On GMA's 10 week deadline to solve killings ONLY AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION CAN PROPERLY INVESTIGATE THE WORSENING POLITICAL KILLINGS - MAZA

From Gabriela Women's Party Re. Liza Largoza Maza

1 August 2006

For Reference: REP. LIZA LARGOZA MAZA 0920-9134540; Tels: 9316268, 9315001 loc 7230; Jang Monte (Public Information Officer) 0917-8226635

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 6.