Militant Groups Dare Gov't To Prosecute Those Linked To Political Killings In RP

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 23 Feb) - The militant party list group, Bayan Muna, on Friday challenged the Arroyo government to prosecute a retired army commander, Jovito Palparan, linked by an independent commission to the political killings in the Philippines.

"The Melo report is right in pointing Palparan's culpability in the killings of activists, journalists and innocent civilians. The report reaffirms earlier investigations that have long been proving Palparan's hand to all the killings that were perpetrated under his jurisdiction," Bayan Muna Rep. Joel Virador said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

The government put up the Melo Commission to investigate the killings. Militant groups said more than 800 political activists had been killed since President Gloria Arroyo assumed the presidency in 2001.

But Palparan, one of the most decorated army general during his time, has repeatedly denied the accusations and pointed to the New People’s Army rebels as behind most of the killings.
Palparan said there were no evidence to link soldiers to the murder of political activists.

“We maintain that the Melo Commission holds no power in decisively resolving the problem on political killings in the country. More so, the report is no better than a vindicating statement for the AFP's high-ranking officials and its commander-in-chief Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. We are not even inclined to believe that said report will practically hold the AFP and the Arroyo regime accountable," Virador said.

U.N. Special Rapporteur Philip Alston who also investigated the killings also blamed the army for most of the murders.

Another party list group, Anakpawis, also condemned the killings and branded the Arroyo government as worst than former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

“The current government of Mrs. Gloria Arroyo has surpassed Marcos' record of fascism and oppression,” said Editha Duterte, the group’s spokesperson in the southern Philippines.

“There are more than 800 victims of political killings since Arroyo assumed power in 2001. Until now, no perpetrators belonging to the military, police, and paramilitary groups, were punished,” she said. (Mindanao Examiner)