HELPING THE PHILIPPINES COMBAT UNLAWFUL KILLINGS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000683

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2012
TAGS: PHUM PREL EAID RP
SUBJECT: HELPING THE PHILIPPINES COMBAT UNLAWFUL KILLINGS

REF: A. MANILA 0645


B. MANILA 609

Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) In a letter to Ambassador dated February 28, Foreign
Secretary Alberto G. Romulo expressed "sincerest appreciation

SIPDIS
of the Philippine Government and people for your words of
support and encouragement for our efforts to address the
issue of unexplained killings," and welcomed an offer of
additional USG support on this issue, "consistent with, and
complementary to, our joint efforts at solidifying our
special partnership for peace and prosperity."


2. (C) In separate conversations with Secretary Romulo,
Defense Secretary Ebdane, and Executive Secretary Ermita on
March 1, Ambassador reiterated the concern of the USG and the
international community over the unlawful killings of
leftists, journalists, and others, and welcomed the
additional steps the Philippine government had taken to
combat this problem (ref b). She underscored that
long-standing USG support for institutional reform within the
Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National
Police, as well as in the judiciary, were directly relevant
to and important for greater success in resolving these
killings, along with the human rights training provided for
Philippine security forces in country, at the International
Law Enforcement Academy in Bangkok, and at U.S. military and
FBI training academies. She promised that we would look for
additional ways to be helpful and would confer at greater
length with Executive Secretary Ermita on March 2.


3. (C) In a separate briefing on "unexplained killings" at
the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency chaired by
National Security Advisor Norberto Gonzalez on March 1 and
attended also by Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Seguis,
NICA Chairman General Garcia, senior staff of the National
Security Council and NICA, as well as Ambassadors or senior
representatives of six countries, Pol/C described at length
the USG's long-standing support for the Philippine Commission
on Human Rights (CHR) and our hopes to provide significant
additional funding this year as well as in subsequent years.
He highlighted our strong partnership with the CHR in human
rights vetting of all Philippine military and law enforcement
officials who undergo USG-sponsored training. He also
described our discussions with the Norwegians and EU Troika
about possible practical forms of additional assistance, such
as to the Witness Protection Program, which NSA Gonzalez
strongly welcomed.


4. (C) At the NICA briefing and at a separate meeting on
February 28 with the new chief of the Philippine National
Police's Task Force Usig, Pol/C described Embassy's
coordination over the past two years with the Department of
Interior and Local Government, the Department of Justice, and
the Supreme Court to draft a proposed Executive Order
mandating police/prosecutor cooperation from the outset of a
crime in order to ensure that eventual prosecutions have the
solid basis needed to win convictions, not only in cases such
as unlawful killings but also in cases involving terrorism,
trafficking in persons, and other serious crimes. He noted
that this draft grew from a successful model used by the
Zamboanga City prosecutor to obtain convictions in TIP and
terrorism cases, and urged that our Philippine interlocutors
review this draft and coordinate with DILG, DOJ, and the
Supreme Court to make sure that Malacanang make a decision
quickly in order to give Philippine authorities additional
tools in building successful cases against the culprits of
the unlawful killings. Ambassador will also raise -- again
-- with Executive Secretary Ermita on March 2.


5. (C) Ambassador on March 1 chaired an in-house Embassy
inter-agency working group on unlawful killings to determine
additional steps the Embassy team can undertake.


6. (C) Ambassador will meet with Melo Commission chairman
retired Supreme Court Justice Melo on March 5 to seek his
views on additional assistance. She will also discuss the
issue of these killings and additional Philippine and USG
responses with Defense Secretary Ebdane and Armed Forces
chief General Esperon on March 3 during the Distinguished
Visitors' Day for Balikatan 07 on Jolo Island. Separately,
Pol/C will meet in the coming days with the head of the new
Armed Forces of the Philippines' Human Rights Office, the
executive director of the newly reconstituted Presidential
Committee on Human Rights, and the chairman of the Commission
on Human Rights to discuss further areas of cooperation and
to reiterate U.S. concern. (Septel will report on visiting
EAP/MTS Director Marciel's discussions on this issue with the
Department of National Defense, the Philippine National

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Police, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.)

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KENNEY