Stop The Killings Network - CANADA: The Statement of Deepak Obhrai at the House of Commons

The statement of Deepak Obhrai at the House of Commons (Canadian Parliament) on behalf of the Government.

Obhrai in his position as Parliamentary Secretary is the counterpart of the Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs (or deputy to Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson)

Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Calgary East, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the Philippines faces serious human rights challenges, notably the ongoing extrajudicial killings and the apparent culture of impunity. Canada raised these concerns on April 11 during the Human Rights Council's universal periodic review of the Philippines.

Canada also encouraged the Philippines to ensure that its security forces are aware of human rights and their responsibility to protect human rights defenders.

Canada is encouraged that the Philippines has expressed its commitment to end extrajudicial killings through undertaking initiatives such as Task Force Usig, the Melo commission, and the visit of UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston. We also commend the laudable role of the Supreme Court in the preservation of human rights and in the pursuit of justice.

We encourage the Philippines to work at implementing the recommendations and to make progress on convictions. Canada supports the Philippines in implementing measures to promote and protect the human rights of all Filipinos.#

Rep. Satur Ocampo´s Eulogy for Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran

Eulogy for Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
by Bayan Muna Rep. Satur C. Ocampo
House of Representatives
My 29, 2008

Ka Osang, ang inyong mga anak, mga apo at iba pang mga kamag-anak. Ginoong Speaker, mga kasamang mambabatas dito sa Kongreso at sa Senado, mga kaibigan.

Sa nagdaang walong araw, mula ng gumulantang sa madla ang di inaasahang pagpanaw ni Kinatawang Crispin Beltran ng partidong Anakpawis bunga ng sakuna sa kanyang bahay, walang patid ang agos ng mga taong nakiramay ng personal sa kanyang pamilya at mga kasamahan.

Hindi rin mabilang ang mga taong nagpahayag, sa iba’t ibang kaparaanan, ng kanilang pagdadalamhati, pagpupugay at pagpapasalamat kay Ka Bel. Mula sa iba’t – ibang sulok ng Pilipinas, mula sa iba’t –ibang bansa sa buong daigdig, pinagpugayan si Ka Bel bilang lider manggagawa, bilang lider ng kilusang masa, bilang guro’t kasangga sa pakikibaka. Pinuri siya bilang parlyamentarista o mambabatas at bilang kaibigan, kasama at huwarang tao. Pinapatunayan lamang ng ganitong pambihirang pangyayari na sa higit na limang dekada ng buhay ni Ka Crispin Beltran, napakaraming tao sa iba’t-ibang antas ng katayuan sa lipunan, ngunit lalo’t higit sa hanay ng mga mahihirap, ang kanyang naapektuhan, naimpluwensyahan, napaliwanagan, natuwa’t napatawa at natulungan niyang maging higit na makabuluhang mamamayan.

Sa pagkalathala ng larawan sa mga pahayagan at sa telebisyon ng kanyang payak na tirahan sa Muzon, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan at ng pangyayaring nasawi siya sa pagkahulog habang sinisikap na kumpunihin ang bubong ng kanyang bahay, lalong dumami ang mga taong naapektuhan at matinding naimpluwensyahan ni Ka Crispin Beltran.

Maraming namangha at di-makapaniwala, maraming natauhan at nakonsyensya, at maraming humanga’t sumaludo kay Ka Bel. Tumambad sa kanila ang realidad na ganito pala kasimple ang pamumuhay ng isang Kongresistang manggagawa . Ganoon pala kasinop at kasipag sa kanyang bahay si Ka Bel, maging sa edad niyang 75 taon.

Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, all his life, Representative Crispin Beltran struggled furiously and lived and raised a family of 10 children simply and frugally. His having been elected to this Chamber for three terms --- to the 12th, 13th and 14th Congresses – did not change his lifestyle essentially. No matter that he rode to and from this House in a borrowed SUV or van. We shall miss Representative Crispin Beltran in this Chamber – he who always appeared well-dressed. He cut a dapper figure as he stood and walked in our midst.

Laging matikas ang bihis ni Ka Bel sa kanyang Barong Tagalog, ito man ay karaniwang jusi o may kulay na itim o pula. Oo pula ang paborito niyang kulay, ang suot niya ngayon sa kanyang pagkakahimlay.

Maging sa lansangan, sa mga martsa’t rali, matikas magbihis si Ka Bel, naka t-shirt man, kamisa de chino, kamisadentro o jacket. Matikas ngunit hindi marangyang magbihis si Crsipin Beltran.

Sa wari ko’y may pinagmanahan o may pinarisan sa pagbibihis at pag-iisip si Ka Bel. Iyon ay ang yumaong si Felixberto Olalia, Sr., ang batikang unyonista at pangunahing tagapagtatag at unang taga-pangulo ng Kilusang Mayo Uno na siyang sinundan sa pamunuan ni Ka Crispin Beltran.

Matikas magbihis si Ka Bert Olalia, di lamang dahil siya’s Kapampangan, ngunit higit dahil nais niyang ipahayag sa buong mundo na kahit mahirap ang manggagawa, marunong at maingat sa pamimihis, gaano man kasimple ang pananamit. Higit dito, ayon kay Ka Bert, may dignidad ang manggagawa: iginagalang ang sariling pagkatao at hinihiling na igalang siya ng kapwa manggagawa, ng ibang tao, at maging ng kapitalista.

Hindi ba Ka Bel, iyan din ang sinasabi mo? Ang totoo, kadalasan si Ka Bel mismo ang naglalaba ng kanyang sariling damit. Siya ang namamalantsa ng kanyang pantalon at barong.

At sinong mag-aakala na sa matikas na bihis ni Ka Bel, walang laman kundi barya ang kanyang pitaka? Mula noong maupo kami nina Representative Beltran at Representative Liza Maza bilang mga Kinatawan ng Bayan Muna Party-List sa 12th Congress, di iilang beses lumapit sa akin si Ka Bel at bumulong, “Ka Satur, may dalawang daan ka ba riyan? Pahiram muna,” sabay ng marahang tawa. Nitong 14th Congress, bunga marahil ng inflation, limang daan o libo na ang panaka-nakang hinihiram ni Ka Bel.

Sa aming tatlo sa 12th Congress, sa amin anim, ang tinaguriang “Batasan 6” noong 13th Congress, at sa aming lima ngayon sa 14th Congress, si Ka Bel ang namalaging tampok na pinakapayak ang uri at antas ng pamumuhay.

Sa aming magkakasamang progresibong kinatawang Party-List ng Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, at Gabriela Women’s Party, huwaran si Ka Bel sa pagsunod sa pamantayang itinakda ng aming mga partido -- ang maglingkod ng matapat sa bayan, at mamuhay ng simple at marangal.

