Melo Commision: Whitewash?

The creation of independent investigation body Melo Commission is another Moro-Moro stage by Malacanang Palace. I doubt its independence and fairness due to the presence of two commissionaires from the justice department. They report directly to discredited Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez. It was created to simply show the international community that Arroyo regime was doing something about these abuses and killings, while getting the commission to clear her police and military generals from charges of violations of human rights. The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) hinted that the fact finding body Melo Commission is a useless body since the witnesses often feared for their lives while the military made little effort to help with investigations. The new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Esperon practically cleared retired Army major general Palparan for alleged human right abuses and extra-judicial killings in Central Luzon provinces and Mindoro Island. Military and police authorities investigating political killings already concluded that the communists are perpetrators of the murders without solid proof. Mrs. Gloria Arroyo is held hostage by military and police generals after the aborted February 25, 2006 coup. The discredited Arroyo presidency cannot condemn General Esperon led “military junta” for human right abuses and political killings. She owed the military and police support for political survival. Majority of Filipinos want her to be ousted from power.


US rights watchdog to Gloria Arroyo:
Match rhetoric with action
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