United Nations Special Rapporteur Philip Alston has blamed the Philippine government's counter-insurgency strategy against leftist rebels

United Nations Special Rapporteur Philip Alston has blamed the Philippine government's counter-insurgency strategy against leftist rebels as the reason for a large number of extra judicial killings to have taken place in the country. The killings of leftist activists have drastically increased in the last six years in the Philippines.

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo called on Filipinos in Europe to put pressure on President Arroyo to stop the gross human rights violations in the Philippines

U.S. solons to Arroyo: Stop Extra-judicial Killings

Oberstar Raises Human Rights Concerns
Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Washington, DC - Forty-nine members of the U.S. Congress are speaking out about human rights abuses in the Philippines. Today, Congressman James L. Oberstar (MN) and Congressman Joe Pitts (PA) sent a bipartisan letter to Philippine President Gloria Macapagel Arroyo to express concern with current human rights violations taking place in that country.

Human rights groups have documented more than 800 cases of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines since 2001. The victims include religious workers, labor leaders, farmers, journalists and students. Just this year, it is estimated that pre-election violence claimed at least 110 victims before the country’s May 14th mid-term congressional elections.

The letter encourages the Arroyo government to take strong action to deter political violence and to investigate and prosecute those responsible for human rights crimes, which include extrajudicial killings and politically-motivated abductions and torture.

"Earlier this year, constituents brought to my attention their concerns with the inhumane killings in the Philippines." said Oberstar. "I hope this letter is an encouragement to President Arroyo to move forward to improve human rights in the Philippines and to bring to justice those who are responsible for these killings."

"I commend the Philippines Supreme Court for holding a summit to address the issue of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines," Pitts said. "This is an important development and I look forward to the implementation of plans discussed during the summit. However, the government must urgently address and resolve existing cases of disappearances and extrajudicial killings."

The US Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte to RP: Focus on solving extrajudicial slays

The US Deputy Secretary of State said Tuesday he believes that the Philippines could halt the spate of extrajudicial killings in the country as he urged authorities to focus on the cases of politically related murders.

"We of course know about these reports although the facts are not entirely clear as to the extent to which these killings might be occurring. What we want to do is encourage the authorities, the appropriate authorities, to look into these matters and give them the attention that they deserve," John Negroponte said in an interview with Maria Ressa, ABS-CBN news and current affairs chief.

US cuts military aid to AFP amid rights charges

It’s a big slap against tyrant Gloria Arroyo and her abusive military leadership. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is responsible for the cut back. It means less 'kurakot' for the military top brass. The US condemned the extra-judicial killings and the poor treatment of political opponents and journalists by a few in the Philippine security forces.

US cuts military aid to AFP amid rights charges

By RODNEY J. JALECO

ABS-CBN North America News Bureau

WASHINGTON D.C. The United States has cut by nearly two-thirds the assistance intended for the Philippine military and police forces next year following allegations they were involved in extra-judicial killings.

A State Department report showed the extent of reduction -- Foreign Military Financing (FMF) was reduced from nearly $30 million to only $11 million by fiscal 2008 which starts this September. It also slashed the International Military Exchange Training (IMET) program in the Philippines from $2.9 million to $1.5 million over the same period.

These funds directly benefit the 160,000-man Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The FMF is used to pay for the procurement of military equipment from the U.S., including Excess Defense Articles or surplus from the U.S. military stockpile -- everything from patrol boats to spare parts and ammunition. IMET, on the other hand, pays for the cost of sending and training AFP officers in the U.S.

The U.S. will also reduce its International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE) program to the Philippine National Police, from almost $2 million to just $1.1 million.

The aid cut is an offshoot of shifting American priorities and recent policy changes that centralized decision making on how to divide the $26 billion allocated to foreign assistance next year.

US State Secretary Condoleeza Rice overhauled the way foreign assistance was distributed to more than 120 countries around the world.

The bulk of the foreign aid budget of $23 billion will go to just a "handful" of countries, leaving about a hundred countries to vie for the remaining $3 billion.

Rice has set five key criteria to prioritize US allocation of foreign aid. Recipient countries are evaluated on the basis of their contributions to building peace and security; governing justly and democratically; and reducing widespread poverty, among others.

