Alston in his findings pointed out that “the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippins) remains in a state of almost total denial of its need to respond effectively and authentically to the significant number of killings which have been convincingly attributed to them.”
It continued, “When the Chief of the AFP contents himself with telephoning Major-General Palparan three times in order to satisfy himself that the persistent and extensive allegations against the General were entirely unfounded, rather than launching a thorough internal investigation, it is clear that there is still a very long way to go.”
“This bothers us all tremendously, that (the killing) goes on with no signs of investigation,” said King. “We don’t see trials; we don’t see demotions… so we fear that the government condones this climate of fear and impunity.”
Trumped-up cases
King said that just recently he came upon the case of Dr. Oliver Gimenez, “a medical doctor, human rights activist and development worker in Cebu City.”
King said that AI has expressed its fear for the life of Dr. Gimenez following the subpoena he received to appear in the Sta. Catalina Police Station for preliminary investigation early this year on the alleged murder of Pfc. Reynaldo Ramos in an alleged ambush on Sept. 8, 2008.
King pointed out that this is the usual modus operandi in the killings, mentioning the case of Ronald Sendrijas who was once imprisoned in Cebu City but later was transferred to Bohol where military personnel insisted on putting him under their custody. “Later he was bailed out of jail…and then someone came up and shot him in the head,” he said.
“We have to take this (case) seriously, because in the past when they get harassed and threatened, they often end up dead,” King said.
In a letter to Commissioner Leila M. De Lima of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) dated Jan.19, 2009, Madhu Malhotra, deputy program manager of the Asia-Pacific Program of Amnesty International, said that the organization has a reason to believe that Dr. Gimenez is in “imminent danger of being killed or abducted after being labeled by the Inter-Agency Legal Action Group (IALAG) as a suspected high-ranking member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).”
“Further, this (the complaint against Dr. Gimenez) could be part of a systematic attack by the Philippine government against NGOs (non-government organizations) through a series of criminal cases brought against activists, political dissidents and other conscientious objectors in the country, on what appears to be spurious grounds,” the statement continued.
“We’re going to observe this and we are deeply concerned. And if it goes adversely, where he and others are accused of these crimes, which we don’t see any proof, then Amnesty will take stronger action,” said King.
“Amnesty does not understand why you cannot give these people trials. This is what you’re supposed to do. They (the accused) are entitled to due process unless they are shooting at you. You are supposed to arrest them, and charge them and give them due process and let them defend themselves in court,” he added.
“The system here is not working very well with regards to extrajudicial killings, but there is room for improvement,” King concluded.(Bulatlat.com)
the incidents with Palparan and the inaction of the Arroyo government only proves the validity of the struggle of the ND movement to change this government. tama na ang mga analysis na kung anu-ano. natutunan na natin yan sa PSR at iba pang mga sulatin.