Ganyan po ang maliit naming team na progresibong party-list representatives. Wala kaming malaking ari-arian, wala kaming marangyang mga bahay. Ang ginagamit naming ay segunda-manong mga sasakyang binili o hiniram. Ilang pirasong damit pambihis ang pinagsalit-salit namin at linggu-linggo ay nilalabhan. Sa pananghalian, kasalo at kahati naming kumain ang aming mga staff sa simple at kakaunting ulam.

Sa kabila nito, sa nagdaang walong taon, kami ang pinagdiskitahan ng mga palalo sa kapangyarihan. Tinangka nilang sagkaang manalo kami sa Kongreso sa pamamagitan ng pagsasampa ng mga gawa-gawang kasong pulitikal at kriminal. Ang aming mga lokal na lider at organisador ay dinarahas, dinudukot at pinapaslang.

Kaya po si Kasamang Crispin Beltran, sa edad na 73, ay inaresto nang walang warrant of arrest. Idinitine nang isa at kalahating taon hanggang pinawalambisa ng Korte Suprema ang pekeng kasong rebelyon laban sa aming “Batasan 6”.

Mga kasama at kaibigan, yumao si Rep. Crispin Beltran nang hindi nasindak, nanghina o yumukod sa mga nag-api sa kanya. Yumao siyang walang pusyaw ang kanyang tapang, komitment at katapatan sa bayang dalisay niyang minahal.

Walang bahid ang kanyang marangal na pangalan. Gaano man siya paulit-ulit na bansagang “manggugulo,” “komunista”, “kaaway ng estado”, mahigpit siyang niyayapos at inaangkin ng masang Pilipino bilang “bayani ng sambayanan”.

Ka Bel, dakila ka! Kaming iyong mga kasama ay hindi mamamaalam sa iyo. Ang lahat ng palalo at makitid ang isipan na umalipusta at nagpahirap sa iyo ay lalagpak sa madilim at mabahong basurahan ng kasaysayan. Subali’t ang maningning mong pangalan, ang diwa ng iyong katapatan at tapang ay sulong tatanglaw sa tatahakin naming daan; at titibok ng buong sigla sa aming mga puso, pipiglas, dadaloy sa aming mga ugat ang matimyas at marubdob mong pagmamahal sa masa at sa bayan.

Mabuhay ka, Ka Bel! Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!

Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) letter to the Hon. Maxine Bernier

Canadian Union of Postal Workers
377, rue Bank Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 1Y3. www.cupw-sttp.org

1301-A-100
May 6, 2008

The Hon. Maxime Bernier
Minister of Foreign Affairs
125 Sussex Dr.
Ottawa, Ontario K1A-OG2

Dear Minister Bernier,

Re: Harassment of Rep. Satur Ocampo and Two Other Members of Philippine Congress

On behalf of the 55,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), I am writing you to urgently request Canada's intervention with respect to the murder charges against Rep. Satur Ocampo and two other members of the Philippine House of Representatives.

The charges were filed on April 18 upon Mr. Ocampo's return from a visit in Canada, during which he appeared as a witness before the House of Commons Sub-Committee on International Human Rights. We are especially concerned about this development because Mr. Ocampo was also an international guest at CUPW's 23rd Triennial Convention during the week of April 13 to 17, along with two other Philippine parliamentarians, Mr. Crispin Beltran and Ms. Luz Ilagan.

The two parliamentarians who are charged with Mr. Ocampo are Rep. Teodoro Casino and Rep. Liza Maza who were also returning from travel overseas during which they spoke about the human rights situation in the Philippines. Mr. Casino was in Geneva for the United Nation's Universal Periodic Review of the Philippines and both he and Ms. Maza attended the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in South Africa where they reported on the continuing cases of political harassment against them.

CUPW believes that the Philippine Inter-Agency Legal Action (IALAG) is behind these charges in order to punish Mr. Ocampo and his Party List colleagues for daring to speak to the international community about the human rights abuses in the Philippines and for urging Canada and other governments to take action to ensure these abuses cease, particularly the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of activists. The IALAG, headed by National Security Advisor Mr. Norberto Gonzales, is named in the report of the UN Special Rapporteur, Prof. Philip Aston, as responsible for the filing of spurious charges against progressive opposition leaders.

CUPW has been made aware that this is not the first time that bogus charges have been used to harass Mr. Ocampo and other Party list legislators:

• On february 2007, Mr. Ocampo was arrested and detained for 18 days during an ongoing election campaign on charges of murders he allegedly committed in 1989. The Supreme Court dismissed the case.
• In 2006, "rebellion" charges were also dismissed against Representatives Ocampo, Casino, Beltran and Maza. Each of them spent two months under the protective custody of the Philippine Congress to prevent their arrest while Beltran was put under hospital arrest.

We are gravely concerned about the safety of these Members of Congress. These charges have been laid amidst the continuing and alarming climate of political killings, enforced disappearances and government inaction to end impunity. We strongly condemn the harassment and threat of arrest of Rep. Satur Ocampo and his co-accused parliamentarians.

CUPW therefore adds its voice to that of ther unions, human rights organizations, faith groups and social justice coalitions who are urging the Canadian government:

1) To send a representative from the Embassy in Manila to the May 12th hearing of Mr. Ocampo and his co-accused parliamentarians and to have the embassy continue to monitor the threat against them;

2) To express concern and condemn the ongoing harassment of Mr. Ocampo and these members of the opposition in a strong public statement;

3) To call on the Government of President Arroyo to implement the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur, and in particular the recommendation to abolish the Itner0Agency legal Action Group.

We further request that a report on this situation be presented to the members of the House of Commons Subcommittee on Inetrnational Human Rights, who met with the Philippine legislators during their visit to Canada.

Sincerely,

(SGD) Dennis Lemelin
CUPW National President

cc: Members of the house of Commons Sub-Committee on International Human Rights:
Mr. Scott Reid Hon. Jason Kenney
Mr. David Sweet Hon. Irwin Cotler
Mr. Mario Silva Ms. Diane Bourgeois
Mr. Wayne Marston

Paul Dewar, NDP M.P.
Ken Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour Congress
CUPW National Executive Committee
CUPW National Union Representatives
Specialists

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) open letter

Open letter protests harassment of Filipino Congress member

May 5, 2008 06:28 AM

CUPE has added its name to an open letter addressed to the Philippines government, condemning the harassment of Satur Ocampo, one of three members of the Philippines Congress on their return from an April visit to Canada to expose human rights abuses.

