AFP brands rights report as ‘unfair’

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday branded as “unfair” the report issued by Human Rights Watch (HRW) saying the administration of President Aquino has failed to curb extra-judicial killings and other human rights abuses by the military.

AFP spokesman Commodore Miguel Jose Rodriguez said the military is working very hard in promoting human rights in all its operations but the HRW report failed to include that. He also acknowledged the military’s failure to report its improvement in advocating human rights.

“I don’t think it’s fair…what we have done were not included in the report,” Rodriguez said.

“I think probably we are also lacking in coming out with what we are doing so this is something that we should work on. What we are doing should also be brought up,” he added.

According to Rodriguez, the military establishment has been working very hard for the promotion of human rights among its 125,000 personnel.

“I think we are working hard but we should be working harder to be able to make sure that what we are saying about the primacy of human rights will be seen in everything that we do,” Rodriguez said.

The AFP spokesman said the AFP leadership had met with HRW deputy Asia director Elaine Pearson, who released the 98-page report on alleged human rights abuses by the military in the country.

“It’s saddening that, for one, I really know our efforts on human rights are really sincere and it is continuing effort and it is trickling down to the troops on the ground,” said Rodriguez, citing

the establishment of the AFP-Human Rights Office (HRO).

The AFP-HRO, led by Col. Domingo Tutaan Jr., is maintaining offices up to the battalion level.

While the HRW recognized the Aquino administration’s willingness to tackle the problem compared to previous governments, HRW deputy Asia director Elaine Pearson said that the pattern of extra-judicial killings victimizing leftist activists continue.

“Despite several strong statements… what we’ve seen is that in many ways, the pattern remains the same.” –Mario J. Mallari, Daily Tribune