Arroyo sinisi ng mga senador sa paglalala ng human rights cases sa bansa

MANILA – Kinastigo ng dalawang senador nitong Miyerkules ang pamahalaan ni Pangulong Gloria Arroyo dahil sa kawalan umano ng malasakit sa karapatang pantao na makikita umano sa patuloy na pagpatay sa mga mamamahayag at political activists sa bansa. Ang pahayag ay ginawa nina Sens Francis Pangilinan at Pia Cayetano kaugnay ng pagdiriwang ng International Human Rights Day. Hinamon ni Pangilinan ang Malacanang na magpatupad ng kongkretong hakbang upang matigil ang pagpatay sa mga alagad ng media. "We should meet Human Rights Day with measures and policies that will up the conviction rate of extra-judicial killings, especially journalist killings, in our courts. Government must stop these crimes that stifle press freedom and intimidate media practitioners from exposing anomalies and unethical practices in our country," ayon sa mambabatas. Nitong Disyembre 2, isa na namang komentarista sa radyo ang nadagdag sa listahan ng mga pinaslang na mamamahayag. Umabot na sa pito ang pito kaso ng media killings sa taong ito. Samantalang 62 journalists ang pinatay sa ilalim ng administrasyong Arroyo simula noong 2001. "The chilling effect created by the assaults on activists and journalists is not just an attack on the people's right to free speech but is also a blow on our rule of law and democracy. The government and the entire justice system need to step up their efforts fast to curb this unacceptable state of human rights in the country. It will be a very tragic legacy for President Arroyo if no improvement will be seen in the immediate future," idinagdag ni Pangilinan. "We need to raise our conviction rate from an embarrassingly low 20% to about 60% at the very least. Admirably, Hong Kong boasts of a conviction rate of 80%. How can we stop extra-judicial killings when only a few are truly punished? We cannot say we have restored justice and the rule of law until we address this problem. We need to punish more, and punish fast if we are to put an end to this menace," pahabol niya. Para naman kay Cayetano, sinabi nito na ang mahabang listahan ng mga pinaslang na journalist at political activist ay pagpapakita kung gaano ka-miserable ang sitwasyon ng karapatang pantao sa bansa. “The long list of unresolved killings of journalists and political activist best illustrates the bleak state of human rights today," pagdiin ng senador. Inihalimbawa din niya ang pagdukot sa mga mag-aaral ng University of the Philippines na sina Sherlyn Cadapan at Karen Empeno, na naging kauna-unahang kaso ng writ of amparo na ipinalabas ng Court of Appeals na kinatigan ng Supreme Court. “As a mother who lost a child, I grieve with the victims’ mother who continue to seek justice even as they painfully search for any traces that may lead to their missing children," ayon kay Cayetano. Tinukoy din niya ang pagpatay kay Marlene Esperat, isang journalist at itinalagang Ombudsman ng Department of Agriculture sa Mindanao na nagbunyag ng katiwalian sa pagbili ng abono ng National Food Authority (NFA). - GMANews.TV