UNHRC says RP killings drop 70%; Palace blames NPA for atrocities

Published by rudy Date posted on June 5, 2009

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government blamed the New People’s Army (NPA) for the number of unexplained killings in the country as it highlighted a report to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that such killings “have fallen dramatically by 70 percent.”

The government, through its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, noted UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston’s follow-up report to the UNHRC that unexplained killings dropped in the Philippines.

The mission submitted to the UNHRC a detailed written response to Alston’s follow-up report prepared by the Philippine Human Rights Committee (PHRC).

During the interactive dialogue in the council, the Philippine delegation shared news reports validating that the NPA was behind a number of unexplained killings in the Philippines.

The Philippine delegation stated that such proof was “indicative of the consistent pattern of deception used by rebel groups where the armed wing conducts extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances and other violations of humanitarian law, while the political arm puts the blame on the government.”

Aside from the follow-up report on the Philippines, Alston presented a number of reports to the 11th session of the UNHRC, including those on his visits to other countries.

In his follow-up report, Alston said the PHRC has been reinvigorated and a major and “highly credible” investigation of the alleged death squads in Davao has been opened.

NPA atrocities cited

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita noted Alston’s report acknowledging “the progress in the Philippine government’s and the Arroyo administration’s promotion and protection of human rights in the country.”

Alston made his report before the UNHRC in Geneva, Switzerland last Wednesday.

Ermita cited data from various sources, which indicated that from January 2008 up to May 2009, there were 235 cases of NPA atrocities, broken down into 171 cases in 2008 and 64 in the first quarter of 2009.

There were also 120 cases of murder and liquidation of suspected government informers, non-payers of so-called revolutionary taxes, and civilian sympathizers.

The report indicated that there were 64 arson incidents involving buses, trucks, bulldozers and other construction equipment, and cellular phone sites; 21 cases of forced disarmament of armed personnel; 18 cases of extortion and harassment of small businessmen and professionals; and 12 cases of abduction of military and police personnel, and civilian non-sympathizers. – Pia Lee-Brago, Marvin Sy, Philippine Star

July 2025

Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”

Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.

Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar.  Reject Military!

#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos

Time to support & empower survivors. Time to spark a global conversation. Time for #GenerationEquality to #orangetheworld!

July


3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 Ju
ly – International Plastic Bag Free Day
 
5 July –
World Youth Skills Day 
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day 
17 July – World Day for
International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons 


Monthly Observances:

Schools Safety Month

Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month

Weekly Observances:

Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week

 

Daily Observances:

First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines

Categories

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.