The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal (PPT), an international opinion tribunal, declared both Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and U.S. President George W. Bush guilty of crimes against humanity.

The 13-page verdict was released March 25 around 2 pm at the Pax Christikerk in The Hague, the Netherlands, after three continuous days of hearing testimonies from at least 13 witnesses. A copy of the verdict was sent to Bulatlat by the international coordinating secretariat of the PPT’s Second Session on the Philippines. Francois Houtart, president of the PPT’s Second Session on the Philippines, said, “The tribunal, having considered the evidence given before it is of the opinion that the reported killings, torture and forced disappearances fall under responsibility of the Philippine government and are by no way justified in terms of necessary measures against terrorism.”

Secretary General Gianni Tognoni of the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal answers a question from the gallery, after the delivery of the “guilty” verdict on the “U.S.-backed Arroyo government,” March 25, 2007. PHOTO BY JAN BEENTJES

Houtart said that all of the charges against Arroyo and Bush were substantiated. The respondents were charged with “gross and systematic violations of civil and political rights: extra-judicial killings, abduction and disappearances, massacre, torture; gross and systematic violation of economic, social and cultural rights; and gross and systematic violations of the rights to national self-determination and liberation.”

The PPT has also found “unequivocal evidences that the military have a central role in the greatest majority of the scenarios of human rights violations in the Philippines.”  It described the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as a structural component and instrument of the policy of the “war on terror” declared jointly by the Philippine and the U.S. governments. The “war on terror,” Houtart said, is being used to justify all illegal actions and impunity of both governments.

The seven-member jury also said that the membership of the Philippines in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is “unacceptable” because it is an “intolerable offense” to the victims. The PPT added that the inclusion of the Philippines undermines the credibility of UN in the field of human rights.

Victory

In a protest rally organized by Bayan and allied organizations at the Plaza Miranda, March 27, Evangeline Hernandez, spokesperson of Hustisya (Victims United for Justice) and mother of slain human rights advocate Benjaline Hernandez, said in Filipino, “This government did not listen to our pleas. We came to the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal and it did not fail us. We are no longer alone in the struggle for justice. The whole world already knows the real face of Gloria Arroyo. We were robbed of our rights. Our dignity as humans was trampled upon. Our loved ones who were killed by this government were even defamed as terrorists. Today, the real terrorists have been revealed.”

Speaking at the rally, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said, “It is important that we celebrate the verdict of the PPT for it has shown the fascist nature of the Arroyo regime. It is not surprising that the Arroyo regime dismisses the PPT verdict. .. [It employs] deception, denial and cover-up toward investigations of international bodies.”

Meanwhile, Renato Reyes Jr., secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), said in a press conference last March 26 that they will campaign for the removal of the Philippines from the UNHRC. He said that the verdict of the PPT must convince foreign governments to withdraw their military aid to the Philippines.  

Bayan is also one of the complainants in the case against Arroyo and Bush.

In a statement sent to media through email, Angelica M. Gonzales, MD, executive director of the international coordinating secretariat of the PPT’s Second Session on the Philippines, said that the verdict will be transmitted to the UN, International Court of Justice and European Parliament.

Hernandez said, “We who have lost our loved-ones, who have been violated, will not allow Arroyo to prolong her stay in Malacañang… The Filipino people will make this government pay for its blood debt.”

In 1980, the PPT’s First Session on the Philippines declared then President Ferdinand Marcos guilty of human rights abuses. The dictator was ousted in 1986 through a popular uprising. Bulatlat

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