By JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
Malaya
Nov. 7, 2007

MALACAÑANG yesterday expressed confidence the Philippines would be able to comply with the conditions of the US Senate for an additional $2 million aid.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said government is already complying with the three requirements which were made public by Philip Alston, UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, who visited the country last February to look into the human rights situation.

In his website, Alston said the US budget appropriation act states that the Philippines can obtain the extra military aid only if the Arroyo government implements his recommendations; investigates and prosecutes military personnel involved in extrajudicial executions and human rights violations; and, shows the military is not engaging in acts of intimidation or violence against members of legal organizations that advocate human rights.

Among others, Alston has recommended before the UN Human Rights Council that the Arroyo administration be asked to order the Armed Forces to stop linking legitimate militant groups to the communist movement.

Bunye said the conditions are “easy” to comply with. “But what is important is the bigger bulk of the grant. Imagine dati ay $11 million dollars, ngayon ay $30 million at iyan ay walang conditions,” he said.

He was referring to the $30 million military aid, which was raised from $11 million, and a $30 million economic assistance, also up from $26 million, which has been committed by the US to the Philippines.

Bunye said the US would not have increased its military aid if it did not recognize the contributions of the Philippines in the anti-terrorism campaign and in stabilizing the Asia Pacific region.

He said everyone should also look at the increased aid as a “very clear sign” that US still has its full trust and confidence in the Philippines despite allegations that the military was behind extrajudicial killings and human rights violations and criticisms over the way government is handling the cases.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the defense and military establishments are adhering to the principles of human rights notwithstanding the US Senate’s conditions.

“We enjoin respect for human rights. It is an ongoing endeavor of the defense and military establishments to uphold human rights without any preconditions,” he said.

The Armed Forces expressed confidence the Philippines will get the additional aid as it said it has already been implementing the recommendations not only of Alston but also of the Melo Commission which was created by President Arroyo to look into the killings.

The Armed Forces has also been investigating and prosecuting military personnel involved in the political killings, said Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, chief of the AFP public information office.

He said the military activated early this year its Human Rights Office and created five general courts martial dedicated to the trial of soldiers who may be indicted for the political killings.

On the third condition, Bacarro said it is not military policy to intimidate people.

“We operate based on what is accepted, what is within the purview of the law…There might be some rogue elements, there might be some individuals who, in a way have committed infractions of human rights, and these are the ones that we will produce if there are appropriate charges filed against them.” he said.

INDICATORS

Bacarro said the military has also ensured that personnel with a record of human rights violation are not promoted or given “critical positions.”

Personnel intending to study abroad are also required to get clearances from the military, including a human rights clearance, Bacarro said.

The military has also reinforced human rights education by incorporating additional human rights and international humanitarian law subjects for officers.

“These are indicators that would show that indeed the Armed Forces have relatively done well to comply with some of the recommendations of the Melo commission and Professor Alston,” he said.

Bacarro also said the military does not consider the US Senate’s conditions “a form of intimidation.”

“Of course, they wouldn’t want to be providing assistance to any organization … that will be used to violate the rights of individuals,” he said.

BOLSTERING CAPABILITY

Bacarro said the additional assistance, if finally given, would be used to bolster the military’s capability in addressing the threat of terrorism. “If we have better equipment, better capability the more we can secure the Filipino people. But in the absence, in case it (additional assistance) will not be given, we’ll continue performing our job based on the available resources that we have,” Bacarro added.

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney urged media to report human rights violations as she said the US continues to be concerned about human rights violations and unexplained deaths in the country.

“We always worry when there are unexplained deaths because we value and respect human rights,” she said during a visit in Baguio City. “The best solution is to work together to train the police.”

The church-led Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights in the Philippines said the setting of conditions was a “significant step” toward justice for victims of extrajudicial executions.

Members of the group testified in March before the US Senate against government’s human rights record.

“The government should also rethink its counter-insurgency strategy and concentrate on building bridges for peace by engaging in principled talks in formal negotiations instead of a total war policy,” said Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz Duremdes, a convenor of the group.

US church groups are maintaining pressure on the Arroyo government over the spate of political killings. The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship of the two million-strong US Presbyterian Church said a delegation will visit the country in February to investigate cases of extrajudicial killings, particularly of a Protestant bishop, pastors and lay church members. – With Victor Reyes, Ma. Elena Catajan and Anthony Ian Cruz