Manifesto of Filipinos of North America on the Recently Conducted Philippine Elections

We, the undersigned migrants and overseas Filipinos from the United States and Canada, are one in rejecting Marcos and Duterte.  We believe that their presumptive victory in the recently conducted elections is based on lies, disinformation and fraud. We reject Marcos and Duterte for they represent tyranny and the worst of traditional and dynastic politics in the Philippines. 

The Filipino people voted last May 9 and they deserve to know the real results of the Philippine elections. We are alarmed at the reported massive vote buying and defective Vote Counting Machines (VCM). In the US, delayed and damaged ballots, late and lack of information dissemination, and over 13,000 ballots returned to sender (RTS) disenfranchised many overseas registered voters. 

Lastly, we call into question the unbelievably rapid publicizing of election results from the COMELEC transparency servers. This makes us believe that the machines were pre-programmed to manufacture results favorable to Marcos Jr. and Duterte

With all COMELEC commissioners appointed by Duterte, and the Chairman himself a Marcos Jr. lawyer, election logistics contracts being given to top-Duterte crony Dennis Uy, and Sen. Imee Marcos chairing the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation, the impartiality of the recent elections is questionable to begin with. These, on top of systematic fake news, weaponization of social media such as Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook/Meta funded by the Marcos-Duterte tandem in the last six years, have proven that once again, the will and constitutional right of the people can be subverted and destroyed by those who wield money and power. 

We demand immediate and independent investigation of the massive irregularities and electoral violations that have cast doubt in the credibility of the elections. 

In the meantime, WE CALL ON THE OPPOSITION NOT TO CONCEDE. 

We also express our disagreement and extreme disappointment of the congratulatory statement of US President Joseph Biden. We believe that this is premature and is preemptive of the ongoing verification of election results. We can’t bow down to questionable electoral results, much less dance with dictators and criminals like Ferdinand Marcos Jr. whose father, on the record, plundered billions and killed thousands of innocent lives. 

For the elections to be legitimate, we also demand to allow the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), and the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) to collate, encode and canvass individual ballots and ballot receipts without threat or any level of impediments, without COMELEC’s choice of which precincts and VCMs to audit. We demand that PPCRV, LENTE, and NAMFREL be given ample time to independently perform their function and produce authentic results. 

No matter the result of the independent investigation, as Filipinos and peace-loving global citizens, we still hold the Marcos family including Marcos Jr. accountable for the $10 billion plunder, the Php 203 billion cumulative unpaid estate taxes, unpaid income taxes, and massive torture, disappearances and political imprisonment during Martial Law. We also hold Duterte accountable for his crimes against humanity with the 35,000 extrajudicial killings of innocent lives. Indeed, we bear witness to the most notorious combination of these oligarchs in Philippine history. 

We are grieving but we shall not concede. We shall go back to the communities that we had initial encounters to continue the conversations on poverty, corruption, and people’s empowerment. The poor majority have always been the victims of traditional politicians. But they have the power to liberate themselves as well. 

We hold dear to our hearts the values of transparency, honesty, freedom and democracy for our compatriots in the Philippines. Many people have  been awakened by the campaign led by VP Leni Robredo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan. Ang namulat hindi na muling pipikit (The awakened will no longer slumber). The struggle goes beyond elections. We shall fight back to restore democracy in our motherland.

OUR CALL TO ACTION: 

  1. We call on the U.S. and Canadian governments to suspend provision of all security assistance to the Philippine until the human rights situation has improved and human rights violators are investigated and held accountable. 

  2. We call on the U.S. and Canadian governments to employ targeted sanctions via the Magnitsky Act against human rights violations in the Philippines, including but not limited to Rodrigo Duterte, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), and others.

  3. We call on the U.S. government to uphold the $353M contempt order against Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. 

  4. We call on the Philippine Government for the immediate and unconditional release of jailed Senator Leila de Lima following the recantation of the testimonies of three key witnesses.

  5. We call on the Philippine Government to pursue the case against Duterte crony Dennis Uy’s illegal purchase of the Malampaya Gas Field, which has net income of $1M a day and provides one fifth of the energy needs of the country, and give the right of first refusal to the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC). 

  6. We call on the Filipino people to remain steadfast and vigilant against attempts to trample on our democratic, constitutional and human rights.

  7. ​​We call on the COMELEC to conduct a manual recount, and for PPCRV, LENTE, and NAMFREL be given ample time to independently perform their function and produce authentic results.