The Philippine situation is aggravated in part by persistent charges of human rights abuses allegedly committed by members of the police and military. A panel led by church leaders and human rights activists told a Senate panel last March that over 800 people, including 25 churchmen and scores of journalists have fallen victim to extra-judicial killings in the six years President Arroyo has been in power.

They charged many of these were perpetrated by members of the security forces. Most of these murders have remained unsolved, and only a few have actually been prosecuted.

Four months after that damning report in the U.S. Senate the Arroyo administration is faced with another incident – the abduction of farm technologist Jonas Burgos, son of the late media icon Jose "Joe" Burgos Jr. Witnesses identified the vehicle used in the abduction and subsequent investigation traced it back to the impounding lot of an army battalion headquarters in Bulacan.

The Washington Post reported that Secretary Rice had personally approved the country-by-country budget figures.

In a rare move, the US Senate appropriations committee had inserted specific language in the foreign aid bill that forbids U.S. military assistance to be used against civilians. It directed Secretary Rice to monitor the use of this aid to ensure it is not "misused by units of the security forces against civilians who are members of political opposition parties and human rights groups".

The Philippines got considerably less than most neighbors in the East Asia and Pacific region. Indonesia, for instance will receive $32 million for economic and investment support, compared to $22.9 million for the Philippines; and $60 million vs $26 million for conflict mitigation and programs that promote democratic and economic institutions.

The Philippines on the whole, will get a smaller piece of the U.S. foreign aid pie next year. The allocation for the Child Survival and Health Fund was reduced from $24.6 million this year to $17.5 million in 2008 and Development Assistance from $24.2 million to $22.9 million during the same period. However, the Philippines will enjoy a slightly higher benefit from the Economic Support Fund, or from $24.7 million today to $26 million next year.

But a Philippine Embassy official downplayed the possible link between the country’s deteriorating human rights image to reduced U.S. aid.

He explained that lower military aid can be attributed to the fact that the U.S. has already delivered 90% of the military equipment promised by President Bush when he classified the Philippines as a "major non-NATO ally". These included patrol boats, helicopters, rifles and so-called "force multipliers" like night-vision equipment and satellite radios.

The U.S., he insists, provides military assistance in other forms, more often indirectly, by sharing their technology and intelligence gathering capabilities in fighting Islamic extremists in Mindanao.

Even in the face of this argument, the huge decline in US military aid to the Philippines is glaring. Only five years ago, the Philippines ranked 4th among countries receiving the FMF and 2nd in IMET beneficiaries. In 2003 alone, the AFP received $115 million in military assistance from the U.S.

Activists protest as terror law takes effect

Photo from Arkibong Bayan
www.arkibongbayan.org

Palace document shows gov’t plan to neutralize Left


Supreme Court-led summit attempts to stop killings

Commission on Human Rights : Arroyo administration gets failing grade

Arroyo administration gets failing grade on HR

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Friday gave President Arroyo's administration a failing grade for its efforts to solve cases of human rights violations in the country.

On a scale of 1 to 10, CHR Chairwoman Purificacion Quisumbing gave the Arroyo administration a "less than 4."

"Ay sa implementasyon ng mga sinasabing treaties on human on rights ay talagang less than four sa ngayon. Kung 1 to 10 ay 4 ang implementation natin dito sa Pilipinas (With regard to the implementation of treaties on human rights, its score is less than four for now)," Quisumbing told ABS-CBN's "Magandang Umaga Pilipinas."

Quisumbing, meanwhile, gave her office a grade of 6.

She said CHR is not only active in investigating various cases of human rights violations, but it is also very busy raising the people's awareness about their rights.

She added that CHR is also concentrating on investigating unexplained or extrajudicial killings.

Quisumbing said her office has already filed several cases of human rights violations that have yet to be acted upon by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which serves under the Office of the President.

The CHR chairwoman said she is optimistic that DOJ will act on the cases since Mrs. Arroyo is always asked about the issue of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines during her state visits to other countries.

"Our suggestion is [for the government to open] a fast lane justice for human rights victims," she said.

