There were hundreds of documented reports of extrajudicial killings, a blatant human rights violation, in the Philippines from 2001 to 2007. The Philippines is one of the first signatories to the UN Declaration on Human Rights. Signatories of the declaration recognize that these standards impose obligations, duties and commitments on them to comply and enforce in their respective territorial state.
The the practice of human rights heavily relies on the political, economic, and cultural dynamics of a certain state. This monism follows the generally accepted principle that the enforcement of human rights is in the hands of the states.
Thus, can being a signatory to the declaration make a difference in the protection and respect of human rights?
This paper looks at the case of the Philippine government under the Arroyo administration, as a signatory to the declaration, and how it performs in the field of human rights particularly with regard to the spate of extrajudicial killings by revisiting the reports of Melo commission and UN-designated Special Rapporteur, Philip Alston, on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Then, the paper proceeds with a discussion on the effect of ratifying an internationally-accepted declaration on the Philippine government in the hope of an end to the killings.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Extrajudicial killings under the Arroyo government
3. Dark days that were 2006
4. The victims as “enemies of the state” (Melo Commission report)
5. “Order of Battle” against groups and individuals (Alston report)
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the human rights record of the Philippine government under the Arroyo administration (2001-2007), specifically focusing on the prevalence of extrajudicial killings and the state's obligations as a signatory to international human rights declarations. It investigates the efficacy of domestic and international pressures in curbing these violations.
- The impact of political legitimacy on human rights compliance.
- An analysis of the Melo Commission and Alston reports regarding political killings.
- The influence of civil society and international bodies in addressing human rights abuses.
- The role of the Philippine Supreme Court and legislative oversight in monitoring government actions.
Excerpt from the Book
Extrajudicial killings under the Arroyo government
The Philippine government recently has been under intense local and international criticisms for the unabated extrajudicial killings of mostly activists and journalists since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ascended to power in 2001. On its 1983 report about Political Killings by Governments, Amnesty International (AI), an international organization that works for the protection of human rights, defines extrajudicial killings as those killings “committed outside the judicial process and in violation of national laws and international standards forbidding the arbitrary deprivation of life” (pp. 5-6). It would be recalled that only in June 2006 that the Philippines repealed its death penalty law. Therefore prior to June 2006, the Philippine government had judicial killings sanctioned by the death penalty law of the state. The extrajudicial killings referred to by AI are also alternatively called political killings because they are deliberate and directed to neutralize or silence opposition members.
To substantiate its allegation on the rising extrajudicial killings, AI (2006) documented 51 extrajudicial killings in the Philippines for the first six months of 2006 and 66 killings in the whole of 2005. It estimated that for the whole year of 2006, the numbers of killings ranged from at least 61 to 96 incidents. This disturbing high number of killings in 2006 could be attributed to the Arroyo government’s February 16, 2006 -declaration of an all-out war against the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of the human rights situation in the Philippines in July 2007, highlighting the passage of the Human Security Act and various consultative summits held in Manila.
2. Extrajudicial killings under the Arroyo government: Discusses the rising number of political killings and their correlation with the government's declaration of an all-out war against the NPA.
3. Dark days that were 2006: Analyzes the issuance of Proclamation No. 1017 and its negative impact on democratic rights, press freedom, and civil liberties.
4. The victims as “enemies of the state” (Melo Commission report): Examines the findings of the independent commission created to investigate the killings and the problematic tag of "enemies of the state" applied to activists.
5. “Order of Battle” against groups and individuals (Alston report): Details the findings of UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston regarding the "order of battle" and the accountability failures within the government.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes the influence of international pressure and the importance of a strong civil society in striving for an end to human rights violations.
Keywords
Human Rights, Extrajudicial Killings, Philippines, Arroyo Administration, Melo Commission, Philip Alston, Political Killings, Civil Society, Human Security Act, Accountability, Democracy, International Standards, Activism, Legitimacy, Rule of Law.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this publication?
The work provides a critical analysis of human rights violations, specifically extrajudicial killings, occurring under the Arroyo administration in the Philippines between 2001 and 2007.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
Key themes include political legitimacy, the role of international human rights treaties, military conduct, the impact of civil society, and institutional accountability.
What is the central research question?
The paper asks whether being a signatory to international human rights declarations makes a tangible difference in the protection and respect for human rights within the Philippine context.
Which methodology is utilized in this paper?
The author employs a qualitative approach, revisiting official reports from the Melo Commission and the UN Special Rapporteur, Philip Alston, combined with historical context and political analysis.
What does the main body address?
It covers the timeline of killings, the government's response to legitimacy crises, findings of independent commissions, and the effectiveness of international interventions.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is defined by terms like Human Rights, Extrajudicial Killings, Arroyo Administration, Accountability, and Civil Society.
What specific role did the Melo Commission play?
The commission was tasked with investigating the spate of extrajudicial killings, although it faced significant skepticism regarding its impartiality due to the government's role in its formation.
How does the Alston report describe the military's involvement?
The Alston report references a leaked "order of battle" document, suggesting that military and police officials systematically identified and targeted groups and individuals for neutralization.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Menandro Abanes (Autor:in), 2008, Human Rights and Extrajudicial Killings in the Philippines, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/173161