  • Loida Lewis, US Filipinos for Good Governance

    Lora Nicolas Olaes, Young Global Filipinos for Leni Kiko

    Ago Pedalizo, Filipino American Human Rights Alliance

    Tabs G, Malaya Movement USA

    Treenee Lopez, Global Filipinos for Leni - Canada, Global Pinoy Diaspora Canada (GPDC)

    Nerissa Allegretti, 1Sambayan USA

    Rhonda Ramiro, BAYAN USA

    Adrian Bonifacio, Anakbayan-USA

    Marissa Corpus, Koalisyon Kontra Daya (KKD) Canada and Malaya Movement Canada

    Jujo Conol, United Filipinos of North America

    Rocio Nuyda, Global Filipinos for Leni Kiko

    Aurora Kesler, Malaya Movement Texas

    Joshua Rudd, Dallas Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines

    Tiffany Sloan, Anakbayan Rice University

    Mo Winchester, Malaya Movement North Texas

    Angie Cruz, Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund

    Terrie Cervas, GABRIELA USA

    Art Garcia, Justice for Filipino American Veterans

    Xenia Tupas, Migrante Los Angeles

    Ami Jofaye Valero, Team Leni Robredo - Los Angeles

    Gary Labao, Hawaii Filipinos for Truth and Democracy in the Philippines

    Jesus Jose P. Cosico, 1sambayan and Koalisyon Kontra Daya - Ottawa

    Jhenine Cordero, Anakbayan Los Angeles

    Charles Jimenez, 1Sambayan Texas

    Mayka Jaymalin, Anakbayan Canada

    Bishop Valentin Lorejo, Jr., Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Diocese of Tampa (Eastern USA & Eastern Canada)

    Fr. Primitivo Racimo, St. Augustine of Hippo Parish, Iglesia Filipina Independiente Chicago

    Evelyn dela Rosa Tolledo, Bikol USA of the Midwest

    Eric Lachica, U.S. Filipinos for Good Governance, Washington, D.C.

    Stef Martin, Migrante Canada

    Chris Sorio, BAYAN Canada

    Naida Castro, National Ecumenical Forum for Filipino Concerns - Inland Empire (NEFFCON-IE)

    Lester Ramos, Migrante USA

    Gina Santiago Keghida, United Filipino Patriots Paris

    Wilma Delo, Pilipinong Migrante sa Barrie

    Lui Queano, Malaya Movement Canada

    Nerissa Balce, Malaya Movement New York

    Myrna Perez, Robredo People's Council, Bulacan, Philippines & Angat Buhay - Ottawa

    Bobby Young, Malaya Movement New Jersey

    Julie Jamora, Malaya Movement USA

    Nova Rellosa-De Leon, UP Alumni Canada for Leni-Kiko

    Thelma Castro, Malaya Movement Quebec

    Aimee Beboso, Migrante Ottawa

    Olivia F Camacho, Malaya Movement Canada

    Maya Arcilla, Malaya Movement Chicago

    Kenneth Crebillo, Kabataan Alliance

    Hector Fonacier, 1Sambayan Northeast, National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea, Malaya Movement New Jersey

    Fr. Lito Mombay, Iglesia Filipina Independiente - Los Angeles,

    Linn Silawan, Bunyog Pagkakaisa

    Jude Kevin, Pilipino Association of Workers and Immigrants (PAWIS)

    Danny Orbillo, Philippine Independence Day Council - Toronto

    Geanbert Brucales, PHO Toronto

    Claire N. Espina, Global Filipinos for Leni - Los Angeles; Team Leni Robredo

    Lillibeth Navarro, Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF-iLC)

