Aquino administration doesn’t tolerate extrajudicial killings – Palace aide

MANILA, Philippines – The Aquino administration on Saturday denied it had any “tolerance” for extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte made the statement in response to a statement by the human rights watchdog group Karapatan that extrajudicial killings were continuing under the Aquino administration and that it had recorded 64; nine enforced disappearances, and 51 cases of torture from July 2010 to October 2011.

“We have no policy of tolerance,” Valte said on radio. “When there are reports of extrajudicial killings, we ask for cooperation from the families to get leads.”

Valte, nonetheless, disputed the figures brought up by Karapatan, saying they were different from those presented to President Benigno Aquino III.