US to Philippines: Stop political killings

The Philippines must do more to stop human rights abuses, especially extrajudicial killings if it wants to receive more US aid, the US ambassador to the country said on Friday.

Speaking at a round table of human rights advocates, Ambassador Harry Thomas said the US Congress still withholds a portion of US aid to this country until it meets certain conditions in solving the extrajudicial killings.

He did not say how much aid was being withheld to the poorly equipped Philippine military.

Thomas praised President Aquino for his commitment to human rights but stressed that abuses were still going on despite the president’s efforts.

“The US government will continue to press for progress on addressing past cases and the ongoing problem of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines,” an embassy statement quoted Thomas as saying.

Thomas cited a 2010 US state department report that such killings are still taking place under Aquino and that previous cases of abuse and murders were not being vigorously investigated.

The United States is the main defense ally of the Philippines which is fighting both communist and Muslim insurgencies.

Aquino, who took office in June 2010, had vowed to curb extrajudicial killings and other abuses.