EDITORIAL - Just solve the killings

The special commission formed to investigate the spate of political killings spread the blame for the violence, tagging not only certain members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines but also communist rebels and the private armies of politicians.

The findings of the commission headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo may displease both the leftist militants and AFP officials who have been pointing to each other as the culprits behind the murders of activists, journalists and legal professionals. But the commission tried to do its best despite the refusal of leftist groups to cooperate in the fact-finding effort. And while the results may have painted an incomplete picture, they were hardly surprising.

Military officers have been implicated and formally indicted for extrajudicial killings. Communist rebels have also periodically undertaken violent internal purges, with members of rival factions murdering each other even in Metro Manila. And many political warlords have been linked to the unsolved murders of militant activists and journalists.

Instead of trying to discredit the findings of the Melo commission, the groups that were indicted in the report should do their part in discouraging the use of murder as a means to an end. But while the military may be compelled to heed this call, it is naïve to expect leftist militants and political kingpins to do the same.

The only way to stop the killings is by showing that no one can get away with murder in this country. No matter who’s responsible, murders must be solved and killers should be brought to justice. Heavier punishment must be meted on persons in authority who kill when they are supposed to protect the citizenry. The courts must do their part by speeding up the resolution of murder cases against politicians, so that the guilty will not benefit from the permanent elimination of a rival and will be barred from ever holding public office.

Unless these things happen, there will be no end to the killings, and the findings of special commissions will be worthless.