AFP pledges protection of workers

MANILA. Philippines – Keeping up with its commitment to uphold human rights, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has joined labor groups in protecting workers’ rights.

This, as the armed forces representatives signed last week the “Guidelines on the Conduct of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Justice (DOJ), AFP, and Philippine National Police (PNP) Relative to the Exercise of Workers’ Rights and Activities.”

According to Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., the AFP spokesman, the “Guidelines” will uphold and respect the workers’ right to association and peaceful protests and other activities.

The Guidelines also state that the DOLE will have primary and sole jurisdiction over all labor disputes and that the AFP and the PNP can only participate upon request of DOLE or when a criminal act has been or will be committed relative to the dispute.

AFP Inspector General, Lt. Gen. Ireneo Espino represented the AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Jessie Dellosa in the signing of the “Guidelines” held in Intramuros, Manila.

In a speech delivered by Espino on behalf of Dellosa, he emphasized that the AFP has changed its approach to become all-encompassing and people-centered with the implementation of the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan in order to effectively do its mandate of protecting the state and the people from all threats.

“Bayanihan is very well alive in our midst this morning because these guidelines are put up together with our concerted efforts. We welcome this as a guide that can aid us with the right code of conduct. Furthermore, this will make our personnel more aware on the other discourses on worker’s human rights thus dissuading them to commit possible related violations,” Dellosa said.

The AFP chief further said that a rights-based approach is what the military is now popularizing to all its units.

“At the center of our security operations are three constants: Human rights, international humanitarian law, and rule of law,” he said, adding: “We recognize that the worst forms of violence are not committed with the shedding of blood along battlefields. It is the deprivation or violation of the basic human rights that should otherwise be enjoyed by an individual jeopardizing the interests of the state,” Dellosa added.

Among the signatories to the Guidlines were Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, DND Undersecretary Eduardo G. Batac who represented Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan who represented Secretary Leila de Lima, Chief Supt. Lina Sarmiento who represented PNP Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome, and Espino.

The signing was witnessed by Lawrence Jeffrey Johnson, Director of the Manila Office of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and Karen Curtis, Deputy Director of ILO Geneva.

Col. Domingo Tutaan, Chief of the AFP Human Rights Office (AFPHRO) also attended the signing. They were also joined by various labor and workers’ rights organizations in the Philippines, including the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and Federation of Free Workers, among others. –ELENA L. ABEN, Manila Bulletin