By Xinhua,
Manila : Philippine police have arrested 27 people suspected to have been involved in extra-judicial killings of left-wing activists and journalists, reported the official Philippines News Agency on Sunday.
A total of 141 cases of extra-judicial killings have been “verified” by the Philippine National Police Task Force “Usig”, which was set up by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo one year ago, said the report.
“Usig” reported over the weekend that of these 141 verified incidents of political and media men slayings, only 14 involved military and paramilitary personnel of the government forces, and three involved police personnel.
“Usig” said while the left-wing groups had a running total of 836 slain activists and media persons from 2001 to 2007, only 121 were included in its list, 46 are still undergoing verification, and 669 excluded.
Of the verified 141 killings, 113 involved murders of political activists and 28 work-related killings of journalists, said the report.
Of 86 criminal cases already filed by the police to courts, only two cases have resulted in conviction, said the report.