The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomed the issuance of the implementing guidelines for Executive Order No. 77, s. 2024, citing the move as a step toward strengthening the Philippines’ commitment to International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and accountability in armed conflict.
Issued on April 11, 2025, the guidelines operationalize the Inter-Agency Committee on International Humanitarian Law (IAC-IHL)—a permanent coordination body co-chaired by the Department of National Defense and the Department of Foreign Affairs—which replaces the ad hoc structure created under EO 134, s. 1999, to ensure comprehensive promotion, enforcement, and monitoring of IHL across government agencies.
In a statement released on April 26, 2025, the CHR expressed its full support for the institutionalization of the committee and reiterated its commitment to work as a permanent observer alongside government, civil society, and international partners.
“Through this issuance, the Philippines takes a significant step forward in upholding its commitment to IHL and its broader obligations under international human rights and humanitarian frameworks,” the CHR said.
The commission emphasized that respect for IHL is vital to preventing grave violations such as attacks on civilians, recruitment of children, destruction of critical infrastructure, and obstruction of humanitarian assistance.
It also reaffirmed the importance of Republic Act No. 9851—the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity—as the legal backbone in ensuring individual accountability and preventing impunity.
The CHR welcomed the inclusive and consultative nature of the IAC-IHL’s mandate, which includes mechanisms for engagement with affected sectors, particularly vulnerable and marginalized communities.
“This collaborative spirit resonates with human rights principles and reinforces the State’s duty to uphold the dignity and protection of all individuals, especially during situations of armed conflict,” the CHR stressed.
Under the new guidelines, the IAC-IHL is tasked with formulating year-round programs for IHL awareness, monitoring compliance, recommending policy reforms, and coordinating responses to violations.
Moreover, it also institutionalizes technical working groups to address emerging challenges such as cyber warfare, autonomous weapons, and climate-related conflicts.
The CHR stated it is prepared to “actively engage in the committee’s work” and called for continuous efforts to strengthen “legal, institutional, and policy frameworks that promote both domestic and international human rights standards in the Philippines.”
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