"We are seriously concerned for his safety" and that of Crispin Beltran and Luz Ilagan," the letter said. The three Congress members informed the Canadian public, media and members of Parliament at the Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights that more than 900 extrajudicial killings and 180 enforced disappearances have occurred under the government of president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

"We view the timing of these events as punishment by the Philippines government for Ocampo’s courageous and principled stand against the ongoing human rights abuses in the Philippines – particularly the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances – that he and the two other elected legislators aired before the Canadian Parliament and the Canadian media," the letter added.

During the Ottawa leg of their visit, they met with CUPE equality branch director Anne Mcgrath and other union representatives among others.

The latest IPU Resolution on Batasan Six

Resolution adopted unanimously by the IPU Governing Council at its 182nd session (Cape Town, 18 April 2008)

110

PHILIPPINES
CASE No. PHI/01 - CRISPIN BELTRÁN CASE No. PHI/04 - TEODORO CASIÑO
CASE No. PHI/02 - SATURNIÑO OCAMPO CASE No. PHI/05 - LIZA MAZA
CASE No. PHI/03 - JOEL VIRADOR CASE No. PHI/06 - RAFAEL MARIANO

Resolution adopted unanimously by the IPU Governing Council at its 182nd session (Cape Town, 18 April 2008)

The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the case of Mr. Crispin Beltran, Mr. Saturniño Ocampo, Mr. Joel Virador, Mr. Teodoro Casiño, Ms. Liza Maza and Mr. Rafael Mariano, who, apart from the latter, are all incumbent members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, as outlined in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/182/12(b)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 181st session (October 2007),

Referring also to the Committee's report on its mission to the Philippines carried out from 18 to 21 April 2007, Taking into account the information and documents provided by the source at the hearing held on the occasion of the 118th IPU Assembly (April 2008), Inter-Parliamentary Union – Reports, Decisions, Resolutions and other texts 111

Recalling that on 1 June 2007 the Supreme Court dismissed the rebellion charges that had been brought in February 2006 against the incumbent and former parliamentarians concerned as being politically motivated and that, as a result, Mr. Crispin Beltran, who had been arrested on 25 February 2006, was released; that those charges had been brought by the Inter-Agency Legal Action Group (IALAG), set up for the purpose of targeting perceived or supposed enemies of the State, and that the political parties to which the parliamentarians concerned belong and they themselves are regarded as such by that Group,

Recalling that, during the Committee's mission, the Assistant Chief State Prosecutor stated that the incitement to sedition case, which had initially been brought against Mr. Beltran, had been quashed; considering in this respect, however, that while the judge at the time had set aside his arraignment in this case on the ground of a pending motion for cancellation of arraignment, a new judge, Judge Manuel Sta. Cruz, on 10 July 2007, decided that the case against him should be continued and ordered his immediate arraignment, despite the pending appeal against the court order to proceed with the case; that Mr. Beltran has moved for the nullification of his arraignment and for the recusal of the judge; recalling that Mr. Beltran strongly denies having made the alleged seditious statement at a rally on 24 February 2006, a fact which media coverage and witness statements could easily prove, but that the prosecution dismissed this defence argument during the inquest proceedings,

Recalling further that, on 16 February 2007, a multiple murder case was brought against Mr. Ocampo and others, that he was arrested on 16 March 2007 and subsequently released on bail by the Supreme Court on 3 April 2007 pending the Court’s decision on his petition for certiorari and prohibition; noting that the Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the petition,

Recalling that, in January 2007, a disqualification case was brought against the political parties of the parliamentarians concerned on the basis of yet another murder case (Nueva Ecija case) whereby the parliamentarians concerned, apart from Mr. Beltran, allegedly conspired together and planned the elimination of the supporters of another political party, Akbayan, an accusation which they strongly refute; considering that while the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) dismissed the disqualification petitions for “lack of merit”, the murder case is proceeding and that the panel of public prosecutors submitted it for resolution on 14 November 2007; that, according to the sources, the due process rights of the defendants have been seriously violated in the preliminary investigation insofar as the prosecutors denied their request for a clarification hearing, which was necessary in their view to establish the identity of the complainants who appeared with covered faces throughout the investigation phase, to clarify inconsistencies in their statements, and to verify whether their statements were voluntary since they are in the custody and under the control of the military; noting that the cases were submitted for resolution by the prosecution on 14 November 2007 and that, although public prosecutors are required to resolve cases within 60 days after their submission for resolution, this has still not occurred,

Considering that, on 17 May 2007, Mr. Casiño was charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly preventing the arrest of an alleged CPP/NPA member, Mr. Vincent Borja; noting in this respect, however, that according to the sources, given the incidence of extrajudicial executions and abductions implicating the military, Mr. Casiño wanted to ensure respect for the right to liberty and security of the person concerned for whom the soldiers, who were not in uniform, had no arrest warrant, by asking the soldiers to present a warrant and accompany the arrested person to a military camp until he was transferred to the police; the Office of the City Prosecutor has yet to give its ruling on the matter,

Considering lastly that in March 2008 a petition for Writ of Amparo was filed against top officials of the CPP and Mr. Ocampo, which is pending at the Regional Trial Court of Basey, Western Samar, Branch 30, in connection with the alleged abduction of Ms. Elizabeth Gutierrez by communist rebels on 24 October 2007; a Writ of Amparo is designed to providing victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances the protection they need and the promise of vindication for their rights;

however, according to the source, the petition in this case has been filed with strong intervention from Inter-Parliamentary Union – Reports, Decisions, Resolutions and other texts

the military or State forces with the intention to abuse the use of the Writ of Amparo; in this respect, Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, Commanding Officer of 67th Infantry Battalion was quoted as saying: “This [the petition] could be a test case of the effectivity of the Writ of Amparo. They have used this against us.

We will apply the same to them.”,

Bearing in mind that, in the report on his mission to the Philippines, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions recommended inter alia that the IALAG be abolished, that the criminal justice system refocus on the investigation and prosecution of those committing extrajudicial executions and other serious crimes, and that the Supreme Court exercise its constitutional powers over the practice of law to impress upon prosecutors that they have a duty to the public to uphold and protect human rights by acting to ensure the effective investigation of cases and protection of witnesses, and that they should provide reasoned decisions for probable cause determinations,

1. Remains deeply concerned at the various criminal cases still pending against the parliamentarians concerned, in particular the fact that a new case had been brought againstRepresentative Casiño for what appears to have been merely his attempt to prevent an arbitrary arrest and ensure compliance with the law, which constitutes nothing more than exercising his duty as a member of parliament; is also concerned that a Writ of Amparo is now allegedly being used in bad faith against Mr. Ocampo;

2. Fears, given the political motivation behind the previous rebellion charges brought against the parliamentarians, that all these proceedings are part of an ongoing effort by the Government, inter alia through IALAG, aimed at removing them and their political parties from the democratic political process;

