Leftist groups on Wednesday assailed President Arroyo's proposal to put up a P25-million reward to stop the spate of political killings in the country.

The money is supposed to go to those who "provide information that foils political assassination attempts or leads to their solution, especially the identification of their masterminds."

“It's sheer propaganda and the ultimate in hypocrisy, considering that until now, she has totally ignored the recommendations of the UN special rapporteur [Philip] Alston and the Melo Commission,” Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño said.

“All she has to do is issue a categorical order for the AFP to stop killing activists and suspected NPA [News People's Army] or MILF [Moro Islamic Liberation Front] supporters,” Casiño said.

Among leftist party-list organizations, Bayan Muna is the biggest victim of political killings. Out of the 991 total cases of summary executions since President Arroyo assumed power, Bayan Muna lost a total of 135 members, according to the 2008 Human Rights Report of local group Karapatan.

“Ms. Arroyo's order smacks of cover-up on her regime's culpability on the extrajudicial killings of political activists and journalists,” added Anakpawis party list Rep. Rafael Mariano.

Of the thirteen leftist groups under the umbrella organization, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), also lost a total of 183 members, while Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas lost 114 members.

Renator Reyes Jr., secretary-general of Bayan, reiterated calls for the government to end its counter-insurgency policy Oplan Bantay Laya, which he said “targets civilians that are accused as NPA members.”

Alston, Melo report

The UN special rapporteur and the Melo Commission have concluded that some members of the military were involved in some cases of political killings.

Melo, in particular, sought the investigation of retired Army general Jovito Palparan, who became the poster boy of the government's counter-insurgency policy. Benefiting from the Supreme Court's new ruling on the party-list groups, Palparan was recently sworn in as a party-list representative.

The leftist groups have filed a petition to disqualify Palparan before the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal.

“Arroyo merely has to prosecute General Jovito Palparan and his ilk to serve as a lesson in accountability. So long as Bantay Laya is there, and so long as human rights violators are rewarded, no reward system will end political killings. Pakitang tao lang ito sa international community,” Reyes added.