MikeLigalig.com

The Bohol Chronicle
June 27, 2007

"The end of political killings in the country may be drawing near."

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo made this statement in the wake of disclosures made by three generals of the Armed Forces regarding discussions on extra-judicial killings by high-ranking military officers.

Ocampo bared, in an interview over dyRD's "Inyong Alagad," he
will re-file a resolution once Congress convenes, calling for a joint Senate and House investigating panel or create a commission to look into extra-judicial killings and other human rights violations.

"On a broader scale, if the congressional inquiries can ferret out the truth and find their linkage as we've been asserting that this has to do with the counter-insurgency program 'Oplan Bantay Laya' then we would be approaching the end of political killings," said Ocampo.

The militant leader said the string of disclosures by three generals "is a welcome move" together with Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Puno's proposal for a summit on extra-judicial killings.

Ocampo says he foresees "a breakthrough into the causes and motives of the political killings, through the disclosures of three generals, while the Armed Forces has consistently denied involvement."

"If the three generals would provide testimonies," according to Ocampo, "this will open the inquiry into the possibility that certain sections of the armed forces, have been responsible for the killings.'

Ocampo underscored that under International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention, officers of the armed forces have the responsibility to protect civilians, "the three generals seem to recognize that."

He said if there is a link on the discussions of extra-judicial killings on the declaration of Pres. Gloria Arroyo to eliminate the insurgency problem by 2010, "then we have a clear case in determining who are principally responsible."

"There would be an expected response on the part of the government, specifically the executive branch, to take definitive action to stop the killings," Ocampo stressed.

'SUMMIT' WELCOMED

According to Ocampo, the summit proposed by Chief Justice Puno is welcomed by cause oriented groups.

"[This] indicates the Supreme Court's determination to put a stop to extra-judicial killings and other human rights violations," he said.

He added that a review of the rules of procedures to improve the chances of the victims' relatives to find justice by also making it harder for the perpetrators to escape responsibility is just proper and "a challenge to the judicial system" which the Supreme Court must address.

"If the executive and legislative departments will cooperate, we could fast track the holding of the summit," Ocampo said. "A consensus and new approaches must be introduced to put a closure into the cases of political killings."

Asked if he expects full cooperation from the military on the summit, Ocampo said, "All law enforcement agencies, the police and military included, have no option but to cooperate if the high tribunal calls for a public consultation."

"They should extend unqualified cooperation, which is the common purpose to uphold the rule of law" he concluded.

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