AFP belies allegation of failure to curb human rights violations

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday belied findings by an international human rights watchdog of insufficient steps by the Aquino administration to address the culture of impunity in extra-judicial killings in the country.

At a press briefing, AFP spokesman Commodore Miguel Jose Rodriguez stressed that the military puts primary concern to human rights in its operations and cited the AFP’s internal peace and security plan (IPSP) “Bayanihan.”

Last Tuesday, the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) scored the Aquino administration for insufficient moves to address extra-judicial killings even after almost a year in power.

“That is not true at all,” Rodriguez said.

Asked what measures were undertaken by the AFP to address the issue, Rodriguez replied “a lot, we have a lot. The strategy of the Armed Forces gives primacy to human rights, that’s within IPSP ‘Bayanihan’…that issue is being given priority.”

“We’re actually strict in preventing human rights abuses…we’re looking into cases so we can do action,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez also cited the establishment of the AFP Human Rights Office (HRO), led by Col. Domingo Tutaan, aimed at addressing human rights issues and further improving the military’s adherence to the matter.

Among the high-profile allegation of human rights violations under the Aquino administration was last November’s killing of top-notch botanist Leonardo Co in an alleged clash between Army troops and communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Leyte province.

Co was conducting research for Energy Development Corp. in Kananga town when he was supposedly caught in a crossfire between the Army and the NPA. However, there were claims that there was actually no firefight and that Co and his group were mistaken for communist rebels.

The AFP, however, maintained there was firefight during the incident.

Also, a number of journalists had been killed during the less-than-a-year-old administration of President Aquino in various parts of the country, including that of Manila-based radio broadcaster

Len Flores-Sumera who was killed by hired killers last March near his residence in Malabon City.

Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director of HRW, said the Philippines should consider its reelection to the United Nations Human Rights Council “an opportunity to strengthen its credentials in this area at home and abroad.”

The international community led by the United Nations, European Union and the United States has scored the Philippines’ dismal human rights record.

Although extra-judicial killings have decreased in the last couple of years, reports of abuses and murder of left-wing activists have persisted.

The Philippines, Pearson said, “should take meaningful steps to protect human rights and promote accountability at home” as a new member of the UN Council. –Mario J. Mallari, Daily Tribune