Foreign group to probe activists’ slays

Alarmed by the spate of killings of activists and progressive labor leaders in the country, a 30-man delegation from different foreign trade unions is set to investigate what it described as "horrific acts against life and democracy."

Paul Quintos, of the Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research, said the delegation, composed of labor organizers and leaders from Taiwan, Belgium, Canada, the United States and South Korea, is here in the country until May 7 for the International Labor Solidarity Mission.

Quintos said the group would conduct fact-finding missions in areas where "politically motivated killings" occurred.

Irene Caulsen, president of the Denmark-based international forum, said they would try to come up with recommendations on how these incidents could be stopped.

"We want to know the real situation in the Philippines for us to be able to hold the Arroyo regime accountable for these incidents," said Kelti Cameron of the Canada-based Center for Philippine Concerns and Migrant Workers Center. — James Mananghaya