3. Remains confident that, in dealing with these cases, the prosecution and judicial authorities will abide by their duty not to proceed with any case on the basis of political considerations, recalls in this respect the Supreme Court’s ruling in the rebellion case in which it reiterated “the importance of maintaining the integrity of criminal prosecutions in general and preliminary investigations in particular” and stated the following: “We cannot emphasize too strongly that prosecutors should not allow, and should avoid giving the impression that their noble office is being used or prostituted, wittingly or unwittingly, for political ends”;

4. Wishes to be kept informed of the proceedings in the cases in question, including, where appropriate, through the intermediary of a trial observer;

5. Calls on the House of Representatives to exercise its oversight power and to monitor closely the proceedings in the cases in question in order to ensure due administration of justice;

6. Also calls on the authorities, and in particular on both houses of Parliament, to ensure follow-up to the recommendations of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and would appreciate information on parliamentary action taken to this end;

7. Notes finally that Mr. Joel Virador, who is no longer a member of parliament, has no further charges pending against him; consequently decides to close his case;

8. Requests the Secretary General to convey this decision to the competent authorities, including the National Human Rights Commission, and to the other parties concerned;

9. Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session, to be held on the occasion of the 119th Assembly of the IPU (Geneva, October 2008).

Ka Satur presentation before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development in Canada

Impunity for the Killings in the Philippines must End
Brief Presentation before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development
Parliament of Canada
Ottawa, Canada
April 15, 2008

By Rep. Satur C. Ocampo

Deputy Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Philippines

On November 28, 2007, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions Prof. Philip Alston released his final report on the spate of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines which had been occurring at an alarming rate over the past six years.

From this representation’s view, the Alston report is a well-documented and well-argued rebuke on the Arroyo government’s complicity, through the institutional arrangements that have permitted the killings to continue, and its failure to stop them.

Prof. Alston points to the Philippine military’s “state of denial” over the numerous cases of extrajudicial killings that involved its soldiers. The 900 documented cases to date of extrajudicial killings and 180 cases of enforced disappearances mostly of leftist activists have been attributed to state security forces and are widely believed to have been sanctioned by the Arroyo government through its counter-insurgency program.

Prof. Alston scrutinizes two “policy initiatives” of the Arroyo government that are “of special importance to understanding why the killings continue.” “First, the military’s counter-insurgency strategy against the CPP/NPA/NDF increasingly focuses on dismantling civil society organizations that are purported to be CPP front groups.” “Second…the criminal justice system has failed to arrest, convict, and imprison those responsible for extrajudicial executions. This is partly due to a distortion of priorities that has law enforcement officials focused on prosecuting civil society leaders rather than their killers.”

Thus the Alston report recommends, as top essential measure, that “extrajudicial executions must be eliminated from counterinsurgency operations.” It specifically calls for the following:

1. As Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, the President must take concrete steps to put an end to those aspects of counterinsurgency operations which have led to the targeting and execution of many individuals working with civil society organizations.

2. The necessary measures should be taken to ensure that the principle of command responsibility, as it is understood in international law, is a basis for criminal liability within the domestic legal order.

3. The Government should immediately direct all military officers to cease making public statements linking political or other civil society groups to those engaged in armed insurgencies. Any such characterizations belong solely within the power of the civilian authorities. They must be based on transparent criteria, and conform with the human rights provisions of the Constitution and relevant treaties.

4. Transparency must be introduced to the “orders of battle”, “watch lists”, and similar lists of individuals and organizations maintained by the AFP, PNP, and other elements of the national security system.

The report also recommends the abolishment of the Inter-Agency Legal Action Group (IALAG), which was formed by President Arroyo on January 17, 2006 mainly to build and file spurious charges of rebellion and criminal offenses against leaders and members of people’s organizations and political parties critical of the government. In fact, this representation is a victim of these politically motivated trumped-up charges.

According to Prof. Alston, “The most deleterious role played by the IALAG bodies, may however, be to encourage prosecutors to act as team players with the AFP and PNP in its counter-insurgency operations and to de-prioritize cases involving the deaths of leftist activists.”

None of these recommendations have been carried out by the Arroyo government. Even the government’s own fact-finding body, the Melo Commission, has recommended the investigation of a notorious military officer implicated in the killings but no such action has been taken to date.

The resolute efforts of human rights and people’s organizations, religious groups, and progressive political parties to document cases and bring them up to the United Nations, international bodies, governments and Parliaments paid off in 2007. The responses through strong international criticisms on and appeals to the Arroyo government and the initiatives of the Philippine Supreme Court – after calling an unprecedented national summit on extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in July 2007 -- to institute mechanisms for the protection of human rights through the Writ of Amparo and the Writ of Habeas Data have largely contributed to the noticeable decline in the killings and abductions, since the beginning of 2008.

I emphasize decline, not a stop to the killings and abductions. The repeated announcements of President Arroyo and the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that they will unrelentingly pursue the counterinsurgency program billed as “Oplan Bantay Laya” until 2010 bodes continued, or intensified, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations.

Worse – and this is what I wish to highlight in this short presentation – the climate of impunity continues to pervade in the country as the perpetrators of the killings and abductions remain scot free. The victims and their families continue to cry out for justice.

I must point out that this climate of impunity on human rights violations started in the dark days of martial law under President Ferdinand E. Marcos (1972 – 1985). Succeeding governments have failed to resolve this impunity that has worsened under the Arroyo government.

In this light, I appeal to you, my fellow parliamentarians, to urge the Canadian government to:

1. Call on the Philippine government to decisively hold accountable those responsible for the killings and enforced disappearances;

2. Urge the Philippine government to implement the recommendations of the Alston report, not limited to those cited in this presentation;

3. Urge the Philippine government to abandon its counterinsurgency program that regards activists as “enemies of the state” and are therefore subject to outright attacks and annihilation by government troops and agents;

4. Call on President Arroyo to immediately certify the enactment of pending legislations in Congress that penalize enforced disappearances, torture and define the command responsibility of military officers whose troops are involved in the commission of such offenses;

5. Call for a review of Canadian aid to the Philippine government to determine if funds may have been funneled for the commission of human rights violations against civilians by state security forces and agents, and to base further aid on the implementation of the Alston report recommendations and the overall improvement of the human rights situation.

6. Call on the Philippine government to provide aid for the victims and families of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances and support efforts of non-government organizations to protect and promote human rights, and put an end to the killings and abductions.

7. Request the Canadian government to inform the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on the actions it has taken on the preceding six points.

