[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 8, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H13568-H13570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 EXPRESSING SYMPATHY TO THE PHILIPPINES

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 218) expressing sympathy for 
the 57 civilians who were killed in the southern Philippines on 
November 23, 2009.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 218

       Whereas, on November 23, 2009, 57 unarmed civilians were 
     slain in Maguindanao in the worst politically motivated 
     violence in recent Philippine history;
       Whereas those killed were on their way to file nomination 
     papers on behalf of Ismael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan, 
     who intended to run against Andal Ampatuan, Jr. who is 
     currently mayor of Datay Unsu, in next year's gubernatorial 
     elections to succeed Andal Ampatuan, Sr., the father of Andal 
     Ampatuan, Jr.;
       Whereas many of those killed were women and children, 
     including the wife of Vice Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu and his 
     two sisters;
       Whereas most of the women were reportedly raped and their 
     bodies were mutilated after being shot;
       Whereas as of December 2, 2009, initial charges have been 
     filed in connection with the massacre, according to press 
     reports;
       Whereas the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists reports 
     that at least 30 journalists and media workers were killed in 
     the Maguindanao massacre;
       Whereas, the Committee to Protect Journalists reports that 
     prior to the Maguindanao massacre, 30 journalists had been 
     killed in the Philippines since 2000, and suspects were 
     prosecuted in no more than 4 cases, putting into question the 
     safety of journalists and the integrity of independent 
     journalism in the Philippines;
       Whereas government prosecutors and judges with jurisdiction 
     over the massacre have allegedly received threats and have 
     been told to ``go slow'' on the investigation;
       Whereas President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state 
     of emergency in Maguindanao the day after the massacre, 
     vowing that ``no effort will be spared to bring justice to 
     the victims'';
       Whereas extrajudicial killings and election-related 
     violence are common in the Philippines, though never on this 
     scale and rarely with this level of brutality; and
       Whereas the United States and the Philippines share a 
     strong friendship based on shared history and the commitment 
     to democracy and freedom: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) regrets the senseless killing of unarmed civilians and 
     expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the 57 
     victims;
       (2) condemns the culture of impunity that continues to 
     exist among clans, politicians, armed elements, and other 
     persons of influence in the Philippines;
       (3) calls for a thorough, transparent, and independent 
     investigation and prosecution of those who are responsible 
     for the massacre, including those who committed the killings 
     and anyone who may have ordered them, and that the 
     proceedings be conducted with the highest possible level of 
     professionalism, impartiality, and regard for witness 
     protection to assure the Filipino people that all the 
     responsible persons are brought to justice;
       (4) calls for an end to extrajudicial killings and 
     election-related violence;
       (5) calls for freedom of press and the safety of the 
     reporters investigating the massacre;
       (6) urges the Departments of State and Justice and other 
     United States Government agencies to review their assistance 
     programs to the Government of the Philippines, and to offer 
     any technical assistance, such as forensics support, that 
     Philippine authorities may request; and
       (7) reaffirms the United States commitment to working 
     alongside Philippine authorities to combat corruption, 
     terrorism, and security threats.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members

[[Page H13569]]

may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, this concurrent resolution extends our profound 
condolences to the people of the Philippines who witnessed the worst 
election-related violence in the country's recent history. I'd like to 
thank the chairman of our committee, Howard Berman, for his leadership 
in bringing this resolution before the House.
  On November 23, 57 civilians were killed in Maguindanao in the 
southern Philippines. They were on their way to file nomination papers 
on behalf of Ismael Mangudadatu, who intended to run against Andal 
Ampatuan, Jr., the son of the incumbent governor in next year's 
elections. Many of those killed were women and children, and at least 
30 journalists were also killed, putting into question the safety of 
journalists and the integrity of independent journalism in the 
Philippines.
  I want to extend my deepest sympathy and support for President Gloria 
Macapagal Arroyo, who has taken strong measures to hold accountable 
those who are responsible for this atrocity, vowing that ``no effort 
will be spared to bring justice to the victims.'' The United States and 
the Philippines maintain strong bilateral ties based upon historical 
relations, common interests, and shared Values.

