not.”
Rights groups called on the CHR to uphold its mandate as an independent watchdog, strengthen its investigations, and center the experiences of children and affected communities.
“Until every child is free from violence,” Salinlahi said, “there is no victory to celebrate.” (AMU, DAA)
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