Thank you for this opportunity to interface with you. I will gladly answer questions and welcome comments from you. #

DAMAYAN.MB NEWS ARTICLE IN WINNIPEG, MANITOBA

KA SATUR URGES WINNIPEGGERS TO HELP STOP THE KILLINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES, April 16, 2008

KA SATUR’s ARRIVAL – April 10
It was past midnight or more accurately very early Friday morning, April 11 when Ka Satur finally came down from the airplane. The rest of the passengers on the plane had all come down and were already picking up their luggage when finally Ka Satur came out the door. He met some Filipino families waiting for their relatives.

A light dinner awaited Ka Satur at Orli and Flor’s house. For dessert, fresh fruits and a strawberry mouse cake bought by Orli and served as Ka Satur’s birthday cake.

RADIO CKJS INTERVIEW – April 11 Ka Satur woke up early for the live interview at the radio program “Good Morning Philippines” at CKJS 810 AM. Lito Taruc, news director of the radio
program warmly welcomed Ka Satur and Orli to the studio booth.

Lito had ready questions for Ka Satur ranging from the purpose of the solons’ Canadian tour to the rice crisis in the Philippines. At exactly 8:00 am the live interview at the radio station started. Lito Taruc asked several questions such as the purpose of his trip to Canada. Taruc also asked how many journalists have been killed, the latest news on the disappearance of Jonas Burgos and the looming rice crisis in the Philippines.

Ka Satur gave a detailed account of evidences gathered, linking the military to the abduction of Jonas Burgos and the military’s continued denial of its participation in the abduction. Ka Satur narrated how the Supreme Court initiated actions such as the writ of amparo and writ of
habeas data have been availed by victims’ families.

Other topics discussed briefly in the interview were:
- Pesos 125 daily minimum wage
- overseas Filipino workers
- Spratlys Island
- Senate Blue Ribbon committee
- The need for reconsideration of the Supreme Court decision upholding the Secrecy or privileged status of communication by the Executive branch
- Human rights group in Japan decried the extrajudicial killings in the Philippines

Likewise, he discussed the continuing political repression and the continuing climate of impunity pervading in the country as the perpetrators of the killings and abductions remain scot-free.
The victims and their families continue to cry out for justice.

At around 9:30 am, Ka Satur went to the Manitoba Legislature, which had morning session on Friday. Ka Satur, Orli, an official tour guide and driver and Mayon Marcelino, cinematographer were seated in the Speaker’s gallery as guests of House Speaker George Hickes. Before the Question Period started Speaker Hickes introduced Ka Satur to the House.

MEDIA INTERVIEW
At 10:15 am, Ka Satur was interviewed by Winnipeg Free Press correspondent Allie Walld at Broadway Disciples Church. The article written by Allie Walld was published the following day, April 12. Before the interview, Ka Satur received a text message from Geneva saying that Canada, together with 18 other countries raised their strong concerns of the continued political repression in the Philippines and the lack of concrete steps in implementing Philip Ashton’s recommendation to solve the extra judicial killings.

LUNCH WITH THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
At noon was a private lunch at the Legislative Bldg. dining room hosted by House Speaker George Hickes. There were only seven people in the room so the exchange of pleasantries and stories were candid and animated-- with the Speaker sharing some very interesting stories in the course of fulfilling his duties.

MEETING THE PREMIER OF MANITOBA
At 2pm, Ka Satur with representatives from Youth, Daisydee Bautista of University of Winnipeg-Filipino Students Association, Susan Rodriguez from Grassroots women, Les Crisostomo, a filipino elder, and Orli Marcelino of Damayan, met with the Premier of Manitoba, Gary Doer and MLA Flor Marcelino.

Ka Satur thanked the premier for Canada’s strong stand against continued political repression in the first-ever Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on the Philippines’ human rights record at the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

EXCERPT OF CONVERSATION between Congressman Satur Ocampo and Premier Gary Doer of Manitoba at Manitoba Legislature

Doer: Welcome to Manitoba. I know Flor has been with you and have met Les Crisostomo. We welcome you to Manitoba and we had a wonderful visit to the Philippines. We are very proud of the activities

Satur: I am pleased and very honoured to be able to visit Manitoba Legislative Assembly. I am an opposition, deputy minority leader, two other colleagues only one able to come to Winnipeg we are basically following through with an international campaign to put pressure on our government to stop the political killings that has been building up since 2001 to 2007 a perceptible abatement in the rate of killings but nonetheless 60 cases already at the beginning of this year. We intended to present the case to the subcommittee on human rights to Parliament I was elated to get a report this morning that the delegation of the Canadian government at the United Nations Human Rights Council had made a very strong statement that killings and the failure of the government to hasten the prosecution of the perpetrators. This is the issue of impunity that is more important to us because if none of the perpetrators of these killings are
brought to justice there is no guarantee that it could be stopped. Apparently there has been a coming around on the part of the Canadian government.

I think representations from some constituencies here of Filipinos and Canadians and also representations of human rights organizations. It is very important that this is followed through with the Philippine government. I am also interested in learning about the conditions of Filipinos
here. I’m glad to find out that only in Manitoba is the government making an inquiry into the cases of caregivers – the live-in caregiver program which is a subject of our questions in the House of Representatives of our inquiry on how we maybe work together to improve the conditions of our overseas workers that are coming in here as live-in caregivers. I read the
literature that it is your government in Manitoba that is addressing these issues already. I am glad to hear and know about that.

Doer: Thank you very much. Certainly we welcome you here and we support all efforts to ensure that people can participate and disagree in a democracy but that is not, they do not have to put their life at risk as part of a democratic process. So I know that the people living in Manitoba from the Philippines with strong roots and family in the Philippines have different political views here. There are different political views here (and) sometimes when the government changes there is different views in the community. But there is no disagreement on the democratic right to participate and debate and to be free of fear and favor from the government of the day. So I am pleased that Canada generally has supported human rights in all democracies or alleged democracies in the world, including in the Philippines. I know the human rights group of the United Nations is reviewing some of the specific cases. We certainly obviously as one government do not interfere in the affairs of democracy in the Philippines but we do value human rights. In fact we are very proud that the Canadian Human Rights Museum will be locating with help from the Philippine community here, in Winnipeg and for the whole country.

We also supported the idea of improving the immigration protection for Philippine people particularly in the area of immigration recruiters ensuring there is the standards of rights for people that are recruited in terms of what they can expect into Manitoba and as you said included in that is the rights of people when they are here as care givers to make sure there
is no abuse or any using of visa as lever to have people living in horrible working condition or deficient human rights as people working here so we really do appreciate your advice in this regard. We are careful not to interfere with the internal politics of any government but we do stand for human rights as well as a Canadian people.

Satur: I think we share the same view with regards to human rights it’s an international universal interest. It is not necessarily intervention and when a government calls attention on another when human rights violations are being committed it is a two way traffic and we are looking towards building a stronger relationship with your government and our people with the increasing number of people coming to Canada in the foreseeable future.

