[Statement] Human Rights Watch on the $40 million military aid

December 18, 2013

1–2 minutes

Canada, Canadian Joint Operations Command, Human Rights, John Kerry, Mindanao, Pentagon, Philippine Army, philippines, Philippines Army, United States

“The $40 million military aid that US Secretary of State John Kerry pledged to the Philippines is restricted to maritime security assistance and counter-terrorism training for the police in Mindanao. We note that none of it will go to the Philippine Army, a traditional recipient of US foreign military financing – and there’s a reason for that. The US Congress, the Pentagon, and the State Department each agree that the Philippines Army is implicated in abuses, past and even present, and continues to enjoy impunity since the government has not established any significant record of prosecuting human rights violations. This new military aid package reflects that consensus.”

“The Obama administration agrees that the Philippine Army should not get any major assistance. There’s a pending draft legislation in the US Congress that would restrict all major assistance to the army. Aside from that, there’s an existing hold on $3 million of annual financial military assistance to the Philippines as a result of the government’s failure to address these abuses.”

John Sifton
Asia Advocacy Director
Human Rights Watch

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