The present memorandum examines the issue of the killings and their impact on a long-standing peace process with communist armed groups in the Philippines. This memorandum exists of the following three parts. A summary of key recommendations from Amnesty International’s report, Political Killings, Human Rights and the Peace Process, issued on 15 August 2006. A summary of recent reports indicating that political killings are continuing to take place. Guidelines and key principles that Amnesty International considers would help ensure that the work of the Melo Commission of Inquiry gains wide public credibility and acceptance as independent, impartial and effective. Amnesty states that the government should ensure that all complaints and reports of political killings are investigated promptly, impartially, independently, thoroughly and effectively. An independent and impartial body should exercise oversight to ensure investigations are conducted by the police and other investigative agencies in accordance with international standards such as the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.