The Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) demonstrated their commitment to justice and peace by joining various youth and peoples organizations in a march during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2nd State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24, 2023. Through the 2023 Peoples’ SONA, SCMP stood in solidarity with the Filipino people, expressing concern over the crosses of hardship brought about by the Marcos Jr. regime. As Christian youth took to the streets, they emphasized their opposition to the push for Mandatory ROTC and voiced their concerns about the administration’s failure to prioritize the sacredness and dignity of human life. The SCMP has critiqued the Marcos Jr. administration’s approach to human rights, highlighting at least 23 cases of abductions and forced disappearances, including the troubling abduction of youth activists. The recent usage of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 on youth human rights defenders in Southern Tagalog has only exacerbated the human rights crisis, with Hailey Pecayo, Kenneth Rementilla, and Jasmin Yvette Rubia unjustly charged by the AFP with trumped-up allegations.

In this tumultuous time, SCMP remains steadfast in their advocacy for a just and peaceful Philippines.