On September 17, the Philippine Human Rights Act or H.R.8313 sponsored by Rep. Susan Wild of Pennsylvania’s 7th congressional district was introduced at the United States House of Representatives. The bill which is co-sponsored by 24 Congressional Lawmakers from the Democratic Party seeks “to suspend the provision of security assistance to the Philippines until the Government of the Philippines has made certain reforms to the military and police forces, and for other purposes”.
Senator Panfilo Lacson said members of the US Congress are free to file bills that would trigger the suspension of security assistance granted by the United States of America to the Philippines but raised possible implications.
“If adopted and approved, the said bill – H.R. 8313 – will not only be our loss but theirs as well, considering that a major part of the security assistance being extended to the Philippines is used to combat terrorism, which knows no borders and timing. And they know that for a fact,” Lacson pointed out.
“And since the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is still existing, they may have to resolve that as a legal issue in their deliberations,” Lacson added.
Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday surmised that there is a small chance for the bill to be passed into law.
“Hindi natin pinanghihimasukan ang desisyon ng mga soberanyang bansa. Kung gusto nilang gawin, gawin nila ‘yan. Pero kampante nga tayo na sa tingin ko kinikilala ng Estados Unidos ang halaga ng Pilipinas (We do not meddle with the decision of sovereign countries. If they want to do it, then let them do so. But we are confident that the US recognizes the value of the Philippines),” Roque stated. – Report from Eunice Samonte
