Expressing sympathy for the 57 civilians who were killed in the southern Philippines on November 23, 2009.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Mr. Berman's resolution, H. Con. Res. 218.

On November 23, 57 people were systematically massacred in the southern Maguindanao Province of the Philippines. The massacre is considered the deadliest election-related attack in the country's history.

Reports have alleged that the massacre was a planned ambush by the Ampatuan clan on a group of journalists and family members of supporters of a gubernatorial candidate, Ismael Mangudadatu. The group was traveling through the Ampatuan township in a caravan to the provincial capital to file candidacy documents on behalf of Mr. Mangudadatu. The 57 victims were covered in a mass grave only a day after they were killed.

Mr. Mangudadatu, the gubernatorial candidate, has stated that he believes it was clear the attack was planned because the huge hole that acted as the mass grave had been dug before the attack.

The Ampatuan clan is one of the most politically powerful in the region and has ruled the impoverished Maguindanao Province since 2001 with brute force and intimidation. The Ampatuans are notorious for running a large pro-government army, which include many militiamen who serve as an auxiliary force to the military and police when battling insurgents in the region.

Andal Ampatuan, Jr., a local mayor and son of the provincial governor, is believed to have ordered the killings and has been charged with 25 counts of murder. He turned himself in late November.

Philippine President Arroyo declared November 26 a national day of mourning and said, ``This is a supreme act of inhumanity that is a blight on our nation. The perpetrators will not escape justice. The law will hunt them until they are caught.''

I hope President Arroyo stays true to these words. However, the Ampatuan clan is strongly allied with President Arroyo, and human rights groups are concerned that this relationship could hinder an impartial investigation. Additionally, human rights groups and democracy advocates are concerned about a recent decision President Arroyo made to declare martial law in the region, arguing she lacks the constitutional authority.

Mr. Speaker, as the co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the Press, there is another element of this attack that is particularly distressing to me. Of the 57 killed in the massacre, 30 were journalists and media workers. According to Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, this is the deadliest known attack on journalists in history.

Information is power, which is precisely why journalists far too often become targets for groups like the Ampatuan clan. A free and independent media provides the nourishment for democracy to thrive and grow and expose corrupt factions like the Ampatuan clan. Citizens rely upon credible, accurate information from the media to make informed decisions and hold their leaders accountable. Reporters and editors who demand reform, accountability, and transparency increasingly find themselves at risk. The censorship, intimidation and murder of these

journalists are not crimes only against these individuals; they also impact those who are denied access to their ideas and information.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot let these crimes go unpunished. We need to shine a spotlight brightly on the Philippines until those who are responsible are brought to justice. President Arroyo needs to sever any ties she has with the Ampatuan clan and should request an independent investigation by the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation. For far too long the Philippines have suffered from the plague of corruption, impunity, and violence, and it is time for the international community to demand reform.

November 23, 2009, was a sad day in the history of Philippines and a dark day for press freedom. I was proud to support the resolution's passage, which puts the United States on record as condemning this atrocious act and sending our condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

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.

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.

I have no further requests for time. I yield back the balance of our time.

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.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members

may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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.

This resolution underscores our commitment to its important relationship during these difficult times.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas, Congressman Al Green.

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.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

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.