The formation of the group was met with skepticism by several activist groups in the Philippines.

The President announced the formation of the committee in honor of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., whom she dubbed as the most famous victim of political killings.

“We have been making progress in bringing these cases to court and putting the killers behind bars but I have been impatient, we’ve been impatient with the pace," she said during the commemoration of the late senator’s 23rd death anniversary.

Arroyo said the commission will be imbued with “wide powers and a sweeping mandate for its members to put murderers behind bars and break this cycle of violence once and for all."

“Democracy in the Philippines will not stand for senseless political killings. Every man and woman in our country is entitled to speak, free from fear that they will pay for their beliefs with their very lives.

Whether you are a journalist or a political activist or the Left or the Right, it is the obligation of the government and indeed the entire nation to protect the rights and liberties of every citizen," she said.

“For too long, there has been a culture of violence in our political process. For years, political disputes have been settled looking down the barrel of a gun," she added.

Arroyo said she has ordered Melo to prioritize the investigation of unsolved cases, to be the sole voice of government on the issue of political and media killings, coordinate with families of the victims and the international organizations, and recommend on how to stop the killings.

“I have directed them (Melo Commission) to leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of justice. I want them to pursue every lead down every path. The victims and their families deserve justice to be served. The Filipino people for whom Ninoy died fighting for democracy deserve a democracy they can trust. It’s time that the culture of political retribution to be stopped," she said.

She said the commission can also deputize the police and military to help in the investigations, summon records, witnesses and evidence, and administer oaths.

She said she is not giving the commission any deadline to finish their works.

 Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the commission will first make an inventory of cases and reconcile the figures of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), militant groups and Amnesty International (AI).

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said President Arroyo is expected to raise the issue of extra-judicial killings in the country and at the same time solicit assistance during her European visit next month.

Gonzales said at least three countries had initially been invited to be part of the international investigating body but he continued to refuse to name them until they have formally accepted the invitation. He said they could invite more countries and even some international “credible” groups like those formed by the UN to join the body.

He said they would just have to wait until the end of August to get the feedback from the initial batch that they have invited. “We’re waiting for September and when September comes, we will go to the international groups," said Gonzales, adding that his office and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) would oversee the invitation and following up of their response to it.

He said: “We see international assistance to look into the killings because human rights is an international issue."

Gonzales also said that it is not embarrassing to the Philippines to “invite the world to come in” as other countries had done the same things in the past like the United Kingdom that sought the Philippines’ help in the recent terrorist threat and Australia following the Bali bombing in Indonesia several months back.

In a press forum in Quezon City, Central Luzon military commander Jovito Palparan said he will submit himself for investigation to a Malacanang-formed commission.

Palparan has been accused by militant groups of masterminding the killings but the military official denied the accusation.

“I have always said that I’m willing to face any investigation and even my men who are identified, if there are. For as long as they (his accusers) produce facts, yes, I’m willing to face this investigation," he said.

Palparan said he is leaving the military service on September 11 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 with a clear conscience. “My hands are clean," he said.

Some lawmakers in the House of Representative also welcomed President Arroyo’s appointment of Melo as head of the commission. They urged the panel to finish its task by the end of the year so the country can put the issue behind it.

But a lawyers’ group doubted that the commission could investigate political killings in the country alone.

Neri Javier Colmenares, spokesman for the Counsels for Defense Liberties (Codal), said they found unacceptable President Arroyo’s creation of a commission without any consultation from the victims and the human rights sector to assure the public that the body is genuinely independent.

 “We would have welcomed President Arroyo’s plan to create an investigating body if it is genuinely independent, effective, and credible because it is transparent and consultative," he said.

Colmenares said the commission would be just like Task Force Usig, which failed to gain any credibility from the victims and the public because of having no mechanisms that will ensure its independence, credibility, and effectiveness.