Int'l group to Aquino: Create action plan for human rights

A day before President Benigno Aquino III delivers his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), human rights group Amnesty International (AI)-Philippines called on the president to create an action plan to protect human rights in his SONA, pointing out that cases of extrajudicial killings and unexplained disappearances continue to pile up. In a statement released Sunday, AI-Philippines Director Dr. Aurora Parong called on the president to create a “Presidential Accountability Commission" that would “ensure justice for political killings, enforced disappearances and torture." AI-Philippines also urged the president to upgrade the Special Task Force on Extrajudicial Killings of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and improve the government’s witness protection program. While the DOJ has created a special task force to investigate political killings, enforced disappearances and torture, the group insisted that the DOJ would not be able to solve the problem alone. “It is imperative for the President to devote more resources and ensure concerted effort from government agencies under the auspices Presidential Accountability Commission," said Parong. In May this year, AI-Philippines said Aquino’s efforts to protect human rights are still wanting, saying that his administration has made little progress in protecting human rights. “If Aquino is serious about combating abuse of power, he needs to make sure that the perpetrators of human rights violations are made accountable. Moreover, impunity for human rights violations compromises the integrity of the military and the police, and ultimately, his government," said Parong. Aquino is set to deliver his second SONA on Monday before the join session of the two chambers of Congress. Jerbert Briola/Bea Cupin/LBG, GMA News