US congressmen urge GMA to end extrajudicial killings
Danny Chan
A letter signed by 49 members of the United States House of Representatives has called on Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo “to end the extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses” in the Philippines. The bipartisan letter, dated Aug. 1, also suggested American aid to the Philippine police and armed forces was being used to perpetrate the killings.
The letter decried a “growing environment of impunity” in the Philippines while calling for “a sincere communication between the two governments” to bring perpetrators to justice.
“Since the extrajudicial killings in the Philippines continue unabated, and given the fact that there are many unanswered questions about the role of the Philippine government and military in these deaths, we respectfully request your strong and immediate leadership in investigating and prosecuting those individuals and/or groups, including those in the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and PNP [Philippine National Police], responsible for these killings, and in eliminating the underlying causes of the violence,” the letter stated.
The legislators’ letter described how the number of murder victims—over 800 mostly left-wing activists, according to non-governmental organizations—and other human rights abuses have increased since Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo came to power in 2001.
“We are very concerned that the extrajudicial killings could be a conscious and systematic part of the Philippine government’s counterinsurgency program and that financial assistance from our government is being used to support, directly or indirectly, those within the PNP and AFP who are responsible for the killings,” they stated in the letter.
“[T]he AFP and PNP receive a significant amount of aid from the United States to assist in training and professionalizing the Philippine security forces, to combat terrorist groups, and to upgrade military equipment and hardware,” it added. “[T]he numerous reports that our and other congressional offices receive indicate the need for our close monitoring of this situation, particularly the alleged use of US assistance to implement the abductions and killings.”
The letter, co-authored by representatives James L. Oberstar (D.-Minn.) and Joseph R. Pitts (R.-Penn.) and signed by the chairs of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means Committee, Oversight Subcommittee and the Asian-Pacific American Caucus, also cited the abduction of Berlin Guerrero last May 27. The pastor was allegedly beaten by his kidnappers until he provided the names of his family, parishioners, friends and his computer password.
The captors then allegedly replaced Mr. Guerrero’s computer documents with files linking him to the underground left. A report from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines said national police believe intelligence units with the Philippine navy are behind the abduction.
“The killings of civilians who are peacefully exercising their lawful rights in the democratic society to express dissent is a gross violation of universally recognized human rights and international law,” the letter further stated.
The congressmen’s letter marks the latest attempt by the US to persuade the Philippines to end extrajudicial killings. Filipino activists and church leaders were invited to testify before the US Congress in March; a provision was later added to the Foreign Operations Bill stipulating American aid cannot be used against Philippine civilians.
“As you may know, there is increasing evidence from well-regarded human rights organizations, including the Melo Commission created by your government, which indicates the involvement of personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP)” the letter stated.
The Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights in the Philippines lauded the representatives’ letter while pledging to increase its lobbying efforts on the US to urge Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo to end the killings and abductions. Joe Dizon, a member of the interfaith organization, stated the letter underscores the Macapagal-Arroyo administration’s inaction in dealing with human rights violations.
Rex Reyes of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines said Filipino communities and American churches will continue to lobby Congress to cut military aid to the Philippines by the 2008 fiscal year. Fr. Reyes added churches in the Philippines should increase their lobbying efforts like their American counterparts.
Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights), a Philippine human rights organization, stated earlier this year there have been 863 extrajudicial assassinations since Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo’s ascension to the presidency in 2001 to May 15 of this year. Among the executions are the deaths of 51 journalists; 196 people have also been abducted. Reports by the United Nations and Amnesty International reached similar conclusions.
The Philippines is the largest beneficiary of American military aid in Asia. The US State Department proposed an $11 billion aid package for the Philippines this year. The amount was increased to $30 billion by Congress, although the bill has yet to be signed into law.
