The report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions Philip Alston is very "alstonishing"! It has closely matched the government-sponsored Melo Report headed by the former Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo.

Finally, the alleged killings of several leftists and mediamen have been enlightened. Though, it's not a very comprehensive report, it has already gave an account on the military's role in perpetrating these killings.

After he ended his 10-day visit in the Philippines, he made a controversial report that made the faces of those in Malacañang and in the Armed Forces awful. He said to the media that the military was in a denial of these killings.

Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon said that Alston was in denial, though he was not. His report is based on the facts that he gathered from several persons allegedly involved and affected by the extrajudicial killings.

There's a possibility that the military is behind the killings of several leftists and mediamen because somebody ordered it. Whether it's a high-ranking official from the National Executive, Legislative, Judiciary and even in the local governments.

It's no secret anymore. Our country is the 2nd most dangerous place after Iraq. Iraq's reputation of being the most dangerous place is very well justified because of the ongoing war of U.S. President George Bush. But, c'mon. Philippines is not under a state of war! The government insists that we are on war against poverty, criminality, terrorism, etc. and not against our own deserving compatriots.

The Alston report is done. It will be delivered to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Thus, the UN will finally make a stand on whether to scold its non-abiding member or not. But of course, we don't want to be scolded by the UN, neither do I! We should solve these killings immediately so that we would not reach that point.

Mrs. Arroyo is not doing enough. Whether she's involve with these political killings or not, she should do something NOW! If she can't sincerely do it, the people would be curious. Let's see if she's really sincere in solving this crisis in her administration.

Another thing, this issue can also be a good point of argument for the Genuine Opposition (GO). The irresponsibility and insincerity of the Arroyo administration is evident in solving these political killings. It has been a long time that we are hounding this to our leaders and they're are only doing a magnified big (because it's small) action now because the world is watching them.

To the military and Mrs. Arroyo, my message to you: The world is watching on how you solve these political killings, and we are waiting. Abide by the findings of the Alston and Melo Report.

To those who want to read the entire text of the two reports, just visit this PDF link for the Melo Report and this PDF link or HTML link for the Alston Report.

Labels: election 2007, political killings