Dear Congressperson, 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 near the rate during the Marcos government. Human rights groups have reported over 750 murders of political and community activists in the past five years. Several recent reports document the problem. This includes 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". In addition recently we have received nearly daily urgent actions from the Asian Human Rights Commission and Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, as well as reports by numerous teams US and Philippines of religious leader Philippine Lawyers. These reports show a common pattern to the killings: 1) surveillance and threats to the victims a priori by officers, 2) finding their names on an "Order of Battle" by military commanders, 3) affiliation with lawful activist or leftist movements and political parties (including labor, journalism, women, peasants, environmental and other sectors), 4) assassination (often in front of families and friends) by hooded persons often driving motorbikes or unlicensed vehicles, 5) scant investigation, 6) witness intimidation and sometimes witness murder. It appears about 90% of these killings are attributed to security forces or sanctioned vigilante groups, which often are allowed to carry weapons, with little supervision. The right to life is the most elemental human right of a citizen. It is nonderogatory, meaning it cannot be suspended even in war. In cases where representatives of the government may be involved, Amnesty International calls such killings Extrajudicial Executions. Either the government could end them, or is legally obligated to do all it can to prevent them. The Amnesty International report details 51 killings of political and community activists in the first half of 2006, double the rate it found in all of 2005. The US State Department Report for 2005 noted (page 1) that the Philippine constitutionally mandated Commission of Human Rights reported: "...arbitrary, unlawful, and extrajudicial killings by elements of the security forces; and political killings, including killings of journalists, by a variety of actors, which often go unpunished; disappearances; physical and psychological abuse of suspects and detainees and instances of torture; police, prosecutorial and judicial corruption; ...harassment of some human rights and left- wing political activists by local military and police forces;" We find statements and actions to date taken by the executive branch of the Philippine government to be inadequate in the face of such injustices and murders. There has been no clear statement that extrajudicial executions are illegal and will not be tolerated. Investigations, particularly of crimes alleged by military units have rarely been begun. Military personnel have been transferred before investigations can make progress. Some perpetrators have been promoted, notably, now General Jovito Palparan, mentioned ten times in the Amnesty International report as in command of areas where disappearances and political killings markedly rise. [After these reports, upon his retirement in September, the administration reported serious consideration to place him at the head of all counterinsurgency operations in the country.] We believe that, just as U.S. Congresspersons were instrumental in taking actions to limit the power of President Ferdinand Marcos at the end of his martial law rule, which gave birth to modern democracy in the Philippines, today the U.S. Congress could and should help this situation. We respectfully request that: 1. The report of the Dutch Lawyers and the Amnesty International Report be entered into the U.S. Congressional Record, together with statements that political killings need to be diminished much more effectively by the Philippine government. 2. You co-sign a Sense of Congress letter be that could go directly to the President of the Philippines, H. E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to note the facts in those reports, and suggest that the following actions by her administration would help: a. State that extrajudicial killings are illegal and will not be tolerated. All members of security forces are responsible to report them and prevent them. Prosecutions will be done of those that do them, and those that tolerate or abet them. b. Establish a Chain of Command, to include identification and traceability of persons and vehicles involved in official activities, especially those that result in armed conflict or killings; ability to establish identity of actions of police and armed forces on every day and place; filing of accurate and verifiable reports of military and actions in case they are needed in investigations, and more. c. Develop legal procedures for the development of military "Orders of Battle" which allow a person or lawful organization to challenge their listing there upon. Clarify the rules under which persons or organizations listed on Orders of Battle are treated, including death threats, surveillance, harassment and enforcement actions. d. Guarantee the writ of habeas corpus. This would be critical to locate "disappeared" persons and to safeguard the treatment of those in custody. e. Take positive steps to end a climate of impunity, especially by working (much harder) to establish adequate investigations and prosecutions of human rights violations. Investigate especially the very high rise in assassinations of political and community activists in Central Luzon in the past year when General Jovito Palparan was active, culminating in the murder of Most Reverend Albert B. Ramento, D.D., bishop and co-chairperson of the Ecumenical Bishops Forum early in October. f. Institute better and comprehensive classes for members of security forces and civilian armed force groups about rights of citizens guaranteed by their constitution and laws. g. Work with the Philippine Congress to draft legislation to clarify and implement the above recommendations. Sincerely Yours, References U.S State Department Report on Human Rights in the Philippines (Year 2005; http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/ 61624.htm) "Report on the Attacks against Filipino Lawyers and Judges" from the Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation, July 24, 2006 [http://www.advocatenvooradvocaten.nl/ projects.html] Amnesty International report of August 15, 2006 entitled, "Philippines: Political Killings, Human Rights and the Peace Process" [http://news.amnesty.org/index/ ENGASA350082006].