PH has nothing to hide, rights groups told

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER file photo

LOS ANGELES—The Aquino administration has “nothing to hide” when it comes to human rights abuses, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told United States-based human rights groups that she invited to a meeting at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.

“I cannot emphasize enough that the Aquino administration does not sanction any policy of using violence, intimidation or threats to curtail the various rights and freedoms that humans enjoy,” De Lima told the groups, which have been instrumental in blocking the release by the US Congress of more than $13 million in military aid to the Philippines since 2008.

“This Aquino administration can honestly and sincerely say this because we absolutely have nothing to hide,” said De Lima who reassured the rights campaigners that the Aquino government was taking steps to solve extra-judicial killings and other human rights abuses.

She was a long way from impressing her audience, as shown by the reaction of the executive director of one of the groups that participated in the dialog.

“Yes, they have nothing to hide, but they have a lot to do to improve the government’s human rights record,” said Arnedo Valera, executive director of the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC).

“The killings continue and the untouchables remain scot-free,” Valera said in an interview.

Valera credits the Aquino government for taking significant steps to curb human trafficking but finds its efforts to stop human rights abuses lacking.

“The US Congress should continue to withhold military aid to the Philippines until the Aquino government makes a “sincere effort” to address human rights issues, he said.

The meeting was at the invitation of De Lima and Philippine Ambassador Jose Cuisia. The participating groups included  the MHC, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists, Ecumenical Advisory Network and International Justice Mission.

Valera said he found it puzzling that President Aquino—whose father, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was himself a victim of extra-judicial killing—“does not forcefully go after perpetrators of such killings and other human rights abuses.”

Human rights groups have documented more than 100 extra-judicial killings and numerous forced disappearances, torture cases and illegal arrests and detention under Mr. Aquino’s watch.

According to a recent US Department of State report, impunity in the area of human rights violations persists under the Aquino administration.

More than 20 country members of the United Nations Human Rights Council have called attention to the continuing extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other human rights violations

In its 2012 World Report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the Aquino administration “has not fulfilled its promise of reform and made little progress in ending impunity.”

De Lima conceded that on the issue of convictions in cases of extra-judicial killings, “our record leaves great room for improvement.”

“However, I cannot be more emphatic in my position that it is not fair to conclude from this that the Philippine human rights situation has not improved,” she said. With Fat Reyes, INQUIRER.net

Originally posted at 12:24 am | September 27, 2012