Earlier this month, in its annual human rights report, the US government highlighted ongoing extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the Philippines, and impunity for these abuses. But in that same week, at the opening of the 27th Balikatan exercises, it missed the opportunity to convey its concerns directly to a source of the abuses-the Armed Forces of the Philippines. US public messages of concern about military abuses need to go beyond annual human rights reports. Otherwise, when accompanied by backslapping military exercises, these messages can easily be construed as empty rhetoric. While training has its role, until such a time as there is rigorous accountability for abuses, the Philippine armed forces will likely continue to violate the rights of Filipinos.
Hundreds of members of left-wing political parties, activists, critical journalists, and outspoken clergy have been killed or forcibly disappeared in the Philippines since 2001. Since President Benigno Aquino III took office last June 30, more than 20 leftist activists have been killed, in addition to at least two journalists in the course of their work. At least four men have been forcibly disappeared.
Human Rights Watch research has implicated the military in several of these abuses. The national Commission on Human Rights has similarly identified both police and military personnel as suspects in a number of killings and disappearances.
Few perpetrators have been held accountable. Over the past decade, only 11 people have been convicted of six killings-none since President Aquino came to office-and no one has been convicted for the abductions. No member of the military active at the time of the killing has been brought to justice. Nor has the armed forces taken adequate steps itself to disarm soldiers and paramilitary members implicated in serious human rights violations.
Since President Aquino took office, military chiefs have spoken frequently of the importance of human rights. One need only drive along EDSA to see the "I am a soldier and a human rights advocate" sign outside Camp Aguinaldo. But actions speak louder than words, and with the military flouting police investigations, denying involvement in abuses without investigating, and new killings and disappearances-it is difficult to see positive change.
Human Rights Watch has found that the armed forces did not comply with police investigations in several recent alleged extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearance cases, including last year's September 9 shooting death of Bayan Muna member Vincente Felisilda and the October 1 brutal beating and shooting death of peasant rights activist, Rene "Toto" Quirante. Witnesses have implicated military personnel in both killings. In the case of Felisilda, the local army battalion refused to provide a copy of the log book to the police, saying it would be necessary for its defense if a case is brought. In the case of Quirante, the court has issued a warrant for the arrest of a paramilitary force member operating under the battalion's command, and an alleged military "asset"-but, the military has refused to cooperate with police in the execution of the arrest warrants. A military officer from the battalion told Human Rights Watch, "It's not our job; it is the job of the police."
Balikatan is a series of annual joint US-Philippines military exercises designed to promote professionalism. The US ambassador, Harry Thomas Jr. said the exercises are about "partnership, friendship and mutual respect." But the US should recognize that no matter how much it invests in training, until there is rigorous accountability for abuses, the Philippine military is unlikely to develop into a reliable security partner.
This year the exercises concentrated on providing humanitarian assistance. "Shoulder to shoulder we stand together, ready to defend when necessary and assist when needed," Thomas said. His address was an important opportunity to send a message to senior members of the military and the Philippine government that the US is concerned about the failure to hold members of the military accountable, but there was no mention of abuses or accountability.
This year's US human rights report is the first time since President Aquino took office that the US government has publicly highlighted concerns about extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. The US report recognizes the absence of accountability, particularly in cases of enforced disappearances, concluding that "investigative and judicial inaction on previous cases of disappearance contributed to a climate of impunity."
The report is an important tool, but these issues should be integrated throughout public and private communications with the Philippine government and particularly the armed forces.
International pressure has been effective in reducing rights abuses in the Philippines. In 2006 and 2007, when the US-together with the United Nations, the European Union, and several other major donors-publicly raised concerns over the politically motivated killings under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the number of killings dropped drastically. Under President Aquino, though, it is international pressure that has dropped, while the killings continue.
The trend on extrajudicial killings under President Aquino is heading in the wrong direction. The US needs to do away with platitudes of friendship and-publicly and privately-express concern about ongoing extrajudicial killings, push for rigorous accountability in the military, and clearly articulate consequences should these concerns go unaddressed. It should speak up as often as possible-not quite so gently, not only in reports, and not just from Washington. Isn't that what a true friend would do?
Jessica Evans is a researcher in the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch.
