Convict perpetrators of killings, EU envoy tells Aquino gov’t

The Philippines should produce more convictions of those responsible for extra-judicial killings of militants and members of left-wing groups to show the Aquino adminis-tration’s commitment in resolving the scourge, the European Union’s top diplomat to Manila yesterday said.

While EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux cited the improvements made by the Aquino leadership in addressing the problem, he, however, said the government

should strive to do more in eliminating the existing culture of impunity.

“I nourish strong hopes that the major efforts made by the various stakeholders with our support will soon result in an increase in the number of convictions of gunmen and masterminds of extra-legal killings and enforced disappearances, and ultimately, in curbing, if not a suppression, of this scourge,” Ledoux told a press conference during a visit of EU diplomats at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters.

In March this year, the EU concluded its 19-month assistance to the Philippine government in addressing the killings. Since 2009, the EU has provided support, advice, technical assistance and training in areas such as strengthening the criminal justice system, investigation, prosecution and judiciary.

After more than a year of collaboration, Ledoux said “some breakthroughs” were made, specifically in the investigation of several cases by the PNP’s Task Force Usig, a special police unit dedicated to handling complaints on extra-judicial killings.

President Aquino had pledged to eradicate extra-judicial killings but since he was elected into office in 2010, killings have continued unabated.

But compared to the previous Arroyo administration, where an average of 139 cases had been recorded each year, it was down to 90 under Aquino’s term, Ledoux said.

While the incidence of these killings has declined, Ledoux still lamented the few convictions, which human rights groups said only embolden perpetrators, particularly the military, to commit more abuses.

Due to the success of the EU-Philippine Justice Support Program (EPJUST), a cooperation framework to speed up judicial proceedings and convictions of perpetrators of the killings, Ledoux said the EU will continue its support in the sector of security and justice in the Philippines by providing 10 million euros or P600 million.

He added the details of this new action are still being discussed with different stakeholders from both state and non-state authorities.

Ledoux explained that the agreed approach is threefold.

First it will address the issue of accessibility of the justice system with the objective to better serve the poor and vulnerable.

It also aims to improve the efficiency of the criminal justice system to fight impunity for major human rights violations, and lastly, promote internal monitoring and external oversight with the view to enhance transparency and accountability. –Michaela P. del Callar, Daily Tribune