Filipinos protest steady rise of political killings

"The government says straight out it's not them," says Wilnor Papa, a campaign officer in the local office of Amnesty International, which issued a report this month on rights abuses in the Philippines. "They're not taking these charges seriously."

The Amnesty report falls short of accusing the government of a terror campaign, but says "scores of leftist activists were killed by unidentified assailants, often reportedly linked to the armed forces."

Protests have grown with the arrest of five "loyalists" of Arroyo's predecessor, Joseph Estrada, who are accused of plotting with communist rebels to return him to power in the coup attempt. The five showed marks of torture when released.

But many observers, ranging from Amnesty to the American Embassy, are more concerned about the targeting of leftist political figures.

The killing of Mr. Llamas, a member of the Bayan Muna, or People First Party, was typical of the wave of antileftist violence, as were the pledges of local officials to hunt down the attackers, masked gunmen on a motorcycle. A candidate for governor of his province two years ago, Llamas was accused of setting up a meeting between military officers and leaders of the communists' New People's Army before the coup attempt.

While peace talks between the government and armed groups, including Muslims on the island of Mindanao and communist rebels, stalled, says the Amnesty report, "arrests, unlawful killings, torture and 'disappearances' were reported in the context of military counter-insurgency operations."

Activists say US military advisers, as well as the CIA, have spurred on the armed forces as ties have strengthened with the Arroyo government.

Karapatan, the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace," says the government's program for clearing, holding, and developing "target regions" provides cover for abuses.

"When they clear the area, they use military tactics," says Girlie Patilla, Karapatan's executive director. "It's part of the war on terror. The United States is providing military support."

The US Embassy here acknowledges the growing alliance since 9/11 amid concerns about Muslim extremism in the southern Philippines. The US gives more than $100 million a year in military aid. Still, the US is combating the perception that it ignores human rights abuses.

US ambassador Kristie Kenney in a rare interview last week with The Philippine Star, expressed concern about abuses. "Human rights are always critical," she was quoted as saying. "You have to look into these things as a government and make clear that it's not acceptable."

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