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The Palace directive to solve at least ten murders in ten weeks failed to appease a left-leaning congressman who said that public confidence could not be built up by a mere order. Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño said Tuesday that Malacanang should back this up by ordering government men not to get involved in the killings. At the same time, he said that Malacanang can boost confidence in government by suspending controversial Army Major Gen. Jovito Palparan. Human rights groups have blamed Palparan, commanding general of the 7th Infantry Division, for the spate of killings and abductions in Central Luzon. Palparan had denied the allegations. “Deadlines are not an assurance. She should give concrete orders to her men to stop getting involved in killings," Casiño told GMANews.TV over the phone. The remark came hours after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo gave the justice department and the Philippine National Police ten weeks to solve at least ten cases of killlings which had victimized members of media and activists. Casiño said that the President can issue a general order to all units of the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines not to engage directly or indirectly in extrajudicial killings. Casiño said suspending Palparan would also be a “confidence building" measure for witnesses. This, he said, could serve as a signal that no reprisals would be taken against witnesses. Casiño also challenged the president to certify as urgent a pending House bill to conduct an inquiry into extrajudicial killings nationwide. The bill, filed on May 31 by Casiño and other members of the Batasan 6, seeks to form an independent commission that would thoroughly investigate the spate of killings of human rights workers, farmers, journalists and other civilians under Arroyo’s term. Bayan Muna estimates three people are killed every week. This would mean about 30 lives would be lost within the President’s 10-week deadline if the killing spree is not resolved, Casiño said. GMANews.TV
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