Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Ex-SC justice vows thorough probe of killings
MANILA -- No "sacred cows," no preferential treatment, was the guarantee made by retired Supreme Court associate justice Jose Melo when he took his oath as head of a group tasked to look into extra-judicial killings in the country.
Melo said after the oath taking that he will uphold the independence of the presidential commission that will be looking into the spate of executions of journalists and left-leaning activists.
He also said the commission reached a consensus to not be swayed by any political pressure or influence in its investigation.
Melo and five other members of the commission, namely Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Nestor Mantaring, University of the Philippines (UP) regent Nelia Gonzalez and lawyer Rogelio Vinluan, were sworn in before Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban.
"We will just let the ax fall where they might. We are independent, we will see how the chips fall. If there is going to be any sacred cow, then we will be useless. That will be the time for us to resign. We cannot work under this condition, we will simply pack our things and leave," Melo said.
"Judge us by our actions. We will not allow ourselves to be a stamp pad or our independence to be undermined. As I said, the moment that is done, then we will close shop," he added.
The commission will formally start its investigation in two weeks when Malacañang will release its budget. It will hold office at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Ortigas Center, Pasig.
The commission vows to conclude its inquiry in six months.
Melo said subpoenas will be sent to the families of the victims, police and military officers, including Major General Jovito Palparan, commanding general of the 7th Infantry Division (ID) based at Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva
Ecija.
Palparan was tagged by militant groups as behind the disappearance of several personalities, including two UP students and nine other activists believed to be sympathizers of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), in separate occasions.
"We will call everybody involved or who can contribute information concerning this, but I understand General Palparan is already retiring. Nonetheless we will call him and he has made a statement saying that he is ready to appear," he said.
Melo however admitted that although the commission has the power to summon individuals in the course of its inquiry, it does not have contempt powers against those who would ignore their subpoenas.
On what if Palparan would ignore the subpoena, the retired magistrate said public opinion will be against him.
"That will be his own lookout. Baka sasabihin ng tao may tinatago yata siya, bakit ayaw mag (The people might say he is hiding something. Why doesn't he want to) appear. I personally think that the moment they refuse to appear the public will judge them already," he said.
The results of the commission's investigation would be submitted to the NBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ) for further investigation and filing of appropriate charges against those who will be found responsible for the killings.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo created the so-called Melo Commission last August 20 in answer to criticisms from various international and local human rights groups over government's alleged indifference to the extra-judicial killings.
For his part, Vinluan said the commission will get a list of all the cases of executions from Task Force Usig of the police as well as the status of the investigation.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said he has ordered the police-led Task Force Usig to cooperate "100 percent" with the Melo Commission.
Puno said he has also authorized Police Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr., the head of the task force, to take orders from and submit all his findings to the Melo Commission.
He at the same time expressed confidence that the task force would be able to meet the 10-week deadline set by President Arroyo for it to deliver significant results in the last 10 cases of leftist killings under its investigation.
Puno said while he cannot give details of the case buildup of the task force, he disclosed it has already solved three cases of leftist killings so far since the start of the 10-week deadline. "I am very confident that the task force is going to do its job," Puno added. (ECV with press release/Sunnex)
(August 29, 2006 issue)
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