AFP ‘Hit List’: The Cat Is Out of the Bag

PRESS STATEMENT

20 May 2009

AFP ‘HIT LIST”: The cat is out of the bag

That the Armed Forces of the Philippines remains a principal suspect in the killing of Filipino journalists and activists, has once again been given credence when Filipino journalist Mr. Carlos Conde recently discovered his name in the “order of battle” of the AFP’s southern command.

Conde’s name and those of more than a hundred other activists appeared in a document titled “JCICC `AGILA’ 3rd QTR 2007 OB VALIDATION RESULT” purportedly prepared by the intelligence staff of the armed forces’ 10th Infantry Division in Southern Mindanao. The “order of battle” is clearly a “hit list” of persons the Philippine government considers “enemies of the state”, and as such are targets for physical elimination. A few in that “hit list”, such as leaders and members of progressive people’s organizations, has already been assassinated by motorcycle-riding assassins strongly believed to be from the AFP.

The Antonio Zumel Center for Press Freedom strongly condemns the inclusion of Mr. Carlos Conde’s name in that AFPs’ “order of battle”. It likewise condemns the AFP “order of battle” containing names of leaders of people’s organizations.

Mr. Conde has been a journalist for the past 15 years. He is a correspondent for US-based publications, namely The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune and GlobalPost.com. As the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines’ secretary-general from 2004 to 2006, Conde led the campaign in the Philippines to stop the killings and harassment of journalists. Under the Arroyo government, the Philippines has earned the notoriety for being the world’s most murderous place for journalists.

As advocates of press freedom, we strongly denounce any attempt by the Philippine government and its armed forces to limit the freedom of the press by allowing the intimidation, harassment, including the physical elimination of journalists and the critical press. Mr. Conde’s discovery of the inclusion of his name in the AFP’s “order of battle”, has indeed bolstered the proof that like the Marcos dictatorship, the Arroyo government is targeting for assassination its legitimate critics.

We demand that the Arroyo government and the AFP withdraw the “order of battle” containing the name of Mr. Conde and those of more than a hundred other activists. We demand full respect for freedom of the press and immediately stop the killings of journalists and activists.

ANTONIO ZUMEL CENTER FOR PRESS FREEDOM

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Mela Castillo

International Coordinator

www.zumel.com