Archive for October 4th, 2007
Arroyo wants ‘speedy action’ on killings, disappearances
MANILA, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the military to “work closely” with the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC) for “speedy action” on cases of extra-judicial killings and disappearances.
The directive was made in the five-pronged Administrative Order 197, which Arroyo signed last September 25 and was released to Palace reporters Thursday.
“The Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines shall work closely with the Presidential Human Rights Committee sub-committee on killings and disappearances for speedy action on cases and effective reforms to avoid abuses,” Arroyo said in the order.
Security officials were also ordered to submit “regular reports” to the President, as commander-in-chief, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, and a court administrator acting as subcommittee observer at the PHRC.
Investigations by the Palace-formed Melo Commission, United Nations Special Rapporteur Philip Alston, and the New York-based watchdog group Human Rights Watch have blamed government security forces for a wave of extra-judicial killings and disappearances in the country.
The military has denied the charges and blamed the murders on a “purge” of suspected military spies within the communist movement.
View article as posted on INQUIRER.net
Arroyo wants law to protect military secrets
MANILA, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of National Defense (DND) to help draft laws that will safeguard “military secrets.”
The order came, included in the five-pronged Administrative Order 197, as the Senate probes allegations the military wiretapped President Arroyo’s phone and those of several other personalities during the 2004 election period.
The military has repeatedly snubbed summons to appear in the inquiry. Last Monday, the Chief of Staff, General Hermogenes Esperon Jr., said officials could not be compelled to divulge “military secrets.”
“The DND/AFP shall draft legislation in consultation with the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office and Congress allies for safeguards against disclosure of military secrets and undue interference in military operations inimical to national security,” Arroyo said in the order signed September 25, but was released only on Thursday.
A former agent of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), Vidal Doble, had testified that he wiretapped Arroyo and former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano while they were allegedly talking about plans to rig the 2004 election results in her favor, with the help of the military.
Doble made a turnaround from his earlier statement, when portions of the so-called “Hello Garci” tapes were leaked in June 2005, where he denied the wiretapping. Doble said he made that statement while under duress since he was then in military custody.
View article as posted on INQUIRER.net
Military to probe alleged threats made against lawyer
MANILA, Philippines–The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has described as “unfortunate” the observations of a lawyer for soldiers facing court-martial that alleged threats to her safety are connected to her handling their cases.
Nonetheless, AFP public information officer Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro said the military would “look into” the alleged threats against Trixie Cruz-Angeles, who represents soldiers who are facing charges for alleged failed uprisings on July 27, 2003 and in February 2006.
“It’s just very unfortunate that immediately, there was an assumption or an allegation that [the threats] are connected to the ongoing court martial proceedings,” Bacarro told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo, military headquarters.
“We will let the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] conduct the investigation but definitely, we will also look into it,” the military spokesman added.
Angeles claimed to have received text messages telling her to “watch out” and phone calls during which the caller hangs up without saying a word after she picks up.
Last Sunday, after answering one such call while driving along Aurora Boulevard in San Juan, Angeles said a man on board a black Ford Expedition with no plate number drove to her side, rolled down his window and said while pointing a finger at her: “Mag-ingat ka [Watch out].”
Angeles said she has reported the threats to the NBI and would bring up the matter when a court martial trying the mutiny case of 28 officers linked to the February 2006 botched uprising reconvenes at an Army camp in Tanay town, Rizal province.
Angeles represents Army Scout Ranger Captain Ruben Guinolbay in the February 2006 case, and Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon and two other Marines in the July 27, 2003 case before a court martial.
She also represents Faeldon in a coup d’etat case at the Makati City regional trial court and in a breach-of-security case before a court martial, in connection with his escape from detention in December 2005.
View article as posted on INQUIRER.net
Deadline all the time 