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Sunday, February 18, 2007
2 prelates want Arroyo to make public Melo report
MANILA -- Two senior bishops on Saturday demanded that the report of the Melo Commission on the extrajudicial killings be made public.
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By doing so, Archbishops Oscar Cruz of Lingayen and Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro said, the public can determine if there is indeed truth to allegations that the murders were perpetrated by the military, goons of politicians, and by leftists.
Cruz said the mere fact that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the furnishing of copies of the report to the European Commission (EC) and to UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston is enough reason for the government to open the same report to the public.
The members of the commission are Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Nestor Mantaring, Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, and University of the Philippines regent Nelia Gonzalez.
"There must be findings in the Melo report that are against the administration. Hence, it resolved to keep it secret," Cruz said.
Cruz warned that the continued refusal of the government to make public the results of the investigation would give the impression that it's all for show and to silence the clamor for justice from relatives of the victims of extrajudicial killings as well as from the international community.
Like Cruz, Archbishop Ledesma, vice president of Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), pushed the government to reveal the results of investigation of the Melo Commission.
"I think the Melo commission has made a partial report and that should also be followed," Ledesma said.
Ledesma argued that the people, particularly the families of the victims, are entitled to know the results of the investigations. (MSN/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (February 18, 2007 issue)
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