Arroyo praises military despite report linking soldiers to killings

President Arroyo on Wednesday praised the military for “heroic things" a day after receiving a report linking soldiers to the spate of political killings in the country. In her speech during the annual Vin D'Honneur in Malacanang, the President said: “I believe 99.9 percent of our military are good, hardworking and patriotic Filipinos." “They do heroic things like killing terrorists in battle, putting lives on the line everyday to protect the nation and make our homeland safer," Mrs. Arroyo added. A report submitted by a fact-finding body headed by retired Supreme Court justice Jose Melo proposed that several generals should be held responsible for the killings in their areas of operation. The President said the government is willing to work with various sectors and even the international community “to strengthen any findings and put teeth in the recommendations" of the Melo Commission. “We will do everything in our power to crack down on political violence leading up to this may elections so that our citizens can vote free from fear, so that our candidates can campaign without the shadow of assassination and so that our journalist comrades can cover the elections not their head in pursuit of press freedom," Mrs. Arroyo said. - GMANews.TV