The State of the Nation under a Marcos-Duterte Regime is
a State of Calamity
The State of the Nation under a Marcos-Duterte Regime is
a State of Calamity
2025 SONA Press Release
Over 64 indigenous women coming from 21 different Indigenous communities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao joined thousands of protesters in the street on Monday, July 28, 2025. In time for the 4th State of the Nation Address of the Philippine President, indigenous women lament that the State of the Nation under a Marcos-Duterte administration is a State of Calamity.
Rachel Tahay, Secretary General of Inged Fintailan, said “Patuloy ang pag-agaw ng aming mga lupa sa BARMM. Pumapasok na rin ang mga mapanirang minahan sa aming mga sagradong lupain. Pakiramdam namin ay iniwan na sa ere ng national government ang mga NMIPs sa BARMM.”
Earlier this year, non-Moro Indigenous Peoples in BARMM sounded the alarm on the intensifying harassment and growing number of killings within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). According to the documentation done by indigenous women community journalists, 90 killings have been recorded between 2014 to 2024 due to resource conflict.
“Hindi namin alam saan lalapit para sa aming seguridad. Para kaming pinagpapasa pasahan ng BARMM at National Government. Kami na lang ba ang bahalang magtanggol sa aming mga sarili at pamilya?” Tahay added.
“The real state of the nation under the current administration is a state of calamity. It’s a disaster. Indigenous women and young women are once again left to bear the brunt of this catastrophe.” said Judy Pasimio, Overall Coordinator of LILAK Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights.
The Global Witness in their report has consistently ranked the Philippines as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for environmental and land rights activists.
“HIndi lang bagyo o kalamidad ang tumatama sa atin taon-taon. Kada SONA rin ay panay ang pagkakanulo sa atin, at pagpabor sa mga oligarkiya, at dambuhalang mga korporasyon. Ito ang lalong nagpapatindi ng krisis nating mga kababaihan, lalot higit ang mga katutubo, sa kabuhayan, sa sikmura, at sa maginhawang buhay.” Pasimio ended.