Quisumbing, meanwhile, admitted that the CHR operates on a low budget, which prevents it from adding personnel.

She said CHR also needs to have prosecutorial powers as all it can do for human rights victims is investigate their complaints and recommend the filing of cases to the DOJ.

For his part, Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño said party-list representatives and other members of the minority in the House of Representatives have attempted to raise CHR's budget.

Casiño, however, said their attempts proved futile because human rights is among the least of the priorities of the House majority.

Quisumbing said the good thing is that the Supreme Court, based on its recent decisions, seems to be giving more attention to human rights victims.

The high court had recently absolved six activist lawmakers, including Casiño, from the rebellion cases filed against them by the government for their alleged involvement in the attempt to oust Mrs. Arroyo from office last year.

The Supreme Court had recently put up special courts for extrajudicial killings.

Activist groups on Thursday asked the high court to include in its prosecution the rising number of enforced disappearances in the country, including the abduction of agriculturist Jonas Burgos. ABS-CBN NEWS

Int’l Tribunal Verdict: Political Killings Stem From Opposition To Arroyo’s Economic Policies

I doubt that Gloria Arroyo is in control of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. She has no political will to fire-out General Eduardo Ermita and his military clique, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Interim Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, Defense chief Hermogenes Ebdane and AFP chief General Hermogenes Esperon. The Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security (COC-IS) is responsible for the discredited counterinsurgency Oplan Bantay Laya II. The militarization of Metro Manila’s slum areas is part of Oplan Bantay Laya II to neutralize left wing elements and its supporters. It appears the Philippines bogus President Gloria Arroyo is dragging the US military to fight her all-out war against the communist. Oplan Bantay Laya II is patterned after Vietnam War, CIA inspired-Operation Phoenix.



Int’l Tribunal Verdict: Political Killings Stem From Opposition To Arroyo’s Economic Policies

Written by Antonio Tujan Jr.

Thursday, 29 March 2007

Political killings persist precisely because the government attempts to stop people’s opposition to policies and systems that violate their economic rights. By Antonio Tujan Jr. IBON Features Vol XIII No 7 IBON Features-- The recent verdict of the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal (PPT) found Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo guilty of violating Filipinos’ political and civil rights, as well as their economic rights and right to self-determination. It is important to emphasize the relationship of these violations because it will explain why political killings persist in the country. Under the Arroyo government, domestic production and agriculture remained in depression while joblessness and poverty worsened as it aggressively implements neoliberal reforms. What the verdict of the 7-member jury indicates is this: the current rash of political killings stems from the regime’s attempts to silence opposition to her policies and the resulting economic crisis. For instance, according to the PPT proceedings, in its struggle against extreme poverty, Filipino farmers have organized themselves to claim their rights through the democratic process. But their resistance is met with state repression by increasing military presence in the countryside. Statistics show that almost 60% of the victims of extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances are farmer leaders and that these killings are not isolated but planned and systematic. Not surprisingly, the main target of extrajudicial killings (and disappearances, massacres, tortures, etc.) is the legal left. For years, it has steadily represented the people's voice in the national and international arenas in calling for an end to policies and systems that violate economic, social, and cultural rights of Filipinos. Rights groups have recorded more than 800 victims of political killings under the Arroyo administration since 2001. The legal left has been the target in the regime’s campaign to suppress opposition, using the communist bogey and the US-led war on terror as context. Targeting progressive party-lists, people’s organizations, and civil society groups also sends a signal to anti-Arroyo forces without providing the push that would strengthen and incite the opposition further. But as history has shown, amid intense poverty, hunger, unemployment, and landlessness, the efforts of the administration to suppress people’s movements do not decisively weaken opposition ranks but only fuel further social unrest. IBON Features

US Senate panel raps dispatch of RP generals to hearing

The United States should suspend military aid to the Philippines until inept Arroyo regime stop political killings. Militants blame the military-police dead squads for the killings. Gloria Arroyo needs military support for her political survival.


US Senate panel raps dispatch of RP generals to hearing

By RODNEY J. JALECO
ABS-CBN North America News Bureau


WASHINGTON D.C. - The head of a US Senate panel looking into the rash of political executions in the Philippines, chided the Manila government for sending top police and military officials to present their side.

