Military releases human rights guidelines in intelligence work

THE ARMED Forces of the Philippines has released guidelines to ensure the observance of human rights in intelligence operations.

Launched yesterday at the military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, in Quezon City, the handbook, entitled Human Rights-Based Intelligence Operations: Rules of Behavior for Military Intelligence Personnel, provides the following:

• guiding principles in intelligence operations;

• rules of behavior in support to law enforcement operations;

• rules of behavior in information collection and investigation;

• guidelines on handling of person arrested and under custodial investigation;

• guidelines on the use of firearms; and

• guidelines on handling children involved in armed conflict.

“With this groundwork, we are now equipped with know-how bearing in mind the primordial role of upholding human rights and the people’s safety,” Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo S.L. Oban, Jr. said during a speech at the book launch.

The release of the handbook was welcomed by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

“This is a welcome development in the larger paradigm shift in the AFP,” CHR Chairperson Loretta Ann P. Rosales said in the same event.

Military officials have expressed hope that the release of the handbook will result in lower complaints of human rights violations committed by enlisted personnel.

The military during the past administration has been accused of impunity in committing human rights violations.

The issue even prompted the United Nations to send Philip G. Alston, special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, in February 2007, to look into complaints against the military over alleged human rights abuses.

“The [Philippine] military is in a state of denial concerning the numerous extrajudicial executions in which its soldiers are implicated,” he said in his report submitted to the UN Commission on Human Rights. –Businessworld