Palace: GMA in full control of security forces

President Arroyo remains in full control of the government’s security forces amid allegations of being helpless against the spate of killings of activists and journalists attributed to the military and the police, Malacañang asserted yesterday.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye stressed the President still calls the shots.

"The President as commander-in-chief is in full control of the institutions of security and public order, and is determined to enhance their professionalism and effectiveness, including their strict adherence to strict rules of engagement and the protection of human rights," Bunye said.

He said the opposition and critics should lay off the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) if they cannot help in solving the spate of killings.

AFP public information chief Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said the military remains loyal to Mrs. Arroyo as their commander-in-chief and will continue to follow her orders.

Bacarro dismissed speculations aired by opposition Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who warned Mrs. Arroyo might end up a puppet of her security forces for failing to solve the spate of killings.

Critics and militant groups have tagged the military and police as behind the murders and disappearances of activists and members of leftist organizations.

Even after Mrs. Arroyo expressed condemnation of the political killings and gave a 10-week deadline for their resolution, Pimentel said new cases continue with impunity.

Pimentel said there is no need for Mrs. Arroyo to create a five-man commission to investigate the killings, pointing out that she can simply order her security forces to stand down.

Bunye, however, said Mrs. Arroyo is resolved in putting an end to the killings by naming today the head of the five-man commission that would investigate the worsening spate of killings.

A top Palace official revealed the panel would be headed by a retired Supreme Court justice with representatives from the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation, the academe and the Church as its members.

Sources said among those being considered to head the commission are retired Supreme Court justices Jose Melo, Jose Vitug and Florentino Feliciano.

Bunye said the investigation of the killings has been stepped up, with the appointment of the people in the commission to investigate the killings as a top priority.

Bunye also scored Pimentel for his statements branding Mrs. Arroyo as a "puppet."

"Senator Pimentel, through his irresponsible statements, seems bent on trying to further politicize our Armed Forces and National Police at a time when President Arroyo is doing her best to professionalize and modernize the military and police and insulate them from partisan politics," he said.

"Instead of grandstanding, why don’t we set aside the political noise and just pitch in towards resolving this issue," Bunye said.

AFP spokesman Maj. Gen. Jose Angel Honrado said the military respects the views of Pimentel. "However, we would like to make it clear that the President is still on top of the chain of command," he said.

Honrado said the military would always remain under civilian authority, pointing out that the President, as commander-in-chief, and the secretary of national defense are civilian officials.

Honrado said Mrs. Arroyo has already instructed the PNP and the Department of Justice to solve cases of extra-judicial killings in 10 weeks. — With James Mananghaya