International dimension

Yet the extra-judicial executions in the Philippines have acquired an international dimension, as shown in the strong concerns raised by the UN and other world organizations. There appears a patent obstructionism in the investigation and prosecution of the cases precisely because powerful state authorities are the prime suspects based on evidences and testimonies submitted to fact-finding missions here and abroad and as cited by AI and other international organizations. The fact alone that even rights volunteers and lawyers have also been silenced shows the impunity the killings have reached and its mastermind’s sheer contempt of the law. It can only be inferred that whoever are the architects and executioners in these systematic and nationally-coordinated killings are promised immunity from prosecution and that such orders can only come from higher authorities based on the chain of command.

In relation to the summary executions, there is thus a total breakdown of law and judicial process. There is even a renewed crackdown on the press following its expose’ of the killings and reportage of international concerns. The executions, abductions and other of human rights violations, including the forced evacuation of rural villages, illegal arrests and torture that have victimized tens of thousands more civilians blatantly violate not only the people’s constitutional bill of rights and civil liberties but also international laws and protocols of war of which the Philippines is a signatory. These incidents likewise ridicule the internationally-recognized Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) signed between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. The agreement was intended to protect the rights of civilians even with the ongoing conflict and that the civil war conforms to standards of international humanitarian law.

Broad options

There is a broad range of legal and political courses of action available in the international community which the victims’ families, rights groups, lawyers and civil libertarians can take to seek redress for the unmitigated killings including the prosecution of those responsible. There have been legal precedents under which state governments, prime ministers and individual generals alleged to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity are hailed to an international court or tribunal.

Likewise, political, legal and diplomatic sanctions against a repressive regime – but not civilians – can be availed upon. A strong world public opinion sparked by senseless and genocidal killings and supportive of campaigns against political repression in a country where such barbarism is taking place has been proven to bring about the ouster of a despot. Bulatlat

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