‘Overhaul security team’ GMA urged to comply
with Alston proposals
BY REINIR PADUA
THE militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
(Bayan) yesterday urged President Arroyo to immediately comply
with the recommendations of United Nations special rapporteur
Philip Alston on ending the wave of extrajudicial killings.
Renato Reyes Jr., Bayan secretary general,
said Arroyo, for starters, should revamp the security cluster in
the Cabinet and the AFP leadership.
Reyes said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita,
Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., national security
adviser Norberto Gonzales, and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez
are among the "biggest stumbling blocks" in stopping
extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations.
THREE police officers have been relieved for
mishandling Wednesday’s 10-hour hostage crisis that involved 31
schoolchildren and two teachers from a day care center in Tondo.
"I’m not happy about the way these things
were handled," Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said at Camp
Crame yesterday. He said his sentiment was shared by President
Arroyo.
Sacked were Manila Police District Director
Senior Supt. Danilo Avarsoza, MPD-Station 5 commander Supt.
Rogelio Rosales, and the unidentified commander on the ground.
THE 31 schoolchildren held hostage by Armando
Ducat Jr. on Wednesday were made to believe that their 10-hour
ordeal was just a game with him as their friend and protector
and the policemen as bad guys who might hurt them.
"Natakot kami kahapon dahil baka sumabog yung
bomba – at baka lusubin kami ng mga kalaban (referring to
policemen) ni Mr. Ducat," six-year old Kris, said.
