MANILA, Philippines — Former Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo Wednesday said he was standing by the finding of the fact-finding commission on extrajudicial killings that certain military officials should be held accountable by virtue of “command responsibility.”
“But definitely, hindi aabot kay (it will not reach) President Arroyo as commander in chief,” Melo said in a phone interview.
He said the military accountability would be limited to “immediate commanders” of soldiers who were linked to the killings, like retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, former commander in Mindoro, Samar and Central Luzon.
Melo said he was glad that Malacañang has finally decided to make public on Thursday the findings of the fact-finding body which he submitted to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last month.
“Good, good,” he also said in reference to the initial findings of United Nations Special Rapporteur Philip Alston.
But Melo said the President had already begun implementing the recommendations he had made in his 89-page report.
He said these included the creation of special courts to try the extrajudicial killings and the strengthening of the witness protection program.
Melo said the Armed Forces had also begun holding an awareness program on command responsibility for military officers.
“The lower-ranking officers are being made aware of this doctrine,” he said.–Fe Zamora, Inquirer
It’s women’s month!
“Support women every day of the year!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and Made-in-the-Philippines
Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
Mar 4— Employee Appreciation Day
Mar 15 — World Consumer Rights Day
Mar 18 — Global Recycling Day
Mar 21 — International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Mar 23 — International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims
Mar 25 — International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Mar 27 — Earth Hour
