RP To Resolve Summary Killings, Arroyo Says

Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said the government welcomes all recommendations, including that of United Nations Special Rapporteur Philip Alston, in resolving the issue of extra-judicial killings and providing justice to the families of the victims.

"The government is prepared to look into Professor Alston’s recommendations and see how these can be dovetailed with the measures already slated by President Arroyo as a result of the Melo Commission Report, such as the strengthening of the Witness Protection Program (WPP) and the creation of special courts by the Supreme Court," he said in a statement.

To show that her administration is not condoning the killings, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo created the Melo Commission as early as August last year, headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo, to investigate and put a stop to the slaying of journalists and leftist elements.

Upon receipt of the report of the five-man fact-finding body last month, the President immediately issued several directives to different government agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

These include the consolidation of the different government agencies and resources, inviting the international community including the European Union to assist in the investigations, ensuring the protection of witnesses, fielding more special prosecutors and the installation of special courts for human rights violations.

The commission last week gave a confidential briefing on their findings and recommendations to Alston, who came to the country on the invitation of the Arroyo administration.

Upon reading the Melo Report, Alston acknowledged the independence of the fact-finding panel but recommended a more balanced outcome of the investigation because of the refusal of the families of victims and leftist groups to cooperate.

"This administration is doing its best to serve the ends of justice and it looks forward to any form of assistance in helping obtain testimony to pin down the guilty," he said.

Bunye said the Philippines would resolve the killings under its justice system with the support of all well-meaning partners such as the UN and the European Union (EU).

"We hope that Prof. Alston’s efforts would open the communication lines between the government and the various sectors concerned that would pave the way for cooperation and renewed trust and confidence to obtain justice," Bunye said.

President Arroyo on Thursday released this statement: "Our seriousness in tackling the issue of unexplained killings is clear in having welcomed the UN Rapporteur for Human Rights to the Philippines, enabling him to do his work unimpeded, and to render his report in full glare of the media."

"This proves beyond doubt that the Philippine government upholds democracy, human rights and press freedom. We thank Mr. Alston for acknowledging the cooperation of the government in his probe, and that we are taking the right steps to right the situation," she said.

She said: "Nevertheless, the UN Rappoteur on Human Rights has leveled some serious views that we take constructively, alongside the recommendations of the Melo Report."

"The nation must unite to bring down the curtain on a generation of political violence and strengthen social order and justice. This is about right and wrong, not about left or right."

"While the Armed Forces deal decisively with the issue of unexplained killings, I extol the 99% of our good and valiant soldiers who are on 24 by 7 alert to safeguard the people and the nation," the President said.

"The government is not in denial, these killings will be resolved and the Armed Forces shall continue to be a vanguard for freedom. We urge all sectors and stakeholders to come forward in a strong covenant for democracy and help us move forward," she said.