“I don’t understand why you have to send military and police to a hearing that a couple of senators are holding to look at allegations of human rights abuses,” an apparently upset Senator Barbara Boxer said in this afternoon’s hearing of the Senate subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs. Boxer chairs the subcommittee.

“We made it very clear and to their credit they responded. They said they will not send any military, they won’t send any police, and they said they won’t send any intelligence agents,” she added.

The Senate panel was looking into, among others, accusations that Philippine security forces were behind many of the extra-judicial killings. The human rights NGO Karapatan said 836 people have been killed in political assassinations since President Arroyo took power in 2001 – over 200 of them last year alone.

“That’s a pretty basic point, that we don’t try to intimidate witnesses,” Boxer stressed.

President Arroyo earlier dispatched PNP Deputy Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon Jr., head of Task Force Usig – the body formed to help stop extra-judicial killings; Criminal Investigation & Detection Group (CIDG) Dir. Edgardo Doromal; Col. Gaudencio Pangilinan, deputy chief of the AFP’s Intelligence Service (ISAFP); and Col. Benedicto Jose, head of the AFP Human Rights Office.

But Razon told ABS-CBN News later that it was never their intention to join the Senate hearings. “We went here to help and be the resource persons of the Ambassador (Willy Gaa),” Razon emphasized.

“Mali yun, hindi kami invited ng US Senate, particularly Senator Barbara Boxer to testify. We are here to assist the Philippine Embassy,” he added.

ABS-CBN News learned that only Razon and Doromal have so far made it to Washington; Pangilinan’s arrival was delayed because a Philippine Airlines jet he took to San Francisco was delayed by a mechanical problem and Jose was still working to get a visa to travel to the US.

Eric John, Deputy Asst. Secretary of State for East Asian & Paific Affairs, said that while the Arroyo administration had initiated moves to stem the violence, it needed to move faster and more resolutely.

“I don’t think you could call it enough,” John said in response to questioning by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

“I think she’s marched out in the right direction the last couple of months,” John said, referring to Arroyo initiatives against extra-judicial killings, but added that “until these numbers go down dramatically enough, we won’t know if that’s going to be enough.”

He said the State Department is ready to support moves within the Philippines to sustain the pressure on the Arroyo administration to follow-through on the campaign to stem human rights violations, especially extra-judicial killings.

But Eugene Martin, Executive Director of the Philippine Facilitation Project, U.S. Institute of Peace, painted a bleak picture at least for the short term.

He said the coming May polls in the Philippines will likely bring more violence – and a statement attributed to National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Martin said, was especially worrisome. Gonzales had stated that leftist candidates, particularly in the party list groups, would not be allowed to win seats in Congress.

Martin, a former deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Manila, labeled Gonzales’ statement as a “potential hunting license to military and local officials who agree with him.”

T. Kumar, Advocacy Director for Asia & the Pacific of Amnesty International, said President Arroyo’s coddling of former army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan sent the wrong signals to victims of human rights violations and extra- judicial killings.

The hearing at the Dirksen Building, which is part of the Capitol Hill complex, drew a large crowd and the room was filled way before the start of the hearing this afternoon.

Boxer urged the State Department to review how aid is given to the Philippines. She cited a congressional think-tank report that said the Philippines enjoyed the “most dramatic” increase in US military assistance in the East Asia and Pacific region.

She declared that, “We must make sure that American taxpayers’ money is not spent to perpetuating” human rights abuses in the Philippines.

Boshop Eliezer Pascua, Sec-Gen of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, submitted a three-point proposal to the Boxer panel. He called for an immediate stop to the killings, including the scrapping of an alleged hitlist of military targets; bringing perpetrators to justice; and for the Arroyo administration to adhere to international human rights conventions.

Some 25 churchmen, including lay leaders working in Church-sponsored community projects have been killed in the last six years – the majority of them belonging to the UCCP.

Related Links:
US aid to Philippines questioned over killings
Rep. Satur Ocampo joins US probe into extrajudicial killings through YouTube
Delegates urge U.S. to help stop murders in Philippines