Philippines: Probe into extrajudicial killings in Eastern Visayas
Records of the Philippines Commission on Human Rights show about 50 extrajudicial killings in different parts of the region since 2005.
The House of Representatives’ committee on human rights, chaired by Quezon Representative Lorenzo Tañada III, will conduct a public hearing here into alleged extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations in Eastern Visayas.
Lawyer Desiree Pontejos, officer-in-charge of the regional office of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), said the public hearing set for May 30 would be a positive step in addressing the issue of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations in the country and that national and regional officials of the agency would be attending.
"While [the hearing] will not end extrajudicial killings and human rights violations, it will somehow minimise such cases with Congress enacting appropriate measures," Pontejos said.
CHR records show about 50 extrajudicial killings in different parts of the region since 2005, Pontejos said.
"Many of these cases occurred during the time of [retired major general Jovito] Palparan and remain unsolved," Pontejos said. Palparan served as commanding general of the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division (ID) in 2005.
Militant human rights groups have accused Palparan for the killings and disappearances of civilians and activists. Palparan has denied the allegations. Military and human rights group officials welcomed the slated congressional public hearing.
"But it would be better if Congress would give more teeth and independence to the Commission on Human Rights by giving the office prosecutorial powers," Fara Diva Gamalo of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines-Visayas (TFD-Visayas) said.
Gamalo said extrajudicial killings and human rights violations have continued under the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
She counted 15 extrajudicial killings, 40 cases of illegal arrest, four cases of disappearances and three cases of torture in the Visayas last year alone.
During the first quarter of 2008, TFD-Visayas monitored nine extrajudicial killings and 19 illegal arrests.
Date: 14 May
Source:
Philippine Daily Inquirer
