nformation Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

Press Release
January 30, 2006

Killings are part of state policy, contrary to Melo Commission findings—CPP

The series of political killings against activists and other critics of the ruling regime constitutes part of the Arroyo regime's state policy and is being carried out through the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), contrary to the findings of the Melo Commission.

In a statement, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said the findings of the Malacañang-appointed commission as revealed by its head Former Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo seeks to conceal the “direct responsibility” of top defense and military officials and their principal henchmen in the armed forces.

The Melo Commission has submitted its findings to Malacañang but has not revealed its report to the public. Citing “command responsibility,” the Melo panel recommended that Gen. Jovito Palparan, among other military officials, be held responsible for the extrajudicial killings in their areas of operation during their tours of duty, for having “inspired” soldiers to carry out the crimes.

In a newspaper interview, Melo said “we don’t want to tag the whole military establishment, only elements of the military who were allowed to do their thing without supervision from higher officers.”

“While it could not cover-up the fact that military elements and units were actually involved in the killings, the Melo Commission turned a blind eye to the clear-as-day policy of the Arroyo regime to physically target progressive organizations, parties and individuals which defense officials have invariably labelled as 'communist fronts',” said CPP spokesperson Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal.

“In insisting that these killings were carried out individually by elements of the AFP, the Melo Commission seeks to obscure the direct and criminal responsibility, not only of General Palparan, but of Gloria Arroyo herself, and her top defense officials in the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security who actually direct and coordinate this campaign of suppression and killings,” added Rosal.

Rosal said the killings would not be carried out by AFP rank and file soldiers without orders from their officials. He cited the case of Pastor Isaias Sta. Rosa who was killed last August 3, 2006 by elements of the 9th Infantry Division in Daraga, Albay.

Sta. Rosa was killed by men under the command of Corporal Lordger Pastrana who was accidentally killed alongside Sta. Rosa. Retrieved from Pastrana's body was an official mission order signed by Major Earnest Mark Rosal of the 9th ID's intelligence battalion.

Rosal said the Arroyo regime's campaign of political killings will continue unabated after the AFP announced the continuation of “Operation Bantay Laya,” the armed forces' “counter-insurgency plan” which consider progressive mass organizations as part of the “infrastructure” of the revolutionary movement.

Reference:
Marco Valbuena
Media Officer
Cellphone Numbers: 09179776392 :: 09282242061
E-mail:cppmedia@ gmail.com