Extrajudicial killings in the Philippines since 2001

 

·         Since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo replaced ousted President Joseph Estrada in 2001, there have been about 900 extrajudicial killings and about 180 enforced disappearances of mostly leftist activists in the Philippines [estimates from Karapatan, an independent human rights organization in the Philippines]. Other victims of these extrajudicial killings include journalists, human rights workers, members of clergy, indigenous peoples, union activists and their families, lawyers, peasants and workers.

·         Karapatan has described the human rights situation in the Philippines as the worst since the 14-year dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.

·    The International Trade Union Congress has labeled the Philippines one of the most dangerous countries for union activists, second only to Colombia.

·         In 2005 Reporters Without Borders described the Philippines as the most dangerous country for journalists, second only to war-torn Iraq.  Since then, there have been 15 more journalists killed while working and many more have been assaulted, intimidated and harassed.  A libel chill also threatens freedom of the press when some politicians, including President Arroyo's husband, filed defamation suits against reporters and media who attempted to expose government corruption.

 

·         Oplan Bantay Laya (Operation Freedom Watch), the counterinsurgency program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, was launched in January 2002.  The program specifically targets the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army.  Additional documents related to Oplan Bantay Laya that were uncovered by Philippine journalists, reveal that the operation also targets legal organizations and political party groups that the military considers "sectoral front organizations" of the CPP.

·         In 2006, amid strong national and international pressure, President Arroyo created the Melo Commission to investigate the waves of killings of members of media and activists.  The commission found "evidence pointing the finger of suspicion at some elements and personalities in the armed forces."

·         United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions Prof. Philip Alston reached the same conclusion as the Melo Commission in his report released in August 2007.

Canada's involvement in the Philippines

·         Bilateral trade between Canada and the Philippines is worth about CDN$1.5 billion.

·         The Canadian International Development Agency web site, the federal government describes describes the Philippines as a "functioning democracy with a vibrant civil society."

·         CIDA is the eighth largest overseas development assistance contributor to the Philippines with a total spending of CDN$14 million a year..  This funding includes the $3-million Peace Link Project in the predominantly Muslim areas of Mindanao.

·         The Arroyo administration's National Internal Security Plan combines military campaigns to secure peace in conflict zones with poverty reduction and development objectives. Military campaigns involve "crushing" the insurgencies and their "sympathizers." It remains unclear from CIDA documents exactly what kind of support Canada gives to governmental bodies in their "peace building" efforts.

·         Canadian mining companies are involved in at least five major mining projects in the Philippines worth over US $1 billion in investment.

·         There is documentation that Canadian mining operations ? such as those of TVI, Crew Development Corporation and Olympus ? have relied on the Philippine military and paramilitary as security for their sites and to help suppress local opposition to the mining operations.

·         The Canadian government has contributed funds to some of these mining operations. CIDA has channeled funds directly to TVI through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, and some of the CDN$120 million that the Economic Development Canada has provided to companies operating in the Philippines include mining companies.

·         Canada's Military Training Assistance Program and Police Training Assistance Program provide training assistance to the AFP and Philippine police force.  This year, 10 officers from the AFP will come to Canada to receive training under the MTAP. Records of participants in these programs are not publicly available, but many groups argue that the MTAP and PTAP serve to enhance the technical and operational capabilities of military and police units that have been implicated in human rights violations in the Philippines.

 

April 2008