P-Noy names Tutaan as head of AFP human rights office

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino has appointed a former brigade commander and intelligence officer as head of the office tasked to look into the human rights complaints involving the military.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said the President has named Col. Domingo Tutaan, former chief of the Davao-based 1003rd Brigade, as head of the military’s Human Rights Office.

Tutaan is the brother of Lt. Col. Federico Tutaan, commander of the 19th Infantry Battalion, whose members were blamed for the death of a top botanist in Kananga, Leyte last Nov. 15.

Mabanta claimed that there have been plans to designate Tutaan as AFP human rights chief even before the death of botanist Leonardo Co.

“We would have   wanted to place him (Tutaan) as chief of human rights office a few months ago. He has experience as brigade commander. He has plenty of experience from the field,” Mabanta said, adding that the appointment should not be linked with the Leyte incident.

“These are two different individuals, two different career paths,” he said, referring to the Tutaans.

Co was reportedly killed in the crossfire between soldiers of the 19th Infantry Battalion and communist rebels in Kananga town. Also killed were Co’s local guide Julius Borromeo and Sofronio Cortez, a forest guard of the Lopez-owned Energy Development Corp.

Some sectors, however, believe that the three were shot after soldiers mistook them for members of the New People’s Army. The Army’s 8th Infantry Division is now investigating the incident.

Mabanta said Tutaan’s designation as head of AFP Human Rights Office took effect last Nov. 19. He will replace Col. Onesimo Banaga, who will be moved to the Army headquarters in Taguig.

Tutaan has handled three intelligence groups under the Intelligence Service of the AFP and was also executive officer of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and chief of staff of the then AFP Southern Command.

In an interview, Tutaan vowed to step up proactive measures that will ensure the protection of human rights and the rule of law.

Early this month, the AFP announced that it will form human rights offices in all its major services down to the battalion level to ensure the compliance of soldiers with the international humanitarian law.

The directive came amid claims by militant groups that the AFP’s counter-insurgency efforts have resulted in unexplained killings, torture and other forms of human rights abuses.

The AFP has denied the accusations, dismissing them as mere propaganda of the insurgents. —  -Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star) with Michael Punongbayan