Congressmen urge probe into violation of rights

About 115 Congressmen have filed a resolution seeking an investigation into 64 cases of human rights violations which affected 67 members of the leftist party-list Nation First (Bayan Muna) from February last year to April this year.

In a resolution, the congressmen cited the study carried out by the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace, which said 17 members and supporters of Nation First were killed.

Members of the military, police and the paramilitary Citizens Armed Force Geographical Units allegedly committed 71 per cent of the violations, said the report, most of which took place in central and southern Luzon, and central Philippines.

Congressmen and Nation First representatives Satur Ocampo, Crispin Beltran and Liza Maza are seeking a House inquiry into the "alarming rate" of killing, disappearance and other human rights violations committed against their party members.

Earlier, the three filed a house resolution asking the chamber's committee on civil, political and human rights to conduct the inquiry.

Ocampo, President of Nation First, called for a dialogue with the justice department.

Ocampo also sought a dialogue with military intelligence chief Col Victor Corpus and Maj Gen. Dionisio Santiago, newly-appointed chief of the Philippines Army.

Last month, Ocampo delivered a privilege speech denouncing the killing and the human rights violations committed against his party members and supporters.

The group also held protest rallies outside the police and military headquarters in suburban Quezon City.