US Senate offers more economic support to Philippines
Thursday, 8 November 2007
MANILA, Nov 7 (Reuters): The United States is proposing to give the Philippines an additional $2 million in military funding if Manila tackles alleged troop involvement in the murder and disappearance of leftist activists, a US embassy spokeswoman confirmed today.
The US Senate has voted to raise military funding to the Philippines to $30 million from $11 million and the amount would be topped up if Manila probes alleged human rights violations by the army and demonstrates that soldiers are not intimidating or targeting leftists.
The Senate also increased economic support to the Philippines, a former US colony, to $30 million from $26 million.
But the House of Representatives has to consider the bill and the funding, as well as the possibility of a top-up linked to human rights, could change, US embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Thompson said.
Local human rights groups say more than 800 people have been killed since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came to power in 2001 and a further 200 have disappeared and are feared executed.
The US Senate has voted to raise military funding to the Philippines to $30 million from $11 million and the amount would be topped up if Manila probes alleged human rights violations by the army and demonstrates that soldiers are not intimidating or targeting leftists.
The Senate also increased economic support to the Philippines, a former US colony, to $30 million from $26 million.
But the House of Representatives has to consider the bill and the funding, as well as the possibility of a top-up linked to human rights, could change, US embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Thompson said.
Local human rights groups say more than 800 people have been killed since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came to power in 2001 and a further 200 have disappeared and are feared executed.