Doer: Do you have the time when the human rights reports to come up of the United Nations. I heard it is expected shortly on some of the issues that have been raised by people from the Philippines on treatment of political opponents and the extreme treatment of individuals killed for political dissent.

Satur: our focus here is to convince the president to implement the recommendations of the Alston report. Mr. Alston was able to establish quite clearly what he called two initiatives of the president can explain the increasing incidences of human rights violations particularly the extra
judicial killings. One was the infusion of extra judicial killings as an element in the counter insurgency operation and the anti terrorism operation. And secondly some innovations in the prosecutorial system in the preparation of cases for the national security in which the prosecutor is made to work hand in glove with the military for the security forces. It is not the justice dept but the national intelligence security board that is guiding the preparation of cases. And incidentally we are targets, victims of those cases one of which significantly was reviewed by the Supreme Court and ordered dismissed with the sanction of the dept of justice that it should
not allow its prosecutors to be influenced by political considerations in the preparation of cases. So Mr. Alston saw through that and says the best thing to do is to abolish that agency instead of running after the perpetrators or the killers it is targetting the victims. So this is a very important point.

Doer: Yes we certainly again will watch this very carefully as a province which deals with the national government. I am pleased to hear that you feel Canada is on your side in terms of these issues. I don’t expect any weakening of that position by Canada because of our long tradition of
supporting democracy not only the party that wins but also the right of dissent and opposition in an adversarial system all of us who have been in government have been opposition leaders before. Or most of us have been in opposition before for too long. So it is very much a part of our
democracy. (a full transcript of the meeting will follow)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

PRESS CONFERENCE
At 3:00 pm, after the meeting with Premier Gary Doer and MLA Flor Marcelino, Ka Satur went straight to the press conference. There were 4 newspaper editors present. Unfortunately, Global TV and CBC TV got lost and did not show up. Later, we learned that CKND-TV had a story on Ka Satur’s meeting with the Premier Gary Doer which was shown on the evening news using the press release sent to them and the video footage of the meeting with Premier Gary Doer.

PRE-CBC RADIO INTERVIEW
Immediately after the press conference was a telephone pre-interview with Farah of CBC Radio for Anna Marie Tremonti of the Current, a popular nationally-aired radio program.

(CBC Radio interview with solons link (at the site please scroll to the bottom and press "Play Part Three"): http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2008/200804/20080415.html

QUICK REST
Ka Satur had a quick change of clothes and a 10-minute nap.

PULONG BAYAN - THE FORUM
The forum at Broadway Disciples United Church last night was well attended. We had an early count of 159 in attendance around the middle part of the forum. Some more people came later on. The forum started with the video showing – Philippines, Waging War on its People, a film by Malcom Guy and Marie Boti. The people were gripped by the powerful and emotional appeal of the life of Dr Chandu Claver and his family.

After the video presentation, Fagie Fainman of Grassroots Women introduced her “hero,” Ka Satur. She told the story how she met the man during her first visit to the Philippines in 2002 as part of Canadian factfinding delegation in Mindanao.

Ka Satur spoke passionately for three hours and people stayed until the very last hour. He spoke about the killings, when it started, his comparison of the present regime to the late dictator Marcos, the continuing hardships of the Filipino people. Ka Satur’s 40 years of struggle could not be told for one night only. The audience listened intently as Ka Satur narrated the persecution and the killings of Bayan Muna’s men and women, members of clergy, journalists, human rights lawyers, workers, activists, trade unionists.

It was getting late and there was no sense of the forum ending yet so Orli, the emcee announced that people could take their dinner and go back to the seats to listen to Ka Satur. Some people did not leave their seats when told to get their food so as not to miss out on what Ka Satur was saying. In a way last night’s dinner could serve as Ka Satur’s birthday celebration. We had pancit, fried chicken, pandesal and butter, french fries and a variety of fresh fruits.

Q & A
Before the Question and Answer portion, a young lady, Daren Nuevo sang “Buksan ang Iyong Puso.” The Q&A moderator was Alex Beltran, a former UST professor. There were lots of questions like Ka Satur’s past as a rebel, his advice for young people, how he could go on with the
struggle, the rice crises, the killings and the graft and corruption. Ka Satur received two standing ovations at the forum.

FORUM’S END
After the Q&A, he was mobbed by the crowd: students, middle-aged and like a celebrity, they sought to be photographed with him. One guy even asked for his autograph. After the forum, a lot of people congratulated us, Damayan.MB for bringing Ka Satur to Winnipeg, for a job well done!!! We had to tell them again like what we said in the beginning of the forum that this solons tour was a concerted effort of different organizations.

THE MORNING AFTER
Ka Satur left for Montreal at 8 am after a 10-minute breakfast. In three hours it would be Montreal community who will be blessed and inspired with his story of love for our country and our peoples’ struggles for justice and sovereignty. CLEARLY, this leg of this solons’ tour is part of bigger campaign –to stop the extra-judicial killings in the Philippines and it happened as a culmination of a very well organized plan of groups of dedicated individuals from the Philippines
to Canada, from Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

DAMAYAN.MB thanks all who participated and contributed to the success of this great event!!! In Winnipeg, the Solons’ tour was co-sponsored by St. Stephens Broadway Foundation, Broadway Disciples United Church, CKJS, UW-FSA, UM-Sigaw and the Philippine Times.

NUPGE protests harassment of Philippine human rights leaders

James Clancy sends letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo condemning treatment of political opponents

Ottawa (24 April 2008) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) says armed men have harassed the leader of a human rights mission to Canada since his return to the Philippines and threatened him with arrest.

NUPGE president James Clancy has written a letter to Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo condemning the treatment of Satur Ocampo, an elected congressional representative, and expressing concern for his safety as well as that of two outer political leaders who accompanied him, Rep. Crispin Beltran and Rep. Luz Ilgan.

"Representatives of the National Union met with Rep. Ocampo and were impressed by his dedication to the people of the Philippines. As one of the sponsors of the Human Rights Mission to Canada we take this matter extremely seriously," Clancy wrote.

"It is difficult not to interpret these actions as retaliation by the Philippine government for Rep. Ocampo's presentations – that he and the other elected legislators made – to the Canadian Parliament and the Canadian media," he added.

"That Rep. Ocampo's principled and courageous stand against the growing level of violence in the Philippines, which includes extrajudicial killings, would provoke this response from the government is a shameful comment on your government."

Ocampo, is president of the Bayan Muna Party (People First) and the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. The two representatives who accompanied him are members of the Gabriela Women's Party.

