The Philippines is one of the deadliest countries in the world for land defenders, journalists, and trade unionists. Unfortunately, since 2016, the U.S. has provided $550 million of military aid to the Philippines, supporting and enabling violations of international human rights by the Filipino government. These crimes include directly targeting human rights supporters through a process known as “red-tagging.”  

Last summer, in response to calls from our partner churches in the Philippines, the Presbyterian General Assembly called upon Congress and the administration to take steps to promote human rights in the Philippines. The assembly called for investigations into how U.S. military spending contributes to and supports human rights violations by the Philippine Armed Forces. Previous General Assemblies have called upon the U.S. to reduce funding of the Philippine military and to condition all future aid on concrete signs that the human rights of unarmed citizens and groups within civil society are respected.  

In March of this year, Representative Susan Wild (D-PA) introduced the Philippine Human Rights Act, HR 1433. This critical legislation calls for the suspension of security assistance to the Philippines until certain human rights conditions are met, including:  

• Investigating and prosecuting members of the military and police forces who have violated human rights. 

• Establishing protections for the rights of trade unionists, journalists, human rights defenders, indigenous persons, small farmers, LGBTI activists, and critics of the government; 

• Taking steps to guarantee a judicial system that is capable of investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to justice members of the police and military who have committed human rights abuses.

On July 13th and 14th, we will join the International Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines for lobby days supporting the Philippines Human Rights Act (HR 1433). Please join us by contacting your representative and urging them to cosponsor this legislation and support the human rights of our Filipino siblings.