Bill seeking to suspend police, military aid to Philippines introduced to US Congress

A bill seeking to suspend the United States' security assistance to the Philippines over its alleged human rights violations has been introduced to US Congress.

In a press conference on Thursday (Manila time), several groups expressed their support to the introduction of Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild of the Philippine Human Rights Bill to US Congress.

Wild introduced the bill with 20 co-sponsors to the House of Representative on Thursday.

She said the bill is in response to the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Law in the Philippines, which she said attacks activists and political opponents of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In the Philippines, some 30 petitions have so far been filed challenging the legality of the anti-terrorism law. Petitioners include former government officials, incumbent senators, human rights advocates, civic organizations, and religious groups.

Lawmakers have repeatedly defended the law, saying it has enough safeguards against possible abuses.

'Very wild suggestion'

In Malacañang, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque expressed confidence that the US government recognizes the importance of its security alliance with the Philippines.

Roque said the Philippines will not interfere with the domestic processes in the US even though he described the bill filed by Pennsylvania Representative Susan Wild as a “very wild suggestion.”

“Hindi natin pinanghihimasukan ‘yung mga desisyon ng mga soberenyang bansa,” Roque said in a televised briefing.

The Philippines in June suspended for six months the abrogation of the VFA, which governs the presence of US soldiers conducting military exercises in the country.

Manila’s Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez had said that the country's decision to temporarily suspend the termination had been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and developments in the disputed South China Sea.

European Parliament

Wild's move came days after the European Parliament threatened to revoke the country's exports tariff exemption due to "deteriorating" human rights situation there. In response, Malacañang said EU politicians may have been misinformed by the enemies of the government about the country’s human rights situation.

“Today, across the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal regime is  using the pretext of so-called  anti-terrorism law  to ramp up efforts targeting labor organizers, workers, and political opponents,” Wild said before the House in a video presented during the press conference.

“In response to these abuses, I introduced the Philippine Humans Rights Act,” she added.

According to Wild, the bill would block US funding for police or military assistance to the Philippines. It also outlines a series of basic criteria that the Philippines has to meet for the resumption of the aid.

The following are the criteria the Philippines should comply with:

• investigating and prosecuting members of the military and police forces who are credibly found to have violated human rights
• withdrawing the military from domestic policy
• establishing protections of the rights of trade unionists, journalists, human right defenders, indigenous persons, small-farmers, LGBTI activists, and critics of the government
• taking steps to guarantee a judicial system that is capable of investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to justice members of the police and military who have committed human rights abuses
• fully complying with any and all audits or investigations regarding the improper use of security aid

The Philippine Humans Rights Act was initially introduced on September 17.
It was supported by different groups such as the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines - Global, Kabataan Alliance, International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, Communication Workers of America, Malaya Movement, among others.

“Let us make clear that the United States would not participate in the repression. Let us stand with the people of the Philippines,” Wild said.

GMA News Online has already sought comments from the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines regarding this development. They have to issue one as of posting time. —KBK, GMA News