They toured Canada April 4-18 at the invitation of the Stop the Killings Network and the United Church of Canada. NUPGE was among a number of groups providing financial support for the tour and meeting with the delegation.

During their tour, the visitors informed the Canadian public, the media and MPs of the House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights that more than 900 extrajudicial killings and 180 enforced disappearances have occurred under the government of President Macapagal-Arroyo. They also spoke of personal harassment, arrests and intimidation.

"It has been reported to me that your government is once again dredging up murder charges against Mr. Ocampo – along with fellow Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casino, Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Liza Maza and former Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano – this time for the alleged killing of three rebel returnees between 2001 and 2004," Clancy wrote.

"It is with suspicion that we note that Casino has also recently returned to the Philippines from a trip overseas where he made front page news exposing the human rights abuses in the Philippines during the country's appearance before the Universal Periodic Review on human rights on April 11, 2008 in Geneva," Clancy added.

"This is not the first time your government has tried to arrest and silence Mr. Ocampo and the other progressive party list legislators. Each time the charges have been thrown out of court. We ask that the Philippine government immediately stop the harassment of Rep. Ocampo, Rep. Beltran and Rep. Ilagan, Rep. Casino and the other elected representatives of these Party list legislators."

Specifically, Clancy urged the president to:

● Drop all trumped-up charges against Ocampo and the other elected party list legislators; ● Stop the harassment and intimidation of Ocampo and the other elected party list legislators; and ● Stop the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the Philippines and bring those responsible to justice.

"This ongoing harassment of these elected leaders has no place in a country which claims to be a democracy or to respect the human rights of its citizens," Clancys said. NUPGE

An open letter from the Canadian-based organizations and individuals

Open Letter to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and
the Government of Canada

Monday, April 21, 2008 -- We, the undersigned Canadian-based organizations and individuals, strongly condemn the harassment by armed men of Rep. Satur Ocampo on his return from a Human Rights Mission to Canada. We also condemn the threat of his imminent arrest.

We are seriously concerned for his safety and that of the othermembers of the Mission, Rep. Crispin Beltran and Rep. Luz Ilagan.

According to Philippine newspaper reports, unidentified armed men on motorcycles believed to be police officers were seen staking out Ocampo's residence in Quezon City, early Sunday, April 20. A Honda SUV and a Toyota AUV parked a few metres from his house left when members of the media arrived around 10:30 am.

We view the timing of these events as punishment by the Philippine government for Rep. Ocampo's courageous and principled stand against the ongoing human rights abuses in the Philippines -- particularly the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances -- that he and the two other elected legislators aired before the Canadian Parliament and the Canadian media.

Rep. Ocampo, President of the Bayan Muna Party and the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, along with Rep. Beltran of Anakpawis and Rep. Ilagan from the Gabriela Women's Party, were in Canada at the invitation of the Stop the Killings Network and the United Church of Canada for a national tour from April 4 -18, 2008.

The three members of the Philippine Congress informed the Canadian public, media and members of Parliament at the House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights that more than 900 extrajudicial killings and 180 enforced disappearances have occurred under the government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. They revealed that they themselves have been subjected to harassment, arrests and intimidation; 132 members of Rep. Ocampo's party have been assassinated since 2001, along with 49 members of Anakpawis and members of Gabriela.

Members of the Subcommittee who heard their testimonies expressed deep concern, saying that Canada must speak out and condemn the political killings. They acknowledged the grave risk the Philippine legislators have taken in standing up for their country.

The Philippine government appears to be again dredging up murder charges against Mr. Ocampo along with fellow Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño, Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Liza Maza and former Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano. Prosecutors in Neuva Ecija province filed the charges on Friday, April 18, this time for the alleged killing of three rebel returnees between 2001 and 2004.

It is to be noted that Casiño also just returned from Geneva, Switzerland where he made front page news exposing the human rights abuses in the Philippines during that country's appearance before the United Nations Universal Periodic Review on human rights last April 11, 2008.

This is not the first time the government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has ordered the arrest of Mr. Ocampo and the other progressive Party list legislators in order to silence them. Each time the charges have been thrown out of court.

On February 2007, Mr. Ocampo was arrested and detained for 18 days during an ongoing election campaign on charges of murders he allegedly committed in 1984. At that time he was in prison under the Marcos dictatorship. The case was dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Rebellion charges were also dismissed in 2006 against Reps. Ocampo, Casiño, Beltran and Mariano, along with Rep. Maza of Gabriela. They spent two months under the protective custody of the Philippine Congress to prevent their arrest. However, Rep. Crispin Beltran, 75, was nabbed and spent 15 months in prison where he suffered heart problems before the charges were dropped.

UN Rapporteur Philip Alston rejected the charges of the Philippine government that the ongoing political killings and abductions are the results of internal purges within the Philippine left and underground New Peoples Army, and instead implicated the Philippine military and police forces.

We demand that the Philippine government immediately stop the harassment and drop all trumped-up charges against Reps. Ocampo, Beltran, Ilagan, Casiño and the other elected representatives of these Party list organizations.

We urge that the Canadian government demand an immediate end to the intimidation and harassment of Rep. Ocampo and ensure his safety along with that of Rep. Beltran and Rep. Ilagan. The three were recent guests of the Canadian people. We call on the Canadian government to take a strong stand against the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the Philippines and withhold bilateral assistance to the Arroyo government until Ottawa has proof that suitable measures have been taken.

-- Drop all trumped-up charges against Rep. Satur Ocampo and the
other elected party list legislators;

-- Stop the harassment and intimidation of Rep. Satur Ocampo and the other elected party list legislators;

-- Stop the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the Philippines and bring those responsible to justice.

Signed by:

Organizing Committee for Philippine Legislators' Human Rights Mission to Canada 2008
made up of members of the Philippine Solidarity Network Canada, the
Stop the Killings Network Canada and other concerned individuals and organizations:
Basics Community Newspaper
Bayan Organizing Committee, Toronto
B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines
Canadian Advocacy Group for Philippines (CAGP)
Centre d'appui aux Philippines - Centre for Philippine Concerns (Montreal)
Centre for Research on Globalization (CRM), Montreal
Coalition for the Protection of Caregivers' Rights
Centre for Women's Studies in Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Community Alliance for Social Justice, Toronto
Damayan Manitoba Development and Peace
Dominique Caouette, Political Science Dept., University of Montreal
Friends of Satur Ocampo, Crispin Beltran and Luz Ilagan of Vancouver
Global and Societal Ministries, BC Conference, UCC
Jean-Philippe Massicotte, University of Montreal
KAIROS
Migrante-Ontario (AWARE Filipino Family Services, Damayan Education and Resource Centre, Filipino Migrant Workers' Movement)
Migrante Youth Collective
Ontario Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines
PATAC (Philippine Advocacy Through Arts and Culture)
Philippine Network for Justice and Peace
PINAY Montreal
Primates World Relief and Development Fund
Ricardo Caluen (member of Philippine Press Club of Ontario)
United Church of Canada
Victoria Group

Press Release: Stop the Killings Network -Canada

Canadian parliamentarians shocked to hear of human rights abuses in RP

OTTAWA -- Canadian members of Parliament expressed deep concern over the continuing political killings perpetrated by the military in the Philippines and vowed to submit to Parliament the recommendations by three progressive members of the Philippine Congress on what the Canadian government can do.

