Dr. Annalisa Enrile, Judith Mirkinson and Ninotchka Rosca, Gabriela Network US officers, collectively known as the GabNet3, are now in the United States. They were able to leave the Philippines last August 14 (10:30 PM Philippine time) and arrived in the United States safely. We warmly welcome them back to the US. The GabNet 3 case is yet another example of the Arroyo regime’s continuing repression of activists, including members of the NLG. In December 2006, the Philippines government released a list which contained almost 500 names including the names of GabNet3, and 3 members of the May 2006 NLG delegation which went to the Philippines to investigate the political killings. Although the US Embassy said that the Bureau of Immigration no longer uses the list, it was evidently revived on July 24, 2007 and more names were added.

What is most alarming is that this list is no longer a mere “watch list” but states that the people on the list are connected to terrorist groups. The list includes 503 foreign activists, including the NLG lawyers.

The NLG Philippines Subcommittee is calling on members and friends to urge their Senators and Representatives to look into this list, which is targeting those that stand up for the human rights of those in the Philippines.

Further, the NLG Philippines Subcommittee feels that the recently passed Human Security Act could have been the impetus for the reemergence of this “watch list” and is investigating what further action can be taken to support the fight within the Philippines against this new law.