The United States House of Representatives approved a proposal to the National Defense Authorization Act that aims to “bawalan ang anumang “assistance” sa Philippine National Police (PNP) “hangga’t hindi nagagawa ang ilang human rights requirements.” 

The amendment has been approved on Friday (Manila time) in response to allegations of human rights violations by former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is described for his bloody “war on drugs” and retaliation against his critics, as well as the closure of news organizations.

The amendment, proposed by Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, states:
No funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of State are authorized to be made available to provide assistance to the Philippine National Police, including assistance in the form of equipment or training.

He stated that such an amendment will only be repealed if the US Secretary of State certifies to the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that the Philippine government has done the following:

*investigation and successful prosecution of PNP members who violate human rights; ensuring that judicial authorities cooperate in these cases; and putting an end to violations.

*The PNP can demonstrate that it protects the rights of unionists, journalists, human rights defenders, government critics, church leaders, and other activists and that it is capable of doing so without fear.

*take steps to ensure a judicial system capable of investigating, prosecuting, and holding accountable police and military personnel who violate human rights.

*contributed to domestic and US audits and investigations into alleged misuse of previously obtained security assistance.

“After an estimated 30,000 extrajudicial killings in the Philippines between 2016 and today, after the assassinations, arbitrary arrests, torture, and red-tagging of labor organizers and oppositions leaders, after former President Duterte’s calls for assassinating politically engaged bishops, and after the Philippines has been named year after year by the International Trade Union Confederation as one of the world’s 10 most repressive countries for the labor movement and workers, the time is long overdue to begin putting some basic human rights guardrails in place in the United States-Philippines relationship,” Wild said in his opening remarks.

“[I]t is so vital that we do not undermine our own case for democracy and open ourselves up to charges of hypocrisy by supporting brutal regimes out of short term expediency.”

Ohio Representative objected. According to Steve Chabot, chair of the US-Philippines Friendship Caucus, while he also opposed Duterte’s extrajudicial killings (EJKs), he allegedly assisted the drug war and that the Digong management finally ended. He stated that we must continue to collaborate with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to counter China.