VZCZCXRO1519
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #2383 1590136
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 080136Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1364
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY

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