Commission set up to investigate "political murders"
The commission was announced yesterday by President Arroyo. The left-wing leader of the Peasants' Movement was killed on the same day. Political and civil society circles have criticized the panel: they fear it is not independent from the government.
Manila (AsiaNews/Agencies) The president of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, yesterday announced the setting up of a new commission to investigate a wave of political murders that has engulfed the country for years. This confirmation of the urgency of the problem came a few hours after the murder of Hermie Marqueza, chairman of the Peasants' Movement of the Philippines, a left-wing group. The man was shot dead in his home in Tandang, Surigao del Sur province, south of Manila.
The commission, which must present results by the end of the year, will be chaired by Jose Melo, former head of the Supreme Court of Justice. Its members include: Chief State Prosecutor, Jovencito Zuño, Nestor Mantaring, director of the National Bureau of Investigation, Bishop Camilo Gregorio and University of the Philippines regent Nelia Gonzales. The commission will be given "wide powers and a sweeping mandate for its members to put murderers behind bars and break this cycle of violence once and for all," said Arroyo at a ceremony marking the anniversary of the death of Benigno Aquino Jr, the popular leader whose assassination in 1983 sparked nationwide protests against the then-dictator, Ferdinand Marcos.
Amnesty International last week counted 51 assassinations of journalists and left-wing activists so far this year compared to 66 for the whole of last year. The organisation criticised the Philippine government for not taking any initiative to tackle the problem. Many analysts say the murders are an offshoot of Manila's operations against Communist rebels.
The government and police have expressed satisfaction about the commission. But the opposition is critical, saying membership in the commission of high-ranking officials linked to the central power base and the army was "unacceptable" as it could prevent the effective independence of inquiries. This is also the reason why there are calls for the presence of international observers on the commission.
Loretta Rosales, a Congress member who sits in a legislative committee on human rights, said the government move "is intended mainly to deflect flak [from Arroyo] from the international community over the rise in killings." The head of state is scheduled to visit Europe in September.
A group of congressmen led by Satur Ocampo, chairman of the Bayan Muna party, said that to be credible, the Commission should enjoy effective powers like summoning high-ranking police and government officials for investigation. "The President should mete preventive suspension to Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan and other military and police commanders in whose areas the massive killings and enforced disappearances are happening. This is important to encourage victims and witnesses to come out into the open," the group said. The congressmen have accused the government of direct or indirect responsibility in 700 or so murders that have taken place during the tenure of Arroyo.
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