3 US House panel reps meet with PNP on unsolved killings

Three representatives from the United States House of Representatives’ foreign affairs committee met yesterday afternoon with officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to get an overview of the government effort to address the problem on unexplained killings.

Cobb Mixter, senior staff assistant of California’s 12th District Rep. Tom Lantos, chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, led other representatives from the US in the meeting with PNP officials. The US delegation included Melissa Adamson and Dennis Haplin.

The US representatives were given a short briefing by PNP officials led by Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr. and Task Force Usig chief Director Geary Barias at the PNP Conference Room at 5:30 p.m.

"We assure you of our strong resolve and determination in protecting democracy and safeguarding the fundamental liberty, human rights, which your great country has passed on to us," Razon told the US officials.

Razon said he invited Mixter’s group when he and other PNP officials went to Washington DC in March to provide information on the government’s efforts to address the unexplained killings.

During the closed-door briefing, Razon thanked the US government representatives "for giving us this opportunity to present the true picture of the alleged political killings in the country. I would like to thank you this opportunity to return the favor when a delegation of Philippine officials was warmly received and assisted by US House Foreign Affairs Committee."

Razon also said they were informed that the US delegation about the effort of the government to establish a close coordination between the police investigators and prosecutors to strengthen the case and ensure the arrest and conviction of people behind the unexplained killings. – Jaime Laude, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Shiela Francisco, Denise Limson, Marijoe Yu, Jan Camille Canivel