of the Philippines the criminal justice system is - Article 2

none of the
allegations
against Maj.
Gen. Palparan
and his men
have been
thoroughly
investigated....
“
”
The AHRC has reported a number of cases in which members
of the military were allegedly involved in the extrajudicial killings
and other gross violation of human rights. In particular, retired
Major General Jovito Palparan, the former commander of the
7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, and his men stand
accused of the extrajudicial killing of 61-year-old activist Ofelia
Rodriguez (a.k.a. Nanay Perla) of Barangay Divisoria, Mexico,
Pampanga on 16 January 2006; the abduction and extrajudicial
killing of Allan Ibasan and Dante Salgado on 30 or 31 January
2006 at Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac; the extrajudicial killing of 19-yearold
activist Audie Lucero in Barangay Capitangan, Abucay, Bataan
on 13 February 2006; the forced disappearance of Reynaldo
Manalo (32) and Raymond Manalo (22) of Barangay Bohol na
Mangga, San Ildefonso, Bulacan on 14 February 2006; the forced
disappearance of labour leader Rogelio Concepcion (36) in
Barangay Mataas na Parang, San Ildefonso, Bulacan on 6 March
2006; and, the forced disappearance of 24-year-old activist Ronald
Intal of Barangay Asturias, Tarlac City on 3 April 2006.
None of these allegations against Major General Palparan and
his men have been thoroughly investigated. The police instead
exonerated him and his men even before subjecting them to
investigations. While the victims and families of the dead are
living in enormous fear, Major General Palparan meanwhile is
receiving commendations from President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo herself. The president has thereby already exonerated
Major General Palparan of gross abuses even before any impartial
investigation, effective prosecution or court decision. The
president also allegedly attempted to provide Major General
Palparan with de facto immunity by nominating him for
appointment as deputy director for counter-insurgency in the
National Security Council.
Flawed or inexistent investigations by the police
Investigations conducted by the PNP into extrajudicial killings
are either completely inconclusive or unsatisfactory. The police
system lacks the ability to conduct forensic investigations and
professionally gather evidence upon which to build a case that
will stand up in court. It is also unwilling to properly investigate.
For example, during an interview conducted by an international
fact-finding team, General Avelino I Razon Jr., the head of the
PNP’s Task Force Usig assigned to inquire into the killings, denied
that any members of the armed forces or the police have carried
out politically-motivated killings. Furthermore, the current
structure and operation of the Task Force causes great concern,
as it shares information and intelligence with the army and other
authorities, which severely undermines its independence and
effectiveness.
Take the case of development activists George Vigo and his
wife Maricel who were killed in Kidapawan City on 19 June 2006.
According to Maricel’s younger sister, Maribel, the manner of a
task force investigation was not thorough and was completed too
quickly. The findings were also contrary to another report by local
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article 2 • February 2007 Vol. 6, No. 1