Letter of 49 US solons to GMA on the killings and abductions

August 1, 2007
Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President
The Republic of the Philippines

Manila

Philippines

Dear President Arroyo:

As Members of the House of Representatives, we write to express our great concern with significant human rights violations in the Philippines and the government’s response to these violations. The Philippines has long been a close ally of the United States, and we recognize and appreciate the long-standing friendship between our two nations. Due to this historic friendship, we believe it is necessary to make clear our strong concerns regarding the ongoing human rights crisis in the Philippines. In recent years, there have been a number of well-documented abductions and extrajudicial killings. Most recently, we have received reports of the abduction and imprisonment of Pastor Berlin Guerrero We respectfully request your attention to and intervention in these cases.

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 victims of these unlawful killings represent a cross-section of civil society, including church leaders and workers, journalists, labor leaders, and human rights activists. The killing of civilians who are peacefully exercising their lawful right in a democratic society to express dissent is a gross violation of universally recognized human rights and international law.

In addition, we are deeply concerned that the murders are committed in a growing environment of impunity and that efforts to investigate these killings have been lacking. The response of the AFP and PNP, as well as officials within the civilian ranks of the government, to the human rights abuses fail to hold accountable and prosecute those responsible for these crimes. The leadership of the AFP, PNP, and Cabinet officials, steadfastly deny the involvement of military forces in these killings, despite strong evidence to the contrary.

In one recent example, reports detail that on May 27, 2007, Pastor Berlin Guerrero was abducted by masked men while at a gas station with his family. The abductors beat him until he gave up the names of his family, parishioners, friends, and the password to his computer. They replaced his computer documents with their own incriminating documentation, allegedly belonging to the “underground left.” Pastor Guerrero is currently being held at Camp Pantaloon Garcia, Cavite Provincial Police Office. Accounts suggest that during his time in detention, Pastor Guerrero has been tortured. This is just one of many similar cases.

The 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. 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. The numerous reports that our and other congressional offices receive indicate the need for our close monitoring of this situation, particularly regarding the alleged use of U.S. assistance to implement the abductions and killings.

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 and PNP, responsible for these killings, and in eliminating the underlying causes of the violence. The well-documented violence that continues with impunity must be ended.

Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you to resolve these cases.

Sincerely,

Brian Baird (Democrat-Washington)
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat-Wisconsin)
Howard Berman (Democrat-California)
Dan Burton (Republican-Indiana)
Julia Carson (Democrat-Indiana)
Rosa DeLauro (Democrat-Connecticut)
Keith Ellison (Democrat-Minnesota)
Phil English (Republican-Pennsylvania)
Sam Farr (Democrat-California)
Chaka Fattah (Democrat-Pennsylvania)
Trent Franks (Democrat-Massachusetts)
Raul Grijalva (Democrat-Arizona)
Luis Gutierrez (Democrat-Illinois)
Maurice Hinchey (Democrat-New York)
Mike Honda (Democrat-California)
Jesse Jackson (Democrat-Illinois)
Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (Democrat-Michigan)
Mark-Steven Kirk (Republican-Illinois)
Dennis Kucinich (Democrat-Ohio)
Tom Lantos (Democrat-California)
Rick Larsen (Democrat-Washington)
Barbara Lee (Democrat-California)
John Lewis (Democrat-Georgia)
David Loebsack (Democrat-Iowa)
Zoe Lofgren (Democrat-California)
Doris Matsui (Democrat-California)
Betty McCollum (Democrat-Minnesota)
Jim McDermott (Democrat-Washington)
James McGovern (Democrat-Massachusetts)
Jerry McNerney (Democrat-California),
Mike McNulty (Democrat-New York)
Jerry Moran (Republican-Kansas)
James Oberstar (Democrat

Letter in PDF format

■   United Methodists cry for justice for Pastor Isaias Sta. Rosa; Bishop, family appeal for SC special courts to reopen case vs Army involved in killing

■   Fact Finding Report on the killing of Pastor Sta. Rosa

■   49 US solons urge Arroyo to act vs killings, rights abuses

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RESPONSE BY THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

AND ATLANTIC CANADA OPPORTUNITIES AGENCY

The Government of Canada is deeply concerned by extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

The Government of Canada has repeatedly raised our concerns about extrajudicial killings with the Philippine government at all levels, both via our Embassy in the Philippines and in Canada. On June 11, 2007, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deepak Obhrai, rose in the House of Commons to express the Government of Canada’s concerns about this issue. Canada supports increasing capacity and expertise in Philippine government institutions and civil society organizations that are working to improve the human rights situation. Canadian development assistance to the Philippines contributes to improving human rights by helping to strengthen governance, the rule of law, and conflict resolution.

Canada has encouraged several important Philippine initiatives that are attempting to address the issue of extrajudicial killings. These include Task Force USIG, a national level task force, and the Melo Commission, both of which were initiated by the Government of the Philippines. Canada was among the countries that relayed the importance of publicizing former Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Melo’s report, which is available at www.pinoyhr.net/reports/meloreports.pdf .

Canadian officials continue to meet and consult with groups most affected by the violence, including in remote areas of the Philippines. On-going communication between Canadian Embassy officials and high-ranking Philippine officials is a key element of our bilateral engagement on human rights.

