On the eve of Benigno Aquino Jr.’s death anniversary, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed an order creating “A Commission to Conduct an Independent Probe of the Killings of Media Practitioners and Militant Activists.”

The commission will have five members. Appointed to the commission are National Bureau of Investigation Director Nestor Mantaring, Chief Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, Bishop Camilo Gregorio of Batanes and civic leader Nelia Teodoro-Gonzalez of the University of the Philippines Board of Regents. 

Leftist groups, however, expressed doubt on the credibility of the new commission.

In a press conference, Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr. said, “It is truly ironic that government agencies who have a record of covering up for the administration are now the ones being tasked to conduct an independent probe of the political killings.”  

He said, “Two out of three members of the commission already have questionable records. For example, how can one expect the Department of Justice representative to conduct an impartial probe when it is the lead agency in filing rebellion charges against legal activists? It simply doesn’t make any sense? It's like condemning political killings and then praising Gen. Palparan. ”

Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo said. “Their immediate superior, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, is a member of the Cabinet Oversight Committee for Internal Security (COC-IS).”

COC-IS, Ocampo said, is responsible for repressive measures such as the Proclamation 1017, calibrated preemptive response and executive order 464. “The COC-IS is rabidly persecuting the legal Left.” 

Ocampo further said, “The Arroyo-created ‘independent’ commission is not independent at all and therefore incapable of rendering justice to the victims.”

In a joint statement, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela laid down minimum conditions for the commission to have credibility.  “It should have civilian members who have a good track record of defending human rights.”

They also said, “The president should mete preventive suspension to Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr.” “Arroyo must also issue a general order for the men and women in uniform to cease and desist from treating unarmed activists as enemies of the state.” Bulatlat

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