Villar backs plan for Senate to probe extrajudicial killings
Senate President Manuel Villar answers questions
from the local media. A. Chris Fernandez photo
"That is a good project. If a resolution is passed (to conduct an investigation), we will pursue it like any other resolutions," Villar told reporters here before he administered the oath of office of Iloilo officials led by outgoing Representative and Vice Governor-elect Rolex Suplico.
Trillanes earlier said he plans to call for a Senate inquiry into the spate of political killings and forced disappearances that had continued unabated since President Macapagal-Arroyo came to power in January 2001.
He said the killings have put the entire AFP in a bad light even if those in the "regular uniformed units" did not agree with "this kind of work."
The leader of the rebel military group "Magdalo" had said that the so-called "death squads" were usually "composite teams" run by the intelligence community, including intelligence units from each major service command.
But Villar said it will be formally proposed, the proposal will still tackled by the Senate when it resumes its session next month.
Villar said senators are also ready to participate in the broad-based summit on political killings proposed by Chief Justice Reynato Puno. But he said their participation will be on an individual capacity because the Senate has still no collective position on the proposal.
The summit is aimed to discuss reforms in the justice system to curb political killings in the country which have drawn international criticism.
Villar also said he is willing to support a resolution to put Trillanes, now detained for rebellion charges, under Senate custody if the he requests for it.
"He is a senator and I will back him up," said Villar.