US lawmakers urged to ban firearms sale, support for PNP

International human rights advocacy organizations recommend to US lawmakers to extend the ban on firearms sale to the Philippines and put a halt on support for the police during a hearing by US legislators on the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

Human Rights Watch Deputy Director Phelim Kine made three recommendations before the US Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing on the human rights situation in the Philippines amid the government's war on drugs.

"Both the State Department last year froze the sale of thousands assault rifles to the Philippine National Police, we'd like to see those types of suspensions continued and reinforced," said Kine.

He was referring to the decision of the US Department of State to stop the sale of firearms to the country after US Senator Ben Cardin allegedly opposed the move due to his concerns on the supposed human rights violations in the country.

"The Millennium Challenge Corporation has deferred its decision on extended funding to the Philippines government because of concerns on the drug war and human rights, we would like to see that continued and reinforced," he added.

The Corporation was supposed to succeed the first grant or compact of $434 million that expired at the end of May 2016.

Kine also called for restrictions on aid particularly to the security forces based on strict benchmarks, such as human rights records.

"Congress can also instruct the Secretary of State to take the same same approach and to convince the United States allies to do the same," he said.

US lawmakers, though the hearing, will study the implementation of the anti-narcotics campaign in the Philippines and issue recommendations on ways to address drug-related problems.

They are also expected to recommend policies that would "ensure" accountability on alleged human rights violations by security personnel.

The hearing was facilitated by Commission Chairman Rep. James P. McGovern and co-chairman Rep. Randy Hultgren wherein testimony was heard from Kine, iDefend spokesperson Ellecer Carlos, and Amnesty International Senior Crisis Advisor Matthew Wells.

Kine, in his reply Hultgren's question on the people's perception of the Philippine police, said the PNP is perceived as country's "most abusive agency."

"I think it's worth noting that for a very long time, the Philippine Naional Police has been recognized by the Philippines' Commission on Human Rights as the most abusive agency in the government," he said.

"It has a long and ignoble history of involvement in extra-judicial killings, torture, and those problems, issues, abuses has of course increased exponentially on this quote unquote war on drugs," he added.

It is the view of HRW that the PNP and President Duterte "are unable or unwilling to bring the needed accountability for these massive crimes and what is needed is a United Nations-led, international investigation."

Kine also underscored that two American senators filed a bill stopping the sale of weapons to the Philippines following concerns over the rising death toll of the government's war against drugs.

He said the bill calls for restriction of aid to the police, support for human rights defenders, and to urge a public health approach to the drug dependence problem.

Kine was referring to the Philippines Human Rights Accountability and Counternarcotics Act of 2017 that was filed by Senators Ben Cardin and Marco Rubio.

"Today, this hearing is putting the fear to the government of President Rodrigo Duterte. They do not want you to shine this light on this abusive mass slaughter," he said, ending his statement.

Matthew Wells of Amnesty International called for a change in the Philippine government's policy in addressing drug dependence.

"As one of the oldest and most important ally of the Philippines, the US and this Congress has a unique position of influence. They should be used to help ensure the Philippine authorities re-orient its policy to a model based on a protection of health and human rights rather than a punitive approach that tries helplessly and devastatingly to kill the problem away," Wells explained.

Congress should not support human rights violations in the so-called war on drugs, said Wells, who also recommended that a careful review and restriction of assistance to the Philippine National Police.

He added that the US Congress could provide assistance on reforming the PNP and ending the impunity of police officers who commit or oversee unlawful killings.

Amnesty International earlier reported that at least two persons claimed they were paid by the police to kill suspected drug offenders.

McGovern, at the end of the hearing, assured the participants the US Senate will have a counterpart bill.

He again expressed regret in inviting Duterte to visit the United States.

"If in fact if he comes here, he can expect to be greeted with a large number of protesters including yours truly," said McGovern.

In closing, he said, "This is professional investigative human rights work. This is real. And people ought to understand this is real, disturbing. and secondly, this hearing only reinforces my view that we need to be more engaged in this issue."

"We will continue to press the administration not to welcome President Duterte to the United States," he added. — BAP, GMA News