Calderon on unsolved killings
As he called on leftist militants to come out in the open and share what they know on the killings of their comrades, and the media to be extra careful, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Oscar Calderon announced that it is now time to make arrests over the spate of executions.
"I assure you, ladies and gentlemen, there will be no shortcuts. Our government will not tolerate a reign of violence whether directed against militants, the media, persons in authority, or ordinary persons. There's no room for armed vigilantism in a democratic system," Calderon said in his address during Wednesday's turn over of command ceremonies for the Police Regional Office 6, of which he was the guest of honor.
"We cannot do any lip service na, this is the time to give results to the community. As I have said, this is (the) time for the police to make arrests," Calderon told members of the media after the ceremony.
Calderon's marching orders came after a renewed spate of killings felled leftist militants and journalists, prompting President Arroyo to order the Department of Justice and the PNP to solve the execution-style killings of journalists and militant activists within 10 weeks. Earlier this week, a tabloid journalist, a leftist student leader, and the wife of the provincial leader of left-wing Bayan Muna partylist were killed by still unidentified gunmen.
Calderon expressed optimism that they will be able to meet Mrs. Arroyo's deadline, 'even earlier.'
"(to meet the deadline) will pose a challenge to us. We expect that we would be able to comply with it, and maybe with the cooperation of the community and the victims' families, we could do more than the target," he said.
Calderon said that he has already organized his police investigators "to work on the cases of political killings from 2001 to the present and to work this out with the prosecutor's office."
Calderon also called on leftist activists to come out and tell the police what they know about the killings of their comrades.
"It would be in the best interest of justice for them to come forward and provide our investigators with the information that they have about these cases. And I guarantee as the chief (of the) Philippine National Police of full protection to any witness who may wish to come out and testify regarding these killings," he said.
At the same time, Calderon reiterated the organization's support for a free press, and pledged support and protection for media installations. He appealed though for the media to be careful.
He urged the police and the media to be in close and continuous dialogue, especially regarding threats to the latter. He said that although the PNP cannot police personnel for every journalist, there should be a police officer looking after the reporter's safety.
"As I have said, we cannot physically assign policemen for every journalist, we cannot do that, we ourselves need additional cops, we need more policemen in the streets; so I am requesting members of the media to please secure your own person. Be careful with where you're going," he stressed.