Gonzales to meet European diplomats

29 November 2006

By Ephraim Aguilar
Inquirer Southern Luzon

LEGAZPI CITY—National Se-curity Adviser Norberto B. Gonzales told newsmen here that he would meet with European diplomats to negate the list of the victims of extrajudicial killings which the militant group Karapatan alleged were done by government security forces.

Gonzales was here as guest of the Bicol Regional Peace and Order Council during its meeting yesterday at the Ibalong Conference Room at the Legazpi City hall compound and for a consultation-dialogue on the enhanced National Internal Security Plan.

The Karapatan and other militant groups have accused state security forces of more than 760 extrajudicial killings in the country since President Arroyo came to power in 2001.


The military has denied the allegation and instead put the blame on communist rebels’ continuous internal purge of suspected spies and traitors.

The Inquirer count is 259 and does not include victims of military operations that Karapatan has in its tally.

Gonzales, however, said the list of Karapatan included those victims of the Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist groups, some were victims of politicians and organized crime groups, while others were found out to be still alive.

“Thirty percent of the killings were done by the communist rebels,” he said, adding that “the killings of the communists are ongoing.”

“Who would benefit most in the killings but the communists?” Gonzales added.

He said they were reclassifying Karapatan’s list of alleged killings and would discuss this with representatives of European governments in the country.