The European Parliament,

–  having regard to Rule 115 of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to its former resolutions on the Philippines;

–  having regard to the Independent Commission to Address Media and Activist Killings, also known as the Melo Commission;

–  having regard to the ONU Special Rapporteur's note on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions in the Philippines;

A.  Whereas politically motivated extrajudicial killings have reached unprecedented levels;

B.  Whereas the main victims of the killings are members and leaders of legal organisations;

C.   Whereas the perpetrators of the extrajudicial killings are never brought to justice;

D.  Whereas human rights defenders face huge risks in order to document the violations and assist the victims;

E.  Whereas the "Melo" Commission has concluded that the killings have increased, that those killed were non-combatants, that the police have made little headway, and that the killings are "pursuant to an orchestrated plan by a group or sector with an interest in eliminating the victims";

F.   Whereas the killings seem to constitute a pattern of politically targeted extrajudicial executions taking place within the broader context of a continuing counter-insurgency campaign;

G.   Whereas the climate of impunity continues to have a serious, corrosive impact on public confidence in the administration of justice and the rule of law;

1.  Calls on the government and the security forces make it a priority to end the killings and find justice for victims;

2.  Denounces attacks on legal opposition groups, and calls for an end to allegations of collusion between peaceful opposition groups and illegal armed groups;

3.  Considers that only prosecution of high-level officials for human rights violations will send a signal to the authors of extrajudicial killings that such behaviour will not be tolerated anymore;

4.  Calls on Philippine authorities to ratify the newly adopted UN Convention on Enforced Disappearances and adopt implementing legislation;

5.  Recalls that the State has a duty to protect the rights to life and to physical integrity;

6.  Considers that the coming election in May 2007 for National Assembly and Senate is an important test case for the legitimacy of the President;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States and the Philippines Authorities.