Press Release
March 1, 2007

RP Must be Cautious on US Offer of Help to Solve Killings -- Recto

Senator Ralph Recto welcomes the offer made by the United States to provide investigators and equipment to help solve more than 800 political killings since January 2001 but counseled against any form of political surveillance or intelligence gathering by US personnel.

Recto stressed the country would appreciate the offer more if the US would investigate other killings or major crimes that have bedeviled law enforcers for years.

Nonetheless, he advised US officials to make a most appropriate tangible contribution to crime fighting by providing us state-of-the-art forensic equipment for free, or on credit.

This could improve crime fighting in the country and end the culture of speculation in solving crimes. Forensic equipment, even if they are hand-me-downs, are much needed, along with trained people who know how to use them, Recto explained.

This offer is one thing we can not refuse, the senator stressed. However, we must draw the line on US personnel doing actual sleuthing since it would be a travesty of our sovereignty, Recto added.

The senator made the statement in reaction to the offer made by US Ambassador Kristie Kenney during the Balikatan 2007s staff exercise on maritime security at Camp Aguinaldo the other day.

Recto believes that it would be in the interest of justice and fair play that a thorough investigation into these killings be undertaken.

The Arroyo government has taken serious notice of these killings following the revelation by the Melo Commission and United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Philip Alston that the military is responsible for these killings.

Recto said the nation would certainly heave a sigh of relief once forensic science is employed to solve the most difficult murders that have happened since 2001.

No one would dispute the crying need to find the perpetrators of this bloody carnage and dispense justice to the victims, the orphans and friends of those who were summarily executed, snatched or simply vanished without a trace, Recto added.

Recto has joined the growing clamor for all parties to come clean on the issue of political killings, saying the country must close this sad chapter by determining the culprits, arresting them and prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law.

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