Additionally, Canada encourages and supports the efforts of Canadian mining companies in the Philippines to ensure that their mining practices are socially and environmentally responsible. In 2006, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade led a series of roundtable discussions hosted by the Government of Canada on Corporate Social Responsibility and the Canadian extractive sector in developing countries. In conjunction with these

roundtable discussions, an advisory group of industry labour, and civil society experts was established to help create programs and policies in the area of corporate social responsibility for Canadian mining companies. Furthermore, Canada expects Canadian companies to respect the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines on responsible business conduct.

The Government of Canada acknowledges the steps undertaken by the Government of the Philippines and Philippine civil society to stop extrajudicial killings and continues to urge thorough and timely investigations and prosecution of perpetrators. We welcomed the invitation made by the Government of the Philippines to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, and await his full report addressing the issue. Mr. Alston is in a unique position of trust to inquire into extrajudicial killings and we   look   forward to his recommendations.

◄◄◄

The Government of Canada also welcomes the announcement made by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the creation of special courts to prosecute those responsible for the killings and strengthened witness protection programs. Canada values this commitment to improving human rights and supports efforts by the Philippine government to put an end to extrajudicial killings. 

Statement in word format

JUSTICE FOR PASTOR STA. ROSA VIDEO

Video taken from the Bicol Xpress You Tube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/bikolxpress

Bicol Xpress Website: http://bikolxpress.wordpress.com/

Hustisya! (Justice) Part 1 of 4

Hustisya! (Justice) Part 2 of 4

Hustisya! (Justice) Part 3 of 4

Hustisya! (Justice) Part 4 of 4 (Last Part)

■   Bishop Iniguez' contribution/paper to the SC Summit on Extra-Judicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances

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■   Proposal to Cut Military Aid to RP: A Welcome Move

■   Nordis Weekly: Two FFM teams look into HRV's in two Kalinga towns; Suggestion: HR fact finding teams check on 2 Kalinga towns

ALLIANCE OF CONCERNED TEACHERS

July 26, 2007

NEWS RELEASE

Reference: Antonio L. Tinio (0920-9220817)

      ACT Chairperson

World’s teachers call for end to extrajudicial killings and disappearances

Berlin, Germany. — The world’s teachers have called on the Arroyo government to end extrajudicial killings and disappearances.

In an urgent resolution, the 5^th World Congress of Education International called on the Philippine government to “immediately put a stop to extrajudicial killings and involuntary disappearances; investigate, prosecute, and punish those responsible for these acts; and ensure that its security forces respect the human rights and civil liberties of citizens.”

Education International is a global federation of teacher trade unions, with 30 million members from more than 300 affiliated organizations in over 180 countries. It held its fifth world congress in Berlin, Germany from 22 to 26 July 2007, attended by more than 1,700 delegates. German president Horst Koehler gave a speech during the opening ceremony. Education International holds its world congress every three years.

Two delegates from the Philippines, from the Alliance of Concerned Teachers and the Teachers’ Organization of the Philippines-Public Sector, participated in the congress. ACT moved for the adoption of the urgent resolution, which was unanimously approved by the body.

The urgent resolution noted “that more than 1000 activists fighting to uphold the rights and welfare of poor and oppressed Filipinos have been assassinated or made to disappear since President Gloria Arroyo took power in 2001,” and that “the victims include nine teachers, two of whom were national officers of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Vitoria Samonte and Napoleon Pornasdoro.” It also expressed “outrage that these gross human rights violations are carried out with impunity.”

In an address to the congress, ACT chairperson Antonio Tinio also decried the deployment of soldiers in Metro Manila’s urban poor communities and schools, and denounced the new antiterrorism law which has “given this regime…a fearsome new weapon to further repress legal and democratic struggles.”

Tinio hailed the approval of the resolution. “We told the world’s educators about the appalling human rights record of the Arroyo government, and they have given us their support. Their message to Mrs. Arroyo is simple: stop the killings and disappearances now and put an end to impunity by punishing those responsible.” #

Above statement and the resolution in Word format

UP Professor Antonio Tinio, ACT Chair,

at the 5th World Congress of Education International

in Berlin, July 26, 2007

Urgent resolution 6.06

SITUATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

Submitted by ACT, Philippines

The 5th Education International World Congress, meeting in Berlin, Germany, from 22 to 26 July 2007

deplores the murder of urban poor activist Charlie Solayao on July 17, 2007, in Tacloban City, Philippines by two masked gunmen;

is appalled that more than 1000 activists fighting to uphold the rights and welfare of poor and oppressed Filipinos have been assassinated or made to disappear since President Gloria Arroyo took power in 2001;

notes that the victims include nine teachers, two of whom were national officers of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Vitoria Samonte and Napoleon Pornasdoro;

is outraged that these gross human rights violations are carried out with impunity.

Therefore, the 5^th EI World Congress calls on the Philippine government led by Pres. Arroyo to

• immediately put a stop to extrajudicial killings and involuntary disappearances;

•  

• investigate, prosecute, and punish those responsible for these acts; and

•  

• ensure that its security forces respect the human rights and civil liberties of citizens.

[approved unanimously on July 26, 2007]