Noynoy urged to implement legislation vs armed groups

MANILA, Philippines - Various stakeholders, including media organizations and human rights groups, are urging President Aquino to immediately act on recommendations of a Palace commission to dismantle private armed groups.

Former member of the defunct Independent Commission Against Private Armies and Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas president Herman Basbaño said yesterday the panel had already submitted to Malacañang a list of recommendations on the dismantling of these armed groups.

The commission was created in December 2009 in the aftermath of the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 people, mostly journalists, in Maguindanao. The suspected masterminds, who include members of the Ampatuan clan, had allegedly used government militiamen to do the killings.

“We really hope that President Noynoy Aquino takes immediate action on our recommendations,” Basbaño told The STAR, adding the report was a product of an exhaustive study that included dialogues with various stakeholders in many hotspots in the country.

The commission, headed by retired Justice Monina Arevalo-Zeñarosa, also worked for the actual dismantling of private armed groups and the filing of charges against their members.

“Not only victims of human rights violations and killings are waiting for him (Aquino) to act but all peace-loving Filipinos,” Basbaño said.

He said immediate action on short- and long-term recommendations by the body would also greatly contribute to the stability of the Aquino government.

Basbaño attributed the resurgence in the spate of killings in the country to the lack of follow-through by authorities to dismantle armed groups.

“Many private armed groups kept a low profile during the elections because of our campaign. Now, they are being used for extrajudicial killings,” he said.