Philippines defends its extra-judicial killings record

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday said the defense and the military establishment would not allow foreign groups to dictate the pace of their reform initiatives in addressing extra-judicial killings in the country.

Interviewed after addressing troops of the Philippine Armed Forces Capital Region Command, Teodoro said that while there may be some soldiers involved in the killings, such extra-legal acts are not sanctioned by the military leadership.

The statement was made days after the U.S. State Department expressed concerns about extra-judicial killings of leftist militants and journalists in the Philippines. The U.S. state department also said that "concerns about impunity persisted."

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