NEWS RELEASE
28 November 2007

For Reference: REP. LIZA LARGOZA MAZA 0920-9134540
Jang Monte (Public Information Officer) 0915-6463009

ALSTON AFFIRMS EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS IS POLICY
GLORIA ARROYO, COMMANDER IN CHIEF IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
CRISIS -MAZA

"The United Nation's report has squarely put responsibility on the
Arroyo regime for its continued failure to put an end into the
extrajudicial killings in the country. Alston has affirmed what we
have been saying all along. No less than Mrs. Arroyo, commander in
chief of the Armed Forces has to be held accountable for the human
rights crisis that we are currently in."

This was the statement issued today by Gabriela Women's Party
Representative Liza Maza following the release of UN Special
Rapporteur Philip Alston's 66-page report on political killings in the
country.

"Alston has affirmed the killings as a systematic component of the
government's anti-insurgency campaign-- that of dismantling purported
legal fronts of the CPP-NPA-NDF. He has specifically pointed out that
this regime has failed to persecute perpetrators while persecuting
leaders of progressive organizations, " said Maza.

The GABRIELA solon stressed "It is thus not surprising that this
regime continues to fabricate evidence and witnesses to pin down
Gabriela Women's Party, Bayan Muna and Anakpawis legislators and
leaders on ridiculous allegations of murder while failing to give
justice to victims and their families, even when strong evidence point
to the military's culpability such as in the cases of Sherlyn Cadapan,
Karen Empeno and that of Jonas Burgos."

"Should this regime be interested in saving its face from
international shame and condemnation, it should lose no time in acting
towards the UN's recommendation of abolishing the Inter-Agency Legal
Action Group headed by National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and
immediately stop the implementation of its counter-insurgency
campaign, Oplan Bantay Laya." #