Petition Concerning Extrajudicial Killings in the Philippines

To:

H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines, 
Malacanang Palace, J.P. Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila, Philippines
 
Hon. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing, Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights, 
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex, Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines


Dear President Macapagal-Arroyo and Hon. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing:

Sadly, we have read many recent reports about killings or disappearance of civilians in 
the Philippines, which have escalated over the past five years to be near those of the 
Marcos government.  This year alone, there is the U.S State Department Report on 
Human Rights in the Philippines (Year 2005), the "Report on the attacks against Filipino 
Lawyers and Judges" from the Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation, July 24, 2006, 
and the Amnesty International report of August 15, 2006 entitled, "Philippines: Political 
Killings, Human Rights and the Peace Process".  There are also nearly daily urgent 
actions from the Asian Human Rights Commission, Task Force Detainees of the 
Philippines and Karapatan, as well as reports by visiting religious leader teams.

These show a common pattern to the killings:  surveillance and threats to the victims a 
priori by officers, finding their names on an Order of Battle by military commanders, 
affiliation with lawful activist or leftist movements and political parties (including labor, 
journalism, women, peasants, environmental and other sectors), assassination (often in 
front of families and friends) by hooded persons driving motorbikes or unlicensed 
vehicles, scant investigation, and witness intimidation and sometimes murder.  It appears 
up to 90% of these killings could be attributed to security forces or sanctioned vigilante 
groups, which often are allowed to carry weapons.

All of these incidents are deplorable, and inexcusable.  The right to life is the most 
elemental right of a citizen.  It is nonderogatory, meaning it cannot be suspended even in 
war.  There must be adequate investigations.   The legal system must begin to work in 
these cases, and perpetrators must be brought to justice.
We find statements and actions to date taken by the executive branch of the Philippine 
government to be inadequate.  There must be statements and announcements by your 
offices - by you personally - to bring justice and to stop these extrajudicial killings and 
"Disappearances".   The chain of command needs to be clear, and persons doing these 
crimes must be stopped.  
In particular, the Amnesty International report mentions activities by General Jovito 
Palparan ten times.  Each of his commands, from Mindoro to Samar to central Luzon, 
was marked by a huge increase in torture, human rights violations and murders of 
civilians.  In a radio address, he said his command would kidnap citizens, and if activist 
groups complain, kill them.  The word "Berdugo", executioner, seem appropriate.  Yet 
recently it was suggested that in his retirement, he would take over running all the 
counterinsurgency for the country.   He should not be praised, rather, allegations against 
him need to be investigated!
The Amnesty Report emphasizes that negotiations leading to peace with the armed 
persons on the left (NPA) and NDF, cannot make progress if these killings are not 
stopped.  A statement was signed by you that communists are "international terrorists", 
and also recently, a proposal made to stop them in two years.  Murdering of lawfully-
acting, non-armed activists and community leaders is not going to do this.  It will 
increase recruitment for the very groups you are trying to diminish.


We respectfully ask that you:

i. Order a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances of all these 
murders, especially those occurring under General Palparan's commands
ii. Enable the prosecution of perpetrators
iii. Guarantee the right of the writ of habeas corpus
iv. Do not allow unmarked vehicles to be used by your forces.  Each vehicle must have a 
license plate or markings that allow you to determine who is using it
v. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all law-
abiding citizens by members of the Armed Forces and Police; consider courses to 
teach them
vi. Publicly state that death-squad type activities and extrajudicial killings or abductions 
are strictly forbidden and will not be tolerated.; establish chains of command to 
prevent killings
vii. Perhaps, together with your Congress, there could be laws enacted, courts could be 
empowered, and public commissions established to help with the above.

Thank you for your kind attention.