Delegation Meets with Cardinal Pablo David to Rally Church Support for Justice in Myanmar
Manila, Philippines – April 2025: The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO), together with the Myanmar Accountability Project and their legal partners and survivors of junta atrocities, has filed an appeal with the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ), urging it to reconsider a recent decision not to pursue a full investigation into the war crimes case filed against top Myanmar military generals under the country’s universal jurisdiction law.
The initial complaint, filed in October 2023 under Republic Act 9851, accused Myanmar military leaders of grave violations of international humanitarian law, including extrajudicial killings, torture, the destruction of Christian villages, and deliberate obstruction of humanitarian assistance in Chin State. The case—the first of its kind filed in the Philippines—was hailed globally as a test of the country’s commitment to international justice and regional solidarity
This marks the first time such a case has been lodged in the Philippines under universal jurisdiction—a legal principle that allows national courts to prosecute grave crimes committed abroad, regardless of where they occurred or the nationality of the perpetrators or victims.
“As part of ASEAN, the Philippines has a responsibility to assist our neighboring countries like the Myanmar people in seeking justice,” said Atty. Romel Bagares, one of the lawyers representing the complainants
CHRO’s visit was covered prominently in The Philippine Star, The Manila Times and Inquirer.net, which highlighted the legal strategy as part of broader efforts to hold Myanmar’s military junta accountable for systemic violence and atrocity crimes in Chin State and other parts of Myanmar. The survivors are seeking justice for crimes that include the massacre of civilians, razing of Christian villages, and indiscriminate airstrikes—acts widely condemned by international human rights organizations as amounting to crimes against humanity.
As part of the advocacy mission, the CHRO delegation also met with Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), to deepen regional Catholic solidarity for justice and peace in Myanmar. The Cardinal expressed his solidarity with the persecuted Christian communities of Myanmar. Cardinal David assured the delegation of his prayers and moral support, while recognizing the importance of faith-based institutions in advocating for justice and human dignity.
The meeting underscored the importance of moral leadership in the global struggle for justice. As a highly respected religious leader in the region, Cardinal David’s support is a significant moral boost for Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement, particularly for Christian communities facing targeted persecution under the military junta.
The mission also aimed to raise public awareness in the Philippines about ongoing human rights violations in Myanmar, especially in Chin State, where predominantly Christian communities have suffered disproportionate levels of violence. The delegation engaged with local civil society, lawyers, faith-based organizations, and media outlets to build greater understanding and momentum behind ongoing Universal Jurisdiction legal efforts to hold Myanmar military leaders accountable.
“They brought the case here because the Philippines is a neighbor of Myanmar and a fellow ASEAN member. And because of our strong domestic laws like RA 9851, war crimes can be prosecuted here,” added Atty. Gilbert Andres
CHRO believes that countries like the Philippines, with their democratic values and strong human rights traditions, can play a critical role in the global effort to end the culture of impunity in Myanmar. The ongoing Universal Jurisdiction cases filed in the Philippines, led by brave Chin Christian survivors and Filipino human rights lawyers, offer a glimmer of hope for justice where it has long been denied.
We are grateful to all our partners and allies in the Philippines who welcomed our mission with open hearts and open minds. The solidarity we received is a reminder that while the path to justice may be long and difficult, we do not walk it alone.
The CHRO-led trip is part of a wider international effort to mobilize legal, political, and faith-based responses to the ongoing crisis in Myanmar. It also aims to push ASEAN member states to live up to their regional and moral obligations in light of the Myanmar junta’s sustained atrocities.
Stay tuned as we continue to advocate for justice, accountability, and regional solidarity for the people of Myanmar.
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