US cites drop in killings, disappearances in RP

MANILA, Philippines – While unexplained killings and forced disappearances continue to be serious problems in the Philippines, the United States acknowledged the significant decrease in the number of killings and disappearances.

In the latest country report on the Philippines, “Advancing Freedom and Democracy Report 2008” released by the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, the decrease in the number of killings and disappearances is attributed to the government’s intensified efforts to investigate and prosecute these cases in 2007.

“The government generally respected the human rights of its citizens; however, there continued to be serious problems in certain areas, particularly extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and forced disappearances,” the report said.

“The Philippines has struggled with EJKs and forced disappearances for most of its modern history. The US government officials use every opportunity to convey the message that these killings and disappearances must cease and must be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted,” the report added.

In support of this priority, assistance programs are underway to build the capacity of journalists to report credibly, accurately, and professionally on human rights violations, to strengthen the justice sector’s effectiveness in prosecuting cases of unexplained killings and disappearances, and to professionalize security forces.

Washington also provides assistance to law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the courts to investigate, prosecute, and convict human rights abusers and to devise strategies to prevent future abuses.

The report also said that the government remains vulnerable to political turmoil, recurring attempts to use extra-constitutional means to resolve leadership crises, human rights abuses and concerns about credibility of elections.

“Corruption and weak rule of law continue to be underlying factors exacerbating this vulnerability,” the report said.

The report cited the high voter turnout in the 2007 national and local elections that demonstrated the country’s continuing commitment to the democratic process as 99 percent of the 17,000 seats available nationwide were filled without controversy.

Elections were marred by violence and fraud, as in past years, but civil society monitoring groups played an active role as poll watchers to ensure fairer election counts.

The report said the US government addresses these issues by providing development assistance programs for government and civil society partners to develop the policies and tools necessary for a freer, fairer, and more democratic system set within the framework of the rule of law and respect for human rights.

US efforts are broad-based and support initiatives that boost confidence in the democratic process. Programs at both the local and national level promote equity, transparency, and popular participation – all key factors for the healthy functioning of a democracy.

Elections are generally free and fair but have historically included numerous killings of campaign workers and even candidates, as well as recurrent fraud allegations.

To counter these problems, US-funded programs currently support civil society initiatives that monitor election tabulation; allow NGOs to monitor campaign finance in selected electoral contests and media reporting; and assist electoral modernization efforts in preparation for local and national elections.

The US embassy coordinated and deployed a multi-agency team of 86 US officials to observe the May 2007 national elections.

The US government continues to provide the Philippine Commission on Human Rights, along with several human rights NGOs, with computer software support and training to improve efficiency and security in documenting, storing, and reporting of human rights abuses.

Washington sponsored a seven-day seminar on the investigation and prosecution of unexplained killings and co-sponsored the Supreme Court’s July 2007 National Consultative Summit on Extrajudicial Killings and Forced Disappearances.

Positive public response to recommendations made as a result of the summit provided momentum to the effort to counter abuses, including subsequent Supreme Court action that allowed for the legal remedy of the writ of amparo now used in the investigation of unexplained killings and forced disappearances

US officials are also working with the SC to develop materials that will easily convey the legal procedures involved in securing a writ of amparo.

To encourage respect for due process among members of the Armed Forces, there are various US military assistance programs to strengthen the professionalism, commitment to human rights, and discipline of the Philippine military.