Suspected murderer of human rights defender Mr. Jimmy Liguyon still not arrested

The German-based Action Network Human Rights-Philippines (AMP) has been concerned for many years about the continuing phenomena of political killings and the prevailing impunity in the Philippines. Now the AMP draws the attention to the killing of human rights defender Jimmy Liguyon one year ago, on March 5, 2012, inside his home in Barangay Dao. Until today, the alleged murderer, Alde Salusad, a leader of a paramilitary group, has not been arrested, the AMP writes in a letter to the Philippines' president Benigno S. Aquino III. "Mr. Nestor Fajura, PNP HRO Chief (Chief of the Human Rights office of the Police), personally confirmed in a meeting with our coordinator on July 3, 2012 that the local police in Bukidnon knows about the whereabouts of Alde Salusad alias “Butsoy” but refrains from arresting him, because of possible interventions by the armed group SANMATRIDA", the AMP states. "We share the concern of our partner organizations in the Philippines that even after a year of the killing of Mr. Liguyon the warrant of arrest against Alde Salusad has not been served. Unless impunity is broken and justice for victims of human rights violations is ensured, the political killings will remain.
On July 19, 2012 we already addressed our concern regarding this matter to the former PNP Chief Mr. Bartolome. Until today we have not received any reply." Dr Jochen Motte, UEM Executive Secretary and AMP speaker, takes the failure of police work in the case of Jimmy Liguyon as an indication that the measures against impunity taken by the government are not effective. It needs resolute action done by the president to secure constitutional rights in the Philippines, Dr Motte says. The AMP now calls on the president and the goverment

"to direct the PNP to do its duty and enforce the warrant of arrest against Alde 'Butsoy' Salusad,
to protect the available witnesses and record their testimonies,
to undertake the necessary steps that will guaranty an immediate, impartial and thorough investigation on the murder of Mr. Liguyon."