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Sunday, February 25, 2007
Gov't to counter UN expert's findings abroad
MANILA -- Saying it was the victim of "media spin," the government is planning an information campaign abroad to counter the negative effects of the Melo and Alston reports on extrajudicial killings.
Task Force Usig commander Geary Barias said Saturday the government plans to play the image game through Philippine embassies abroad.
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"We have to match, make it known to the international community that this is not so, that the left are equally guilty. I think there are efforts to reach the international community through our embassies so this (the truth) can be relayed to the foreign governments that the Melo Commission says the left has done more killings than our Armed Forces," he said.
Barias also dismissed as "spin" the reports of the Melo Commission and United Nations special rapporteur Philip Alston that said President Arroyo may be held liable for the murders also in her capacity as the country's chief executive.
He said the Alston report even stated that it found no sign of the extrajudicial killings being part of government policy.
He also said the political left and militant groups have "perfected the art of propaganda."
"My observation is that the problem with the Melo and Alston reports is the spin," he said.
On the other hand, Barias said Task Force Usig is ready to go after retired major general Jovito Palparan Jr. if there is evidence linking him to the extrajudicial killings.
"It's just proper. How can we be credible if we spare some personalities?" Barias said when asked if the task force will go after Palparan.
But Barias quickly added that at this time, the task force can't summon Palparan in its investigation, at least for now.
Palparan, who was linked to several extrajudicial killings involving activists, had denied the allegations, adding his "threats" to neutralize activists were meant as psy-war.
Meanwhile, with almost P2 billion in combined operating funds this year, eight intelligence agencies should be ordered by Malacañang to flush out "rogue military units" of liquidating activists, Senator Ralph Recto said.
Recto, who is seeking reelection in the May elections, said the government should now tap its vast intelligence network in identifying the "enemy within."
Under the proposed P1.126-trillion national budget for this year, eight intelligence gathering agencies led by Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) share about P2 billion in operating funds.
The PAOCC has P500 million in intelligence funds, an item that the Senate initially deleted but it later restored in the budget bill.
Two other civilian agencies in the Office of he President, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the National Security Council, are set it receive P272.3 million and P57 million, respectively, this year.
The intelligence arm of the Philippine National Police has a proposed allocation of P431 million.
For military intelligence agencies, the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the intelligence arms of three major services, they have a combined budget of about P800 million. (Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (February 25, 2007 issue)
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