Wednesday, February 28, 2007 Arroyo unfazed by extrajudicial slay issue against her
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday said it is already expected that the issue of extrajudicial killings would be raised against her and even against the administration's candidates as the election campaign heats up.
Arroyo said while her administration wants to bring the campaign at a high level, it is expected that critics and even members of the opposition would raise the issue in an attempt to pull down their candidates.
The President reiterated that the government is intent in solving and preventing the increase of extrajudicial cases in the country as proven by her series of directives and requests that include the creation of special courts to handle the cases, the assigning of special investigators and special prosecutors to handle the cases and the strengthening of the Witness Protection Program.
Arroyo said she also extended the mandate of the Melo Commission, which looked into the killings; ordered the conduct of an in-depth joint investigation by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of National Defense (DND), particularly of cases involving members of the military; and requested assistance from the UN, the European Union and other countries for the capability building of the special courts, prosecutors, investigators and improve investigations.
US Ambassador Kristie Kenney expressed concern over the spate of extrajudicial murders, stressing that the incidents should be taken "seriously throughout the world."
US Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop, for his part, said Kenney probably meant that "these kinds of murders and killings need to be investigated and prosecuted" immediately.
Lussenhop said the gGovernment could take more aggressive action to prevent more extrajudicial killings. He said whenever murders and killings occur, the government must ensure that they investigate it promptly and prosecutions and convictions would follow.
Meanwhile, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said they appreciate the statements of Kenney but assured that the implementation of key recommendations of the Melo Commission Report is already proceeding accordingly.
The commission had blamed the military for the killings, a finding that was shared by UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston, who came to the country to investigate the killings also. The military denied the accusation and took a swipe at the commission and Alston for making such conclusion.
Bunye, who is also Presidential spokesman, also assured that the public would be informed of any important developments from time to time. (JMR/Sunnex)
