EDITORIAL

Lip service not enough to curb crime like killings

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of Justice to harness their investigative and legal resources to curb the series of violent incidents related to the just-concluded midterm elections and unexplained killings.

In a statement, Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo said the President directed the three law enforcement agencies to file at least 20 cases in court against suspects in election, activist or media killings.

"They shall consult with the Commission on Human Rights, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas while utilizing technical assistance offered by the European Commission and other foreign entities," he said. Saludo said the directive was issued amid concerns of the European Commission and United States diplomatic mission observers over the violence that marked the run-up to the May 14 polls.

Earlier, he said, the President had taken several steps to resolve extrajudicial killings, including the setting up of special courts which will try these kinds of cases, the fielding of special prosecutors and instituting strict internal control in the PNP and the AFP.

She also extended the authority of the Melo Commission, an independent body (headed by former Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo) tasked to provide policy recommendations based on the result of their deeper inquiry on the real motives and suspects behind the unexplained killings.

But while the nation reels from poverty and political turmoil despite rosy government “praise releases,” more killings are being done by suspected members of the AFP against innocent civilians, according to an international human rights group which visited the Philippines. The government is sugarcoating the issue by saying it will continue accelerating development services and major undertakings for economic expansion, job creation and price stability.

The government should put more teeth to what it is saying instead of coming out with mere rhetorics considering that investors are still very bullish in pouring in their money into the Philippines. No amount of lip service could make this country’s constituents feel that this country is indeed progressing and becoming more peaceful is tangible and concrete programs are not followed or set in place.