In a 51-page report released on Tuesday, the London-based human rights group said the threat of more such murders had intensified this year along with President Gloria Arroyo's declaration of a state of emergency in February, the arrest and threatened arrest of militant party-list lawmakers, and the administration's all-out war against communist insurgents.

The group raised concerns about "credible reports" that security forces were involved in the killings, or at least tolerated or had knowledge of them.

Amnesty documented a steep increase in the incidence of extrajudicial killings this year, recording 51 cases in the first semester. It pointed out there were 66 such killings in the entire 2005.

"No one deserves to die for their political affiliation. It should be a deep embarrassment to the government that people in the Philippines cannot freely exercise their rights of political expression and association," said Amnety's Southeast Asia researcher Tim Parritt.

In its report that included case studies of the killings and of warrantless arrests, Amnesty listed these key recommendations: Reassertion of respect for human rights; guarantee of the administration of justice; compliance with the human rights agreement in the peace process; and action by other human rights institutions.

Amnesty called for an independent oversight body that would ensure that all investigations of political killings - including those by the Philippine National Police's Task Force Usig - were backed by effective coordination between the police, National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice and Department of National Defence.

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Asia News Network

Manila