A Philippine court has agreed to formally register a war crimes case against Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and nine senior military officers over atrocities committed in Chin State.
The complaint, filed in Manila by the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) and five victims, accuses military leaders of war crimes and crimes against humanity, focusing on the 2021 killing of civilians and the mass arson of Thantlang town.
Following two previous dismissals by the Department of Justice, the court granted a renewed appeal on November 3.
It issued formal case numbers, clearing the way for prosecution under Philippine international humanitarian law.
“We appealed to the court again to accept our allegations, and this time the court accepted the case and issued case numbers,” said Salai Man Hei Lian, programme officer for CHRO.
“This gives us confidence that our lawsuit will now be handled and prosecuted in accordance with Philippine law.”
The 10 indicted officers include Min Aung Hlaing; the Bureau of Special Operations (BSO) commander overseeing Chin State; the head of the Northwest Regional Military Command; and tactical commanders stationed in Hakha and Thantlang.
The lawsuit forms part of a broader global effort to prosecute Myanmar’s military leadership under universal jurisdiction principles, with parallel legal actions and investigations underway in Argentina, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Denmark.