# Plain Language Summary: Philippine Human Rights Act

This bill would stop the United States from sending military aid and equipment to the Philippines until the Philippine government makes major reforms to how its police and military operate. Right now, the U.S. regularly provides weapons, training, and money to Philippine security forces—including things like attack helicopters and missiles. This bill says that funding needs to pause until the Philippine government demonstrates it has fixed serious human rights problems.

The bill is based on extensive documentation of abuse. According to the findings, Philippine police and military have been responsible for thousands of extrajudicial killings (people killed without trial), forced disappearances, torture, and arbitrary arrests. The bill also highlights how the government has targeted journalists, lawyers, activists, and trade unionists who speak out against government policies. Journalists critical of the government have been killed or imprisoned on questionable charges, major news outlets have been shut down, and activists have been labeled as terrorists simply for their political views or advocacy work. Environmental defenders, indigenous people, and farmers have also been killed. The bill notes that the Philippine government has failed to hold its own security forces accountable for these abuses, and that victims rarely get justice.

Before the U.S. can resume military aid, the bill requires the Philippine government to meet five specific conditions: prosecute military and police officers who committed human rights violations, remove the military from domestic policing duties and put police under civilian control, protect journalists and activists from harassment and violence, establish an independent judicial system capable of prosecuting security force abuses, and cooperate with audits investigating how previous U.S. military aid was used. The bill also directs the U.S. to oppose loans to Philippine security forces from international development banks until these reforms happen.

Philippine Human Rights Act

Wild, Susan

Philippine Human Rights Act This bill 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, civil society activists, and certain other groups. The President shall also direct U.S. representatives at multilateral development banks to vote against providing loans to the police or military of the Philippines.