"It's very shocking what we read in the reports - both (UN Special Rapporteur) Prof. Alston's and Judge Jose Melo's reports - on the human rights violations taking place," said the Liberal Party member of the House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights, Mario Silva. "We as a country have to speak out and say this is outrageous."

Members of the Philippine House of Representatives Crispin Beltran, Luz Ilagan and Satur Ocampo informed the House Subcommittee on April 15 that more than 900 extrajudicial killings and 180 enforced disappearances have occurred under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's administration.

They appealed to the subcommittee to urge the Canadian government to put more pressure on the Arroyo government to end the political killings and to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.They further urged the Canadian government to precondition its bilateral aid to the Arroyo government upon its full implementation of Alston's recommendations.

The Philippine legislators also urged the Canadian government to review its bilateral aid to the Philippine government - in particular, its Military and Police Training Assistance Programs, its mining investments and its development aid - to determine if any part of it is used for programs involving human rights violations.

"I'm personally very troubled that 12 (Filipino) officers will be trained in this country," said New Democratic Party Subcommittee member Wayne Marston. "We need to get to the bottom of that."

Marston also highlighted the need for Canada to heed a two-year-old subcommittee report on corporate and social responsibilities of Canadian mining firms operating in the Philippines, a few of which have been alleged to have used military and paramilitary forces for their security.

"I am quite astounded, despite (this subcommittee's report) that was produced two years ago, that this situation has not yet been corrected," added Bloc Quebec member Diane Bourgeois."I'd like us to discuss that (report) in this subcommittee to find out what the government did to follow up. "I am hoping that Canada will not once again be losing face."

Marston also acknowledged the grave risk the Philippine legislators have taken in bringing forward their criticisms and opposition against what they view as an oppressive government.

"I am very respectful of the courage that I am seeing here and that you are standing up on behalf of your country," Marston said.

The Filipino legislators welcomed the response of the subcommittee to their report and are optimistic that Canada will lend its voice to the growing international condemnation of the Arroyo administration and its gross human rights violations.

We are also very pleased with the response of the subcommittee members", said Stop the Killings Network Canada spokesperson Bern Jagunos. "We will certainly follow up on the subcommittee's promise to bring the recommendations of the Filipino legislators forward."

"We will also continue our lobbying efforts calling on the Canadian government to disclose to the public how taxpayers'money has been spent in the Philippines and to suspend development, financial and military aid to the Arroyo government pending a full review of its bilateral relations." #

Malaya Marcelino
Stop the Killings Network-Canada,
(416) 797-6681

Philippine UPR Watch - Geneva Account (by Rep. Teddy Casino)

RP made to account for killings, disappearances in UN

My trip to Geneva, Switzerland as part of the Philippine UPR Watch delegation culminated yesterday in a picket-protest in front of the United Nations headquarters.

After listening to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita deliver the Philippine National Report to the UN Human Rights Council, I joined some 30 Filipinos and Swiss citizens who had put up a picketline right outside the UN gates to dramatize our people's continuing quest for an end to the killings, disappearances and the impunity by which human rights atrocities are committed in the Philippines.

The Philippine report, presented by no less than Sec. Ermita with his extraordinarily large contingent of bureaucrats flown in from Manila, was a self-serving, selective and totally one-sided depiction of the Philippine human rights situation.

The aim of the report was to depict the Arroyo administration as a vanguard defender of human rights and good governance in the country.

I was particularly flabbergasted to hear Sec. Ermita boast of the government's superlative gains in fighting graft and corruption in the Philippines.

I almost fell from my seat listening to him expound on government efforts to strengthen the Ombudsman and Sandiganbayan, the success of its electronic procurement system, and effectivity of its lifestyle checks.

In the light of the latest swine scam and the NBN-ZTE deal, this is chutzpah of the highest degree, inspired by no less than a cheating, lying and stealing President.

Fortunately, not all countries took this line hook and sinker. At least 16 countries -- including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom -- expressed concern on the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances and, in typical diplomatic language used in the UN, practically told the Philippines it was not doing enough on the matter, especially with regards to the recommendations of UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions Philip Alston.

Other issues of great concern to the international community were the violations of the rights of Filipino migrant workers and those of women and children.

In other words, the Philippine government's attempt to downplay the killings and disappearances and project the image that the situation was improving did not wash. In part through the efforts of the Philippine UPR Watch, the truth came out and the Arroyo government was held to account for its failures by the international community.

I am leaving Geneva with the knowledge that the world is watching the Philippines and is in solidarity with its quest for truth, justice and accountability.

Winnipeg Free Press (April 12, 2008-news clip)

Satur hails Canada’s stand on RP human rights situation before UNHRC

Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur C. Ocampo expressed gratitude to the Canadian government’s stand on the current state of human rights in the Philippines.

During the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review last Friday, the Canadian government expressed concern over the state of impunity prevailing in the Philippines, including the impact of Pres. Arroyo’s Administrative Order 197 on the Writ of Amparo. AO 197 declared that operations and any information related to extra judicial killings and enforced disappearance are confidential in nature, thereby, preempting the submission of evidence in an amparo petition.

“I am very thankful that the Canadian government has taken that position. It looks like the Canadian government is going to recognize the validity of our complaints and that something must be done,” says Ocampo, who is in Canada in a “Human Rights Mission” together with Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Luz Ilagan.

Ocampo, Beltran, and Ilagan will meet with the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa today, April 15.

“Our reason for coming to Canada was to make an appeal to the Canadian Parliament to accept pressure on the Macapagal-Arroyo government to stop the killings. And more than that, to identify, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.”

This comes after UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston attributed the killings to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Ocampo said not a single case has been properly investigated and that any soldiers involved with the killings have been exonerated. He also said that the Arroyo government has charged opposition leaders, including himself, with rebellion.

“Although the Philippines is seeing some positive developments,” Ocampo said “Bayan Muna will not stop campaigning until the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances stop.”

He said the Arroyo government protects state security forces and ignores protests until international organizations get involved.

“Unless, and until, the government has taken very concrete steps to end impunity, to arrest and paralyze the perpetrators, the killings may never stop,” he said.