The European Union is sending a group of legal, judicial and forensic experts to Manila on Monday to finalise details of its assistance to the Philippines in solving cases of extra judicial killings.

Shirley Escalante reports.

"Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Cristina Ortega says a team from the European Union will be in Manila for two weeks to put together details of a training assistance programme for Philippines investigation and prosecution agencies. The programme which costs three million Euros begins in September and will last for 18 months. It also aims to set up a national monitoring mechanism on human rights which will include representatives from the government and civil society. The Arroyo government's human rights record has been criticised by the international community. A local rights group reports more than 900 documented extra judicial killings have taken place since President Gloria Arroyo assumed power in 2001."

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