For
Reference: REP. LIZA LARGOZA MAZA 0920-9134540; Tels: 9316268,
9315001 loc 7230;
Jang Monte (Public Information Officer) 0917-8226635
On GMA's
10 week deadline to solve killings
ONLY AN
INDEPENDENT COMMISSION CAN PROPERLY INVESTIGATE THE WORSENING
POLITICAL KILLINGS - MAZA
Reacting to the ten week deadline
GMA gave to PNP and DOJ officials to solve the political killings,
Gabriela Women's Partylist Representative Liza Largoza Maza
today said that only an independent commission can properly
investigate the worsening political killings.
"The Task Force USIG which
was created to investigate these killings has not come up with
credible results. So was the case of the investigation of the
extra judicial killing of the Vigo couple in Kidapawan. The
case which pointed to the NPA as perpetrator is now considered
closed." Maza explained.
Maza further said that in the
first place, the military and police are themselves suspects
in these extra judicial killings. "Mrs. Arroyo is engaging
in doublespeak when she orders the 10 week deadline because
only a week ago, in her SONA, she has praised Palparan who was
widely believed to be responsible for the rise in political
killings in areas where he is assigned. GMA's pat on the back
of Palparan may have emboldened the killings of 5 people after
the SONA.
"If Mrs. Arroyo is really
serious in solving the political killings, she should order
the relief of Palparan and dismantle the death squads nationwide.
Only through these actions will justice be served for the victims
and their families. " Maza said.
The Gabriela Solon also condemned
in the strongest possible terms the extra judicial killng of
7 the 6th woman victim Alice Claver in Kalinga and League of
Filipino Students provincial spokesperson in Albay, Rei Mon
Guran. Maza said that the total number of women killed under
the Arroyo administration now totals 76.
Last July 20, Maza filed House
Resolution 1301 urging the Committees on Human Rights and Women
to conduct an investigation on the trend of killings with impunity
of women civilians and activists. In addition to this, House
Resolution # 17 creating an Independent Commission to investigate
the political killings was filed last May 31 by the Batasan
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