? Other statements:
My order to my soldiers is that, if they are certain that there are armed rebels in the house or yard, shoot them. It will just be too bad if civilians are killed in the process. We are sorry if you are killed in the crossfire.[75]
There would be some collateral damage, but it will be short and tolerable. The enemy would blow it up as a massive violation of human rights. But to me, it would just be necessary incidents.[76]
Sorry nalang kung may madamay na civilian.; The death of civilians and local officials were small sacrifices brought about by the militarys anti-insurgency campaign. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 12, 2006) [77]
[T]hey cannot be stopped completely the killings, I would say are necessary incidents in a conflict because they (referring to the rebels) are violent. Its not necessary that the military alone should be blamed. We are armed, of course, and trained to confront and control violence. But other people whose lives are affected in these areas are also participating [78]
The killings are being attributed to me but I did not kill them, I just inspired the triggermen.
On being asked if his soldiers are responsible for the killings: perhaps maybe, if there are, and if they do that, thats their own responsibility, its not mine[79]
some soldiers are emotional when their comrades are hurt or killed. There could be soldiers who decide to take the law into their own hands. But thats illegal.[80]
I cannot categorically deny that (referring to the military having special units not properly identified in bonnets and masks operating in the middle of the night.)[81]
I am responsible (referring to extra-judicial killings), relatively perhaps, Gen. Palparan said that his actions could have encouraged people to take the law into their own hands. He, however, qualified this by saying it was not really intentional on his part.[82]
So if I have, within my capacity to prevent it, I would prevent the same. But in the course of our campaign, I could have encouraged people to do that. So maaaring may responsibility ako doon, on that aspect. But how could I prevent that, we are engaged in this conflict. All my actuations really are designed to defeat the enemy. And in doing so, others might have been encouraged to take actions on their own.
whoever did this could have been encouraged by my actions and actuations in the course of my campaign, whoever they are. That is why I said, relatively. If there are some soldiers, maybe then, I could have been remiss in that aspect. But we are doing our best to keep our soldiers within our mandate. [83]
Extrajudicial Killings, Melo Commission Report on Extrajudicial Killings
