A/HRC/22/45 Philippines Number of outstanding cases at the beginning of the period under review 621 Cases transmitted to the Government during the period under review: 0 Cases clarified during the period under review: 0 Cases sent under Cases sent the urgent action under the procedure standard procedure Government 0 0 0 Non-governmental sources Number of outstanding cases at the end of the year under review 0 621 Number of cases on which the Government has replied Multiple replies on some cases Number of cases of possible clarification by Government (6-month rule) 0 N/A 0 Urgent appeal N/A Government response N/A General allegation Yes(2009/2012) Government response No Prompt intervention letter N/A Government response N/A Working Group request for a visit Yes Invitation extended No General allegations Summary of the general allegation 316. The Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances received information from credible sources concerning reported obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in the Philippines. This information was transmitted to the Government on 16 April 2012.i 317. Sources reported on serious violations of human rights in the Philippines, such as enforced disappearances. It is alleged that these abuses persist in part because of the Philippines police‘s failure to conduct thorough and impartial investigations, particularly when evidence points to the involvement of the military. The ability to bring the perpetrators to justice has also been hindered by the Justice Department‘s inadequate protection program for witnesses, who have been subject to harassment and intimidation. 318. Sources also reported that several victims were killed or abducted in front of witnesses. The perpetrators either wore civilian clothes with bonnets (balaclavas), or wore military uniforms and made no attempt to hide their faces. According to the sources, in several cases there is evidence that soldiers worked with members of paramilitary forces— primarily the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU)—or paid military ―assets,‖ including ―rebel returnees‖ (former New People‘s Army –members). It is reported that the military appears to have targeted several of these victims as CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines - New People‘s Army) members because of their involvement with leftist organizations, work on land reform, or opposition to military presence in their communities. 319. The sources alleged that police investigations into reports of enforced disappearances are woefully inadequate. Several core aspects of investigations are often disregarded by investigators, including effectively examining crime scenes and canvassing for witnesses. Witness protection is rarely provided and, where it is provided, the protection i 88 A/HRC/19/58/Rev.1, para. 22.