The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is behind the extrajudicial killings. This has been done in the framework of Operation Plan Bantay Laya (Freedom Watch) which has victimized more than 800 civilians since 2001.

This has been our position which has been validated by a part of the Melo Commission Report.

With this result, the CHRA calls for the immediate prosecution of the real enemies of the people. Ret. Col. Jovito Palparan, his minions and their Chief of Staff Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo must be punished for their crimes. CHRA challenges the government to come up with concrete actions against these murderers.

In the case of Jose “Pepe” Manegdeg III, we challenge the government to present the suspected gunman Captain Joel Castro to the court and not deny his existence as they have been doing in their statements.

Last January 12, Captain Joel Castro filed his counter-affidavit in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur to answer to the San Esteban Police report tagging him as the main suspect for the death of Pepe Manegdeg. This disproves the statements of the 50th IB denying his existence. From here, the case should proceed. The arraignment and hearings should be conducted and concluded to ascertain his involvement in Pepe’s death.

Command responsibility must be strongly taken into account. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who has approved and has pushed for the implementation of the policy Oplan Bantay Laya should be held equally accountable for the more than 800 deaths.

It should be recalled that the Melo Commission was created due to national and international pressure on the issue of extrajudicial killings. It is due to give its full report on Thursday this week but has released parts of its report since yesterday. While we welcome the development on the tagging of AFP officers like Ret. Gen. Jovito Palparan, the CHRA also demands that the full report be made accessible to the public in order for us to see if indeed the Commission has done its task of getting to the bottom of the extrajudicial killings.

The delivery of justice should not just stop with the identification of the perpetrators. We reiterate our call, that those with bloodied hands should be punished for their crimes, that policies behind the killings be scrapped and the State should be made accountable for its human rights violations.

Justice for all victims of extrajudicial killings! #


For reference:

Atty. Randy Kinaud, Secretary General
Imelda Tabiando, Deputy Secretary General

CORDILLERA HUMAN RIGHTS ALLIANCE
# 10 Rimando Road, Baguio City
Telfax: +63-74-4452586
Email: chra@cpaphils.org