    Karen Navarro, Global Filipinos For Leni - Los Angeles

    Laura Vicente, Association of Filipino Accountants

    Kayla Soriano, League of Filipino Students - San Francisco State University

    Anjo Aguba, League of Filipinos Students - UC Berkeley

    Didimay D. Dimacali, Global Filipinos for Leni-Los Angeles

    Jill Mangaliman, GABRIELA Seattle

    Primo Racimo, St. Augustine of Hippo Parish, Iglesia Filipina Independiente

    Alexandria D’Antonio, Anakbayan Detroit

    Kami Yamamoto, MPH, Kapwa Health Collective

    Ireneo DeGuzman, Interfaith Action for Social Justice

    Justher Gutierrez, Malaya Movement South Bay

    Fr. Norman Soriano, MJ, Missionaries of Jesus

    Jerica Jurilla Lunstedt, 1sambayan usa

    Elaine Villasper, 1Sambayan Northern California

    Maria Elizabeth L. Jaime, Global Filipinos For Leni - Los Angeles

    Ireneo DeGuzman, Interfaith Action for Social Justice

    Louis Lin, Migrante Seattle Organizing Committee

    Sonya Zabala, Urban Babaylan - Decolonial Pin@ys Hawa’i

    Niko Cababa, BAYAN USA

    Jazlyn Tabar, Anakbayan Long Beach

    Danilo Alvarez, ASPINC

    Edmari Joy Gutierrez, Southern California Pilipinx American Student Alliance

    Jet Pizarro, US Filipinos for Good Governance

    Mavic Cabrera Balleza, PinoysAbroad

    Rhoel Paulo Paragas, Anakbayan Daly City

    Nikki De Leon, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON)

    Denise Cruz, League of Filipino Students, UC Berkeley

    Remedy Medina, Liberal Party USA - Los Angeles Chapter

    Beth Dollaga, Canada Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights

    Michael Viola, Critical Filipino Studies Collective

    Daphne Auza, Malaya Movement Portland

    Anne Grantski, Malaya South East Portland

    Mike Legaspi, BAYAN-USA Northeast

    Ryan Factora, Samahang Pilipino

    Maridel Andrada, Malaya Movement San Diego

    Jake Vermaas, Whitenoise Project

    Sokie PaulinYee, Pilipino Workers Center

    Redelyn Katagiri, Malaya Quebec Movement, 1Sambayan

    Edwin C. Lalas, Malaya Quebec Movement

    Samantha Sipin, GABRIELA Oakland

    Gil Anselmo, Solid Leni Kiko Global - Seattle

    Reynaldo Abad, Knights of Rizal Los Angeles, California

    Lilibeth Muñoz Cuaton, LPC

    Ami Keene, Team Leni Robredo - New York City

    Janelle Rivera, Malaya Movement Long Beach & Carson

    Anya Plana-Hutt, Angat Buhay Kakampinks DC (Abakada)

    Ronnette Sanchez, 1Sambayan Washington

    Andrew Concon, Malaya Movement Baltimore

    Luis Francia, Malaya Movement New York

    Potri Ranka Manis, #LoveforMarawi

    Shirley Atienza, Migrante New York

    Malu Gutierrez, US GOTV

    Bro. Marvien R. De Leon, TRoPang Leni & Kiko-Sta. Cruz, Laguna/Nineveh Artspace

    Emilio Borromeo, Malaya Movement New Jersey

    Vini Maranan, Malaya Movement Baltimore-DMV

    May Maglaya, Global Filipinos for Leni and Kiko

    Elizabeth Ruivivar, University of the Philippines Alumna Association of Toronto

    Victor Taylor, Filipino Para sa Tunay na Pagbabago at Pamamahala

    Lota Bertulfo, TROPA Ottawa

    Bituin Aquino, US Filipinos For Good Governance

    Audine Tayag, Malaya Movement Los Angeles

    Greg Mariano, Jr., USF4GG, 1Sambayan Northeast USA

    Ofelia A. Cantor, Ecumenical Bishops Forum

    James Herce, Filipino-American Human Rights Alliance

    Nanette Ortega Jongco, US Filipinos for Good Governance

    Bienvenido Jongco, US Filipinos for Good Governance

    Ignie. Ocampo, Taga UP for Leni

    Dr. Norberto M. Boceta, Nationalist Pinoys for VP Leni

    AK Rivera, Malaya Movement New York

    Cesar N Ortanez, ABuTAN Wash DC

    Peter Jon Imperial Obach, US Filipino for Good Governance

    Evangeline A Palileo, SMCQC

    Francis Catherine M Arceo, Migrante-Los Angeles

    Ferdinand Lumiqued, Bibak

    Edwin padillo, Liberal party philippines

    Charina Vergara, Global Filipinos for Leni

    Joseph G. Lariosa, Ulat Time

    Albert Estipona, Filipino Community in Australia

    Aida Morden, Migrante South West

    Vic Gutierrez, Doctors for LeniKiko

    Malu Gutierrez, US Filipino for Good Governance

    Odilon Malong, UP Alumni Winnipeg MB

    Salvador Acsay, Jr., NAMFREL Iloilo

    Zack Garlitos, Malaya Movement New York

    Basheer Rydhan, Anakbayan San Jose

    Bernie Consul, CAMDi

    Jun Tigno, SBU HS67 (USA)

    Jho Mejares, Global Filipinos for Leni-Kiko

    Tere Martinez, US Filipino for Good Governance

    Rey Belen, 1Sambayan USA Chicago/Midwest

    Edgar Santiago, Texas Thomasians Society

    Susan Pineda, GABRIELA Washington DC

    Angel Ola Jr. E., Bibak

    Janeva Ysabelle Duran, GABRIELA Washington DC

    Jo Quiambao, GABRIELA Washington, D.C.

