Creation of special courts to try extrajudicial killings
I am commending Chief Justice Reynato Puno for the creation of a special court that will handle extrajudicial killings.
It is high time that the judicial branch of the government should do something to hasten resolution of the cases to give justice to the victims and their families and send the culprits to jail.
The creation of the special court was made following a meeting of Puno with members of the United Nations team looking into the killing of militant activists and media men in the Philippines.
The Supreme Court also directed the court administrator to submit an inventory of extrajudicial killing cases. The high court wants to determine the reasons for the delay in resolving the cases.
Under the Arroyo regime, more than 820 members, leaders and supporters of militant groups and people’s organizations were reported to have been killed.
March 6th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Good-luck on making the Melo Commission public. It’s just really 1 + 1. If the Arroyo administration has nothing to do with it… why not release the report to the public? What is the purpose of assigning people to investigate on matters when after the investigation they are just going to hide the result from the public. That is a waste of money and a waste of time.
Cheers to you Senator!
March 28th, 2007 at 1:12 am
Unfortunately, sir, I believe that the problem with resolving these extrajudicial killings lies with the Executive’s prosecutorial prerogative. Perhaps the Rules should be amended for the proceedings in military abuse cases to be inquisitorial in nature. This should speed things up.
Also, and this is something I’ve been wanting to ask a legislator, why can’t Congress grant the Commission on Human Rights prosecutorial or even quasi-judicial powers? Wouldn’t that strengthen the institution and be a deterrent to military officers such as General Palparan from interpreting the law in the way they see fit?
March 29th, 2007 at 5:13 am
i salute you to that suggestion so that the trial will be fair. and by that suggestion the family of the victim will be sure that the authority will have a proper investigation BUT…….. the court will have to choose a trust worthy investigators to avoid some improper actions or to have fair judgement