USG STEPS TO COUNTER EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS

UNCLAS MANILA 002383 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV RP SUBJECT: USG STEPS TO COUNTER EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS REF: MANILA 2193 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (U) Extra-judicial killings (EJK) in the Philippines -- notably of leftist activists, journalists, judges, and suspected narcotics traffickers -- remain of high concern to the USG and are increasingly a subject of international media attention. The annual country report on human rights for the Philippines documents this problem in detail, as does ongoing Mission reporting. The Mission is not a passive observer of these human rights violations, but is actively seeking to ensure that the GRP takes the issue more seriously and takes appropriate steps, as described below. ¶2. (SBU) In a June 5 meeting with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Ambassador highlighted the problem and urged the President to ensure that those responsible faced justice. President Arroyo expressed her full determination to combat this scourge and to bring to justice all those involved in these crimes, as well as those suspected of crimes who are instead killed. She pledged that her government would redouble its efforts. In a radio address on June 6, the President assured the nation that she had ordered government agencies to take the necessary steps to stop the killings. Ambassador separately raised the matter with Foreign Secretary Romulo to underscore the damaging impact these killings had on the Philippines' international reputation, a point with which Romulo fully agreed. He commented that the Ambassador's public statements on the issue have been helpful. Ambassador has used several recent media interviews to reiterate US concern over this issue and to describe our ongoing dialogues with the GRP at many levels to ensure that the GRP makes progress on this front. ¶3. (SBU) After a coordinated intra-Mission review, we have identified the further steps Mission officers will take in the next few weeks: -- Ambassador will continue to raise this point in her meetings with snior GRP officials, as well as local officials inCebu and Davao, two cities with high numbers of KJs; -- Ambassador and key members of the Law Eforcement Working Group will discuss in depth wih Philippine National Police chief Lomibao in anupcoming introductory meeting; -- JUSMAG chief ad other officers will continue to raise the issu with the senior leaders of the Armed Forces of th Philippines, notably to explain the provisions f the Leahy Law and implications for future miliary assistance; -- Pol/C will meet with the leadrs of each of te various Task Forces assigned t investigate the killings to encourage comprehenive and quick action; -- Pol/C will also meet wth the chairperson of the Commission on Human Rihts, which has publicly condemned the killings ina rare public statement, to determine if there ae additional ways the Mission and the Commission culd coordinate activities related to this issue; -- Pol/C and poloffs will continue to share infrmation with and convey USG concerns to members o the Philippine Senate and Congress, as well as GO activists; and, -- RSO, LEGATT, DEA, nd DHS chiefs will convey our concerns to senior officials of the National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police, also noting Leahy Law restrictions. ¶4. (U) Mission would very much welcome a visit as early as convenient by DRL A/S Lowenkron as an excellent high profile opportunity to engage senior Philippine officials on this issue and to meet with local media in order to reiterate USG concerns and to urge prompt prosecution of alleged perpetrators. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/ Kenney