Mr. Speaker, according to groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, since 2001 over 750 social activists, human rights lawyers, church workers and journalists have been killed in the Philippines in politically motivated and extrajudicial executions.
This is why my constituents gave me a petition, which I will table later on today, to express their concerns about this situation.
I support this initiative and this petition, and I ask the government to look into this issue and to report back to Parliament as soon as possible.
As I am sure hon. members will agree, it is our collective responsibility to defend freedom, human rights, and the rule of law whenever and wherever they are threatened.