WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3221/97 by Patricia McKENNA to the Council. Allegations of summary executions in the Philippines
C 174/24 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 6. 98 Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (26 November 1997) The Commission understands and shares the concerns of the Honourable Member about the fact that the actual departing times of airlines › and often arrival times › frequently deviate from the scheduled times. While in 1996 delays were slightly better than in 1995, which was a year with very poor results in Europe, the situation in 1997 seems again to be deteriorating. On average 18. 4 % of all departures were delayed by more than 15 minutes in 1995. For 1997, September included, on average as many as 19. 6 % of all flights were delayed by more than 15 minutes. The Commission also recognises the importance of providing adequate information to passengers. However, rather than recommending that average performance achieved should be reflected in the timetables, which could be misleading, the Commission is investigating other methods of improving information to passengers. A feasibility study on the establishment of a Community punctuality reporting systemí was launched a year ago as a follow-up to the communication on congestion and crisis in air traffic (1). Following a call for tender the contract was awarded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which recently submitted its report. The study investigated the practicability of an information system which would enable the publication on a regular basis of punctuality indicators. The information would be primarily directed to passengers in order to inform them of the quality of the services provided, and enable them to compare and plan their travel accordingly. It is the intention of the Commission to pursue this idea further with a view to defining which measures should be taken, and at which level, so that there would be a reliable basis for any measures that implemented a punctuality reporting system. (1) COM (95) 318. (98/C 174/58) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3221/97 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Council (15 October 1997) Subject: Allegations of summary executions in the Philippines It is alleged that, on 4 September 1997, members of the Philippines National Police Second Mobile Group forcibly entered the house of 25-year old Marlon Fernandez in Barangay, Santo Domingo, and accused him of being a member of the armed opposition group the National Peopleís Army (NPA). A subsequent report from the Filippino authorities claimed that Mr Fernandez was killed during an armed clash with the police. However, there are other reports stating that he was later seen in the residence of a member of the provincial government of Santa Domingo, being beaten by members of the same police group which entered his home, and that gunshots were heard nearby. Because of the conflicting reports surrounding the death of Mr Fernandez, will the Council make representations to the Filippino authorities, urging that a thorough and impartial investigation be conducted into the circumstances of his death? Answer (9 March 1998) The case in question has not been referred to the Council. In its relations with all third countries in general the Council is unswerving in its concern for the application of the principles of the rule of law and respect for human rights