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
June 2025
Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”
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
Monthly Observances:
1 Jun – World Day of Parents
5 Jun – World Environment Day
7 Jun – World Food Safety Day
8 Jun – World Oceans Day
12 Jun – World Day Against Child Labour
15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances
17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
20 Jun – World Refugee Day
25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer
27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Daily Observances:
June 6: Migrant Workers Day
June 19: Filipino Youth Day
June 25: Day of the Filipino Seafarer
