We condemn the October 17th extra-judicial killing of Fr. Fausto Tentorio in Mindanao, Philippines. Tentorio worked in defense of indigenous people's land rights against corporate mining interests.
A 2007 report by the UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston attributed such murders to a National Internal Security Plan that had been adopted by the Philippine military. The plan sanctions paramilitary groups to protect corporate mining interests. It has been upheld by the Aquino regime.
Such human rights abuses cannot be tolerated. We ask President Obama to immediately stop military aid to the Philippines. Such aid should be withheld until the National Internal Security Plan has been discontinued and there is justice for Fr. Tentorio, and the more than 1000 victims of extra-judicial killings.