Chin War Crimes Survivors File Second Motion in Philippines Seeking Military Probe

What happened

DVB English reports that war crimes survivors from Myanmar’s Chin State, together with human rights advocates, have submitted a second formal motion to the Philippines Department of Justice, urging a legal investigation into the Myanmar military’s 2021 destructive assault on Thantlang town. This follows an initial filing made in 2023 under universal jurisdiction laws and aims to hold accountable those responsible for the large-scale arson that razed approximately 1,500 civilian properties including homes, churches, schools, and medical facilities, forcing thousands to flee across the border into India.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The legal action highlights specific civilian harm, reporting the deaths of Christian Pastor Cung Biak Hum—who was mutilated while providing medical aid—and Pa Ral Tu, an unarmed church official who was killed. The Chin Human Rights Organisation (CHRO), a co-complainant, has released a report detailing systematic attacks on Christian minority communities in Chin State from January to July 2026. CHRO’s executive director Salai Za Uk frames the violence as part of a sustained military campaign against the Christian population, appealing to the Philippines government’s shared religious identity for solidarity and formal investigation.

The complainants’ attorneys point to the Philippines’ Republic Act No. 9851, the international humanitarian law act, as providing a clear legal foundation for prosecuting those responsible for international crimes committed abroad, especially under Section 17. Attorney Gilbert Andres, lead counsel for the Chin complainants and representative for victims in the ICC case against former Philippine President Duterte, underscored this legislative basis as undeniable, framing the case within emerging regional legal accountability.

Known from the source

• War crimes survivors and human rights advocates from Chin State filed a second motion at the Philippines Department of Justice to investigate Myanmar military actions in 2021.
• The motion concerns destruction of around 1,500 civilian structures in Thantlang town, including homes, churches, schools, and medical facilities.
• Casualties include the death of Christian Pastor Cung Biak Hum and an unarmed church official, Pa Ral Tu.
• The Chin Human Rights Organisation has published a report on sustained attacks against Chin Christian communities in early 2026.
• The Philippines has legal jurisdiction under Republic Act No. 9851 to prosecute international humanitarian law crimes committed abroad.

What remains unclear

The filing comes as the Philippines holds the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN in 2026, bringing additional scrutiny to Manila’s role in advancing regional peace and human rights agendas. Co-lead counsel Romel Bagares called on ASEAN to incorporate judicial accountability and stopping aerial bombardments in its evaluation criteria for adherence to the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar. Chris Gunness of the Myanmar Accountability Project linked the motion to increasing reliance on rule of law mechanisms within Southeast Asia, describing Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing as a wanted war criminal evading justice.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verify casualty figures and details of civilian deaths and injuries from independent sources. Confirm the authenticity and details of the Chin Human Rights Organisation report released in conjunction with the filing. Check with Philippine Department of Justice for any official acknowledgment or response to the second motion.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: DVB English. Open the source.