By Nikki Abeleda, ASW
Field Facilitator, Inside & Out Initiative

October 2021

Filipino-Americans are one of the largest Asian American groups in the United States, and October is Filipino-American History Month (FAHM).  FAHM, Filipino American National Historical Society cites that the month should be properly focused on history, since it includes the events, experiences, and lives of people and their impact on society. Along with these aspects, it is important to acknowledge the painful history of the struggle for human rights in the Philippines due to its past corrupt political system. The ongoing struggle for human rights, particularly women’s rights, under the dictatorship of President Rodrigo Duterte, has elicited another US congressional response that is centered on the Philippine Human Rights Act (PHRA) – HR 3884.

The Malaya Movement, an international advocacy movement for democracy in the Philippines under Trump-backed Duterte, cites the fascist attacks against the Filipino people:

• “Over 14,000 people mostly from the ranks of the poor were killed under Duterte’s drug war.
• A war on the Moro people, indigenous people, and extended martial law throughout Mindanao.
• Politically-motivated  killings, arrests and detentions on fabricated charges against  opponents critical of Duterte’s policies and cause-oriented groups  struggling for reforms, under the guise of counter-insurgency and the  war on terror.
• Charter Change to consolidate executive powers, extend terms of elected officials, dissolve congress, exempt lawmakers and administration  officials from paying taxes, remove restrictions on 100% foreign  ownership of land and strategic enterprises, and remove the ban on  foreign bases without Senate concurrence.
• Attacks on  press freedom, with administration moves to discredit and shutdown  independent media outlets which have questioned Duterte’s actions” (Malaya Movement).

The United States has provided $550 million dollars in military aid to Duterte since 2016 and continues to provide aid. Congresswoman Susan Wild from Pennsylvania’s 7th congressional district, reintroduced the PHRA legislation in June 2021 to reinforce American commitment to international human rights by suspending security assistance to the Philippines until violence against dissidents ceases and accountability against the perpetrators commences (Wild.House.Gov).

H.R. 3884, imposes limitations on providing assistance to the police or military of the Philippines. No federal funds may be used to provide such assistance  until the Philippines government has taken certain actions, including (1) investigating and successfully prosecuting members of its military and police forces who have violated human rights, (2) withdrawing the military from domestic policing activities, and (3) establishing that it effectively protects the rights of journalists and civil society activists. The President shall also direct U.S. representatives at multilateral development banks to vote against providing loans” (Congress.com).

As a result of a plethora of human rights violations in the Philippines, International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines US (ICHRP-US), Malaya Movement, Kabataan Alliance, and partner organizations have worked together to advocate and put forward the Philippine Human Rights Act (PHRA). The objective of the PHRA is to “suspend the provision of security assistance to the Philippines until the Government of the Philippines has made certain reforms to the military and police forces” (Philippine Human Rights Act).

To learn more about the Philippines Human Rights Act (PHRA) visit:

PHRA One Pager

Human Rights Philippines

References:

https://www.malayamovement.com/about-malaya

https://wild.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wild-reintroduces-philippine-human-rights-act

https://humanrightsph.org/