Philippine army sets up tribunals to hear killings

MANILA, Aug 7 (Reuters) The Philippine military, accused of protecting troops suspected to be behind hundreds of murders and abductions, has set up special tribunals to hear human rights complaints, the armed forces chief of staff said today.

General Hermogenes Esperon said senior commanders had been ordered to begin human rights orientation on a massive scale to improve the army's image and counter propaganda by left-wing groups that was hurting anti-insurgency operations.

''We have created five general court martial (benches) that will take care of any possible human rights (abuses),'' Esperon told reporters after a top-level meeting at the main army base in Manila.

''We will start work tomorrow, starting with those who have been charged in civilian courts of human rights violations.'' At least six soldiers had been charged with murder for their role in two separate cases involving the killing of left-wing activists outside the capital Manila since 2006.

A local human rights group says more than 800 people have been killed since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came to power in 2001.

A UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings in February said the military was responsible for many of the deaths.

Under international pressure, the military has said it was probing 94 cases of suspected unlawful execution, but no one had been charged. It had repeatedly denied charges that troops were executing left-wing activists under orders.

''Commanders shall be duty bound to closely monitor, supervise and control the activities of their subordinates,'' Esperon said. ''They will be held responsible for their failure to discipline their men.'' REUTERS PDT HS1546