Amnesty International Philippines condemned the killing of Italian missionary Fr. Fausto Tentorio and reiterated its call for the creation of a Presidential Accountability Commission to ensure diligent investigation and expedient prosecution of cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture. Amnesty International said that unless impunity is broken, the killings will continue. Fr. Tentorio is known to have supported indigenous peoples rights in Arakan, North Cotabato for several years.

“ The killing of Fr. Tentorio in broad daylight shows that perpetrators of extrajudicial executions still think that they can get away with their crimes and can kill with impunity. If we want the killings to stop, our government officials must send a clear message that perpetrators of extrajudicial executions will be brought to justice. This means that in addition to condemnation of the crimes, there must be due diligence in police investigations, witnesses must be protected and the prosecutors must work with the police to ensure that justice will be served. The judiciary must also do their part in ensuring justice to victims of summary executions. Government authorities must work harder so that cases will go to trial towards the conviction of perpetrators.” said Dr. Aurora Corazon A. Parong, Director of Amnesty International Philippines.

“ We reiterate our call on President Aquino to create a Presidential Accountability Commission to ensure the investigation and expedient prosecution of cases of political killings, enforced disappearances and torture. The Presidential Commission will ensure that adequate attention and coordination of different agencies of government is given to investigation and prosecution of alleged perpetrators of summary executions, disappearances and torture in the first year of the Aquino government and in the last decade under the Arroyo government. The killing of Fr. Tentorio highlights the urgency of creating such a body. Further, the local governments should ensure protection, “ added Dr. Parong.

Amnesty International has reported that during President Aquino’s first year, dozens of cases of extrajudicial executions have been reported in the Philippines. While the organization recognized that the Aquino government has put some attention on political killings that happened since he took office, it noted that political killings that occurred during the previous administration—a vast majority of them unresolved—are not given the attention they deserve. In a report “Progress, Stagnation, Regression? The State of Human Rights in the Philippines under Aquino, Amnesty International assessed that the Aquino administration has failed to establish accountability over the state security forces including paramilitary groups. It also found that the administration has not made enough progress in disbanding and disarming private armies, and in ensuring justice for victims of human rights violations.

“The abysmal record of failing to investigate or prosecute those responsible for unlawful killings must end now. We hope that the killers of Fr. Tentorio will be arrested and convicted. The conviction of perpetrators of summary executions will serve as deterrent to the continuation of the crimes,” concluded Dr. Parong.

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