    Celine Milla, Anakbayan San Diego

    Angeles Carandang, FilAms in Skokie

    Jhonry Dela Cruz, 1Sambayan DMV

    Rico Foz, Solid Leni-Kiko Global

    Chip Payos, 1Sambayan Chicago and Malaya Movement Chicago

    Lourdes “Bambi” Manalang, Angat Buhay Kakampinks - DC

    Mercedes Shirley Almazar, Global Filipinos for Leni and Global Pinoy Diaspora Canada

    Elna Morales Mallari, FILCON - Filipino Leaders Coalition of North Texas

    Ria Veridiano, Malaya Movement New Jersey

    Reina Arlyne Catabss, Theresians for Leni & Kiko

    KT Pe Benito, Anakbayan Philadelphia

    Marcelino Principe, Global Pinoy Diaspora Canada

    Sandy Amon, GABRIELA Seattle

    Genel Querido, Anakbayan SD

    Bart Guingona, pagbabago@pilipinas Foundation Inc.

    Nelia de guzman Munoz, 1Sambayan, Angat Buhay

    Edgar Sullano, Global Pinoy Diaspora Canada

    Analaida C. Beriton, Parish Pastoral Council

    Elvira Galang, Filipino Migrants for Leni-Kiko

    Evanthia Rezyl Solano, Anakbayan Manhattan

    Cesar Torres, A Government for National Survival

    Julian Ignacio, Anakbayan at UIC

    Moxie Bautista, League of Filipino Students - UC Berkley

    C. Ibarra, League of Filipino Students - UC Berkley

    Orlando Marcelino, Bayan Muna partylist in Canada

    Maria Victoria Ocampo, UPSCA Manila

    Sheila Lacanaria, San Jose Kakampinks

    Karl Hernandez, Kaibigang Pilipin@

    Willy Cuevas, 1sambayan northeast, Makibaka Coalition

    Erie Maestro, 1Sambayan Canada Chapter

    Ma. Victoria Melda C. Flores, Solid Leni Laguna

    Amelita B. Castillo, Philippine Normal University Alumni

    Neil Flores Vito, The Silent Majority

    Jayde Felix, Samahang Pilipino

    Jocelyn Marte, 1Sambayan Taytay

    Cyril Catahan, Kakampink Victoria

    Ruby Lavarias, Prayer Warriors for the Philippines

    Dolly M. Indias, Prayer Warriors for Leni

    Michelle Sauve, Malaya Movement Georgia

    Dr. Rey A. Gonzales, Prayer Warriors for the Philippines

    Romarico Tongos, PMA

    Claudine Lucente, UPAA-Toronto

    Cesar Torres, A Government for National Survival

    Mavic Cabrera-Balleza, PinoysAbroad

    Carmina Tolentino, Prayer Warriors for the Philippines

    Ed. Tamondong Jr., Fil-Am in Chicago

    Ricky Lacdang

    Giselle Tongi

    Maureen Rodriguez

    Felicitas Santiago

    Nydia Binos

    Ariel Binos

    Joan V. Castañeda-Bote

    Jeremiah Ysip

    Evelyn Lee

    Felwina Opiso-Mondina

    Geffrey Floresca

    Jose Camano

    Cecerie Bondoc

    Luisa Mendez-Marshall

    Maria Reina Ventura Siazon

    Ester Bautro

    Nina Valmonte

    Michael Ilagan

    Johanna Campos

    Cristina Abasolo

    Grace F. Dumlao

    Manuel Ybanez

    Irene Castro

    Remarie Nepomuceno

    Erna Sicangco

    Aurea Josefina O. Rapadas

    Bienvenido "Jun" Maneja Bancoro, Jr.

    Jose Cabalu

    Tani Bocaya

    Jose Mercado

    Soleil David

    Job Elizes

    Heredio Enrique Bello

    Rodolfo Camarce

    Charmaine CaedoI

    Jun Ramos

    Judith Tolosa

    Brandie Nordstrum

    Apolinario Duran Castillo Jr

    Marnelle M. Obrero

    Ruby Lavarias

    Haniel Garibay

    Decolonial Pin@ys - Hawaiʻi

    Gabriela Portland