                              {time}  1200

  This resolution underscores our commitment to its important 
relationship during these difficult times.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I'd like to yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution which 
commemorates the victims of the worst political violence in recent 
Philippine history. The wholesale massacre of 57 innocent persons, 
including women, children, and journalists, can only be termed as 
shocking even in this era of mass violence. The fact that this attack, 
which included mutilation and rape, took place on a convoy headed to 
register a candidate for election is a cause for concern for all who 
uphold democratic values and the rule of law.
  I held discussions earlier this fall with my Filipino friends, keen 
political observers who warned of the potential for corruption, 
intimidation, and even violence in the run-up to elections in May of 
next year.
  Extrajudicial killings have sadly become rather commonplace in the 
Republic of the Philippines. Over 30 journalists have reportedly been 
killed since the year 2000, with prosecutions in only four cases. The 
pen may be mightier than the sword, but no pen can maintain its 
strength if so easily cut down.
  The Philippines is, after all, no ordinary republic. It is the only 
Asian nation that first incorporated democratic values as a territory 
of the United States of America. It was to the Philippines that General 
Douglas MacArthur vowed to return after the courage of the defense of 
Corregidor and the agony of the Bataan death march.
  American blood was shed, American treasure expended, American youth 
lost to give birth to the Philippine democracy in the post-World War II 
world. That is why the massacre of November 23 must be of concern to 
all of us as the political heirs to those brave veterans of the 
Philippines. Anything less than a thorough, transparent, and 
independent investigation of this massacre is unacceptable.
  The success of the global war on terror in this volatile southern 
region of the Philippines depends on a full implementation of 
transparency and the rule of law.
  The People Power Revolution of 1986--which the United States both 
celebrated and assisted--requires open, fair, and violence-free 
Presidential elections in May of 2010. Anything less would besmirch the 
memory of those who have fought and died so that the Philippines might 
have government of the people, for the people, and by the people. This 
dream, Madam Speaker, may only be achieved if the truth of the November 
23 massacre is fully disclosed.
  With that, Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Texas, Congressman Al Green.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. I thank the Chair and the ranking member.
  I would like to quickly give 200,000 reasons why we should be 
concerned about this incident--200,000. That's the number of persons 
from the Philippines who served with the United States military in 
World War II.
  The Philippines have earned our respect, and they've earned our 
necessity to step forward in times of difficulty for them. We owe it to 
ourselves to make sure that injustice in the Philippines is addressed, 
because injustice there is a threat to justice here, just as a threat 
to justice for us was a threat to justice for them.
  I support this resolution, and I strongly urge my colleagues to vote 
in favor of it.
  I thank you.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I have no further requests for time. I yield back 
the balance of our time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I just would very quickly like to point out 
that, besides expressing our deep concern, we also express the concern 
about the culture of impunity that continues to exist among 
politicians, clans, armed forces, and other persons in the Philippines. 
And this calls on the United States to offer any kind of assistance, 
technical assistance, that we can, and we stand by the Philippine 
government's efforts to bring peace, rule of law, and security to the 
southern province.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Con. Res 218, expressing Congress's deepest condolences to the families 
of the 57 victims of the Maguindanao massacre. I thank my good friend 
from California, Mr. Berman, for authoring the resolution, which I am 
proud to co-sponsor.
  Madam Speaker, when a friend is struck by a tragedy, perhaps the 
death of a family member, we all know what to do. We call them up, we 
visit them, we reach out to them. That is what they need at that 
moment--to know they are not alone, that they are accompanied by 
friends. I am confident this is happening in the Philippines right now. 
The Filipino people have strong families, and a gift for friendship.
  I think it is like that with nations too. What happened in 
Maguindanao was such a terrible tragedy that other nations have to 
reach out and remind the Filipino people that they are part of a great 
human family, and that other nations grieve with them.
  Madam Speaker, lest anyone doubt the importance of this gesture, let 
me remind them of the outpouring of support, which came from every 
corner of the globe, after the September 11 attacks in 2001. That meant 
so much to us.
  But, Madam Speaker, the Filipino people also need justice. When a 
crime is committed on such a scale and in such a manner as the 
Maguindanao massacre, fundamental issues of justice and human rights 
are raised. The ambush of 57 people travelling in broad daylight to 
file a candidate's nomination papers, their forced march to a prepared 
killing field, their grisly shooting, mutilation, including the sexual 
mutilation and reportedly rape of women, and attempted burial by 
government-owned equipment--something is deeply wrong. And let's 
remember that the murder of 30 journalists is a full-scale attack on 
freedom of expression--the Committee to Protect Journalists says this 
massacre was the deadliest attack on journalists since it began 
monitoring in 1992.
  My good friend's resolution addresses these issues. It condemns the 
``culture of impunity'' that precedes and enables such a crime, and 
calls for a ``transparent and independent investigation and 
prosecution'' of those responsible, and the proceedings to be conducted 
with the highest possible level of ``impartiality and regard for 
witness protection.'' And this is the issue: whether in our own country 
or elsewhere, whenever a government is unwilling to administer justice, 
it prepares the ground for human rights violations.
  This resolution also calls for an end to extrajudicial killings and 
political violence, and for press freedom and safety. Finally, it urges 
our government to offer technical assistance to the investigation.
  Madam Speaker, let us ask God to comfort all those who have lost 
family members and friends in this terrible crime. I urge my colleagues 
to support this resolution.
  Mr. ENGEL. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H13570]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 218.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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