US Representative Susan Wild reintroduced the Philippine Human Rights Act to the US Congress on 15 June, calling for a suspension of US security assistance to the Philippines until “violence against dissidents cease and accountability against the perpetrators commences.”

The bill, she said, is in response to the numerous human rights violations perpetrated by the Duterte regime against dissidents, labor organizers, members of the clergy and others. “By blocking assistance to Philippine security forces, this bill makes a commonsense proposition: Standing up for human rights requires more than rhetoric. It requires action.”

Co-sponsor US Rep. Hank Johnson said, “We need to show that we do not support tinpot dictators who engage in this kind of oppressive, flagrant form of human rights abuses. Simple reforms could go a long way in helping preserve and strengthen our long-time relationship with Manila.”

Several US organizations, including the Malaya Movement, Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, endorsed the filing of the bill.

In a related development, the Communist Party of the Philippines denounced the delivery on 21 June of heavy machine guns, mortar tubes and other military equipment by the US government to the Duterte government. Marco Valbuena, CPP Chief Information Officer said, “this was carried out in complete disregard of the clamor for a suspension of US military aid to the Duterte government… The delivery of these weapons is a virtual pat on the head of Duterte and his armed thugs.”

The US government, Valbuena said, “is giving in to the demands of the Duterte, in exchange for securing the US-RP Visiting Forces Agreement.” Duterte has only “play-acted” the scrapping of the agreement, Valbuena said.

Meanwhile, the US State Department approved on 24 June the possible sale of F-16C fighter planes, AGM-84 Harpoon missiles and other military equipment to the Philippines, totaling around PhP118 billion (US$2.43 billion). The potential sale will still need the approval of the US Congress.