Palace vows to address extrajudicial killings

MALACANANG vowed to come up with intensified ways on dealing with extrajudicial killings following two consecutive assassinations barely a week since President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III assumed office.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda on Tuesday said they tasked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure that justice will be served to the two recent victims.

Updates on President Benigno Aquino III's presidency

“President Aquino said we do not have a policy on extrajudicial killings. But we do not tolerate that,” Lacierda said.

He shared that the PNP has been studying previous cases of extrajudicial killings for years as their basis in coming up with methods in how to deal with it.

“They were reviewing all these killings that is why General Jesus Verzosa was suggesting a proactive way of dealing with all of these so we will be coming up with ways to handle it,” the Palace spokesperson noted.

The executive department joined the legislative and other private groups in condemning the attacks especially to journalist.

“President Aquino, being a victim of human rights violation himself, does not tolerate and will not tolerate extrajudicial killings under his administration,” Lacierda stressed.

Bayan Muna provincial coordinator Fernando Baldomero and former reporter Jose Daguio, were the first two victims of extrajudicial killings under the Aquino administration.

Baldomero was killed Kalibo, Aklan Monday while Daguio was killed in Tabuk, Kalinga last Saturday.

Lacierda earlier said that Justice Secretary Leila De Lima has been instructed to lead the investigation of the death of Daguio.

Aklan Police Regional Office has created task force Baldomero to investigate the killing of the Bayan Muna leader.

Military hands off

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) refuted allegations that it was behind the killing of a political activist in Aklan last Monday.

Instead, AFP spokesman Jose Mabanta said the victim Baldomero could have been executed by the New People's Army (NPA).

“When there are usually killings of anti-government activists, one of those that are blamed is the military,” said Mabanta.

He added that the military was not behind the killing, adding that the current military leadership under AFP Chief Ricardo David is bent on upholding and respecting human rights.

“He (David) is always emphatic about human rights being given paramount importance. In fact, the human rights office of the Armed Forces will be given more teeth, more resources,” he noted.

“Certainly we are not involved in that,” he added said, refuting the allegation of militant group Bayan Muna that soldiers executed Baldomero in front of his house.

Mabanta then reminded the media that it is the practice of the communists to purge members who are perceived to be supporting the government, or are about to leave their organization.

Vice chief retirement

Meanwhile, the No. 2 man of the AFP has submitted his papers for an early retirement from the service and efforts are underway to find a replacement for him, a military spokesman said Tuesday.

In a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Mabanta said AFP vice chief Nestor Ochoa has submitted his retirement papers last week.

The Philippine Army paid a testimonial review in honor of Ochoa Tuesday afternoon at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio. Ochoa had served as acting chief from June 22 up to July 2.

Mabanta said Ochoa, who is reaching the retirement age of 56 this December, tendered his early retirement as personal choice but there are talks that he would be given an ambassadorial position by the Aquino administration.

He added that the Board of Generals which David chairs is conducting deliberations to determine who will succeed Ochoa, a classmate of David at the Philippine Military Academy class of 1977. (Jill Beltran/VR/Sunnex)