AFP, PNP get April 1 deadline to explain alleged abuses

Malacañang has given the military and police until April 1 to submit a report airing their side on their alleged human rights violations in 2009, as detailed in a United States’ State Department report. But presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo, who issued the statement Sunday, also told media to highlight killings and abuses allegedly committed by the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Abu Sayyaf as well. “The [Philippine National Police] and the [Armed Forces of the Philippiens] should submit to the President by April 1 their reports on how they will address specific allegations of abuse in the report by the US State Department, in cooperation with our Commission on Human Rights," Saludo said in the statement read by deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar on government-run dzRB radio. He added the media should also highlight killings, bombings and other atrocities perpetrated by the NPA and the Abu Sayyaf. The media should also highlight how soldiers, police and government personnel risked life and limb to keep people safe for the sake of “impartiality and objectivity," Saludo said. Olivar, meanwhile, said that if the individual cases of violation by the police and military are with basis, the state forces should give an explanation. “Kung totoo, kailangan pa ipaliwanag sa ating Pangulo at ano ginagawa nila para maiayos ang problemang yan (If the cases are true, they must explain their side to the President and detail what they are doing to fix the problem)," he said. On the other hand, Saludo said the State Department report on the Philippines “augurs well" for the May elections, which he said should be better than the elections in 2007. “The report noted that in 2007 the elections were generally free and fair. This year we expect automation to enhance the fairness even more," he said. Saludo also said the US State Department had commended the PNP for setting up human rights desks, and cited the swift prosecution of suspects in the Maguindanao massacre, including the immediate relief and sanction of 1,000 police personnel. Even Mrs. Arroyo’s declaration of martial law over Maguindanao and the deployment of 4,000 troops there in the aftermath of the massacre that killed 57 people were reported as effective, he added. - KBK, GMANews.TV