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

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