Special team formed to probe extrajudicial killings

MANILA, Philippines -  Top military and police officials and human rights watchdogs have formed a special team to investigate extra-legal killings and enforced disappearances.

The Multi-Sectoral Quick Reaction Team (MSQRT) had an initial launch in Eastern Visayas on Monday.

Lt. Col. Niceforo Diaz, 8th Civil Military Operations battalion commander, said that MSQRT is supported by the European-Philippine Justice Program (EPJUST), the Asia Foundation and the Ateneo Human Rights Center.

“This move hopes to address extra-legal killings and enforced disappearances,” he said.

Diaz said a memorandum of understanding was signed by all stakeholders during the event at Catbalogan City Monday morning.

Signatories include the military and police and the civil-society group, the Multi-Sectoral Alliance for Transparency and Accountability (MATA), he added.

Security forces and leftist groups have been blaming each other for the unexplained killings, mostly coming from the ranks of militants.

The military said most of the extra-legal killings were committed by communist rebels to demonize the soldiers and policemen to sustain their fund-raising campaign.

However, communist rebels said soldiers were behind the unexplained killings and enforced disappearances.

EPJUST, a European-funded group, is in the country to monitor extra-legal killings and enforced disappearances to help in the investigation, prosecution, and trial of persons involved in these crimes.