Pesante-USA Update

April 11, 2007



Some elements’ in RP security forces behind killings – US report

The Philippine Star 04/12/2007

Manila-- "Some elements" of Philippine security forces are "apparently" responsible for unexplained killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrest and illegal detentions, according to the US State Department.

In its latest report, "Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The US Record 2006," the State Department said members of security services committed acts of physical and psychological abuse on suspects and detainees, and even instances of torture.

The report, which was released and submitted to the US Congress last week, said corruption remained a problem in all sectors of the criminal justice system, including police, prosecutorial, and judicial organs.

"The government generally respected the human rights of its citizens; however, there were serious problems in certain areas," the report said.

The State Department said the US government must focus on building respect for human rights in the security forces, strengthen civil society and promoting rule of law, including transparency, in the judiciary and government to promote human rights and democracy in the Philippines, "Strengthening democracy continued as an essential US goal," the report said.

US officials continue to coordinate closely with the Commission on Human Rights, an independent government agency tasked to monitor and investigate alleged human rights abuses, in the vetting of all military and police officials attending US-funded training programs, the State Department said.

To encourage respect for due process and anti-corruption among members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies, the US sent approximately 111 law enforcement officials to the International Law Enforcement Academy in Bangkok for courses in human rights, ethics, rule of law, leadership, and anti-corruption components.

US law enforcement agencies also conducted in-country seminars and training on ethics, human rights, anti-corruption, jail management, and US law enforcement standards for personnel from the PNP, National Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Ombudsman, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Immigration, and the Armed Forces. Training included a visit to the FBI’s National Academy in Virginia.

Under a new program a US-funded Senior Law Enforcement Advisor and his staff provided assistance to the PNP force’s transformational program to devise and implement reforms that will make it a more transparent, modern, and effective institution.

The report also said improving the quality of media reporting was a US priority.

"The Philippine media was generally free and electronic and print media were numerous. However, reporting often fell short of accepted journalistic standards," the report said.

The report cited the US government’s grant that assisted Philippine non-government organizations in promoting voter education and training election monitors.

The grant also supported an electoral modernization program of the Philippine Commission on Elections in preparation for May 2007 national and local elections.

"Programs at both the local and national level promoted equity, transparency, and popular participation – all key factors for the healthy functioning of a democracy," the report said.

The US-funded Rule of Law Effectiveness Program provided assistance to several Philippine judicial court systems including the Anti-Graft Court and the Court of Tax Appeals to address corruption, the report added.

Assistance directed toward two of the courts included training and the installation of case management systems designed to make the disposition of cases more efficient and effective.

This program also supported assessments of selected government agencies for their vulnerability to corruption.

A separate but complementary Threshold Country Program under the US Millennium Challenge Account focused on countering corruption by providing assistance to the Office of the Ombudsman, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Bureau of Customs. – Pia Lee-Brago

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