Statement — Melo Commission and its commander-in-chief

There is nothing new with the report by the Melo Commission finding notorious Gen. Jovito Palparan and other AFP commanders responsible for the serial killings of over 800 political activists since 2001.

It merely echoes what the families of victims and the entire human rights community have long exposed and protested both here and abroad. It only affirms the charges filed by the victim's families and human rights groups in various local and international bodies demanding government accountability amidst a climate of state terrorism and impunity.

That it took the Melo Commission this long to recognize that most basic of facts speaks of its indecisiveness and indifference to wholeheartedly confront the campaign of terror of the AFP. That it released part of its report in time with the coming visit of UN special envoy on political killings demonstrates its pretentious posturing at making it appear that the President is doing something to improve her gruesome human rights record.

For as the commission was leaking its fact-finding report to the press on Monday, military agents (reportedly) shot dead NFA employee and BAYAN Muna member Dominador de Luna in Catbalogan, Western Samar earlier in the morning. In that same day, Prof. Jose Ma. Cui, who was similarly killed in front of his students a few days back, was interned by hundreds of supporters in Catarman, Northern Samar.

The commission was partly right to pin command responsibility on field commanders for political killings occurring in their areas of operation. But it is wrong to stop there. Command responsibility goes straight up to the Cabinet Cluster E (national security) and lands right at the lap of the commander-in-chief.

The trail of blood leads to the halls of Malacañang. It is there where the Melo Commission should focus its investigation. It is there where it should find the blueprint for political killings, codenamed Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL) I & II - the AFP's terror campaign. It is there where it should find the mastermind.

Atty. Poch Cinco
Chairperson
KARAPATAN
Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights