Nerve V. Macaspac

A recent investigative report by journalist Nick Aspinwall published on Drop Site News has uncovered alarming evidence that U.S.-supplied military helicopters are being used in operations in the Philippines that local communities describe as indiscriminate and deadly.

I provided my analysis of the situation wherein what was intended as part of regional defense cooperation is now being deployed in rural counterinsurgency campaigns with devastating consequences for civilians:

“The U.S. is able to somehow distance itself from human rights violations related to the Philippine counterinsurgency … It does not recognize the ways in which the Philippine government and military actually utilize parts of U.S. military funding to carry out these counterinsurgency efforts and, as a consequence, also commit human rights violations.”

This investigative report raises urgent questions:

Are arms transfers being adequately monitored once delivered?
Does the framework for accountability, including the Leahy Law, actually get enforced when civilian harm is credibly alleged?
What responsibility do ally nations hold when their weapons are used in ways contrary to human rights norms?

Furthermore, the report underscores a vital point: strategic partnerships must never come at the cost of civilian lives or human rights. Transparency, oversight, and accountability should not be optional. They are essential.

Read the full article here, “U.S. Helicopters Used to Kill Civilians in Philippines, Locals Say”