Palace vows to implement summit recommendations on unsolved killings

Malacañang has vowed to implement the recommendations of the recently concluded Supreme Court summit on unexplained killings.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said they are awaiting the report of the two-day summit to determine what the Executive could do in cooperation with the Legislature and Judiciary to “look into... and hasten the solution of criminal acts.”

“These will all be looked into by the Executive (branch). As necessary we will take the appropriate steps,” he said.

Ermita said President Arroyo is very serious in addressing the problem of unexplained killings of activists and journalists.

“They know the effort of the President to address extrajudicial killings. Any solution (offered), the Executive branch will take them very seriously to reach a correct conclusion which is to put a stop to these activities,” he said.

“This never has been sanctioned by the administration or the national leadership.”

Mrs. Arroyo has implemented the recommendations of the Melo Commission, an independent fact-finding body chaired by retired Supreme Court justice Jose Melo tasked to investigate the killings, Ermita said.

Among the Melo Commission’s recommendations already implemented are:

• The setting up of special courts to handle the cases of unexplained killings, the designation of special prosecutors to work on the cases;

• Stronger coordination between the investigators and prosecutors;

• Provision of more funds for investigative bodies such as the Commission on Human Rights: and

• Strengthening of the government’s witness protection program.

On the other hand, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said he wants to see the summit’s final report to determine how it would affect the rule of law and individual rights.

“So many things that that summit wanted to achieve,” he said. “Everybody spoke. All I wanted from the Supreme Court was simply, what are the reforms that you want?”

Ermita also expressed optimism that the summit’s conclusion would convince witnesses and families of victims of unexplained killings to testify before the Melo Commission.

Ermita said Justice Melo is not too keen on extending the life of the Commission because of the lack of cooperation from the victims and militant organizations.

“It would appear for the moment that the Melo Commission had reiterated their preliminary report as being final even if this is not submitted to us as final,” he said.

“But as I said, as a result of the summit, maybe we could convince some of the members of the left to appear before the Melo Commission and the commission could very well be extended.”

National Bureau of Investigation Director Nestor Mantaring, a Melo Commission member, has been asked to talk to Justice Melo but he has yet to receive his reply, Ermita said.

The Melo Commission had submitted its report to Mrs. Arroyo, but Malacañang considers this as preliminary since it did not contain the side of the victims.

Most if not all of the victims, their families and the witnesses refused to cooperate with the commission.