MANILA (AP) - Officials say the Philippine president has created an inter-agency body to investigate and monitor high-profile human rights cases, including a 2009 massacre that left 58 civilians and journalists dead.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said on Tuesday that the inter-agency committee on human rights would be led by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and include the country's defense secretary, along with the military and national police chiefs, among its members. The rights body's creation came amid criticism that violations have continued under reformist President Benigno Aquino III's rule.
Mr Ochoa says the committee will undertake an inventory of all human rights cases pending in courts and investigate new ones and take steps to rapidly resolve the crimes.
