9ID renews commitment to human rights

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 3): 9ID renews commitment to human rights

The Philippine Army 9th Infantry (Spear) Division joined the Bicolano and the whole nation in the celebration of the National Human Rights Consciousness Week which started on Monday. The Spear Troopers took their oath, "Panunumpa sa Karapatang Pantao," led by Colonel Felix J Castro Jr, the 9ID Assistant Division Commander and Human Rights Officer as they promise to uphold human rights. “We are here to show our support to the National Human Rights Consciousness Week celebration in order for our voices to be heard and be counted,”

Major General Romeo V. Calizo, Commander of the 9th Infantry (Spear) Division said.  With the theme: “My voice counts in ending impunity: I work for Human Rights based governance,” Calizo said the 9ID banks on the combined efforts of its partner agencies and organizations to attain freedom --- free from fear and subjugation; free to pursue every endeavor within the bounds of laws without trampling on the rights of others. "The 9ID is guided by the Internal Peace and Security Plan “Bayanihan” and adhere to the Human Rights-International Humanitarian Law-Rule of Law (HR-IHL-ROL). "We ensure that the multi-stakeholder approach and paradigm shift to a people-centered approach be fully integrated in 9ID’s operations," he explained. “We are prepared to continue playing our part in the Philippine government’s goals of safeguarding the "life, liberty and property" of the Bicolanos,” M/Gen Calizo said.

He said the New People's Army (NPA) remained a threat in Bicol Region. "In the guise of fighting for a “people-oriented” ideology, they wreak havoc in our society and violate the people’s rights in the process," he added. “We are well aware that despite our efforts, some Bicolanos have been misled to believe the worst about the 9ID,” said Col. Felix J. Castro Jr., the 9ID Human Rights officer. In order to recover from all the damages caused by the negative acts of the NPA, the 9ID decided to equalize their violence by developing our ranks as protectors of HR-IHL. “We ensure that our troops refrain from committing violations. We also make sure that any personnel proven beyond doubt to have committed human rights infractions would be dealt with accordingly. We do not tolerate disrespect to human rights,” Castro said.

The 9ID has elevated its Human Rights Office with the designation of the Assistant Division Commander to head the office in order to give it a stronger personality. "Its functions shall include, but shall not be limited, to advocacy on HR-IHL-ROL, monitoring of HR-IHL cases, and advising the Commander on matters pertaining to HR-IHL-ROL," Castro said. "It shall also have supervisory functions over all HR cases being acted upon by concerned subordinate units/offices. It shall also have the power to conduct investigation on HR cases as a fact-finding office," he added. The 9ID’s renewed adherence in the protection and promotion of HR-IHL was relatively seen as the number of HR cases filed against our soldiers significantly dropped from 12 as of 2011 to just one this year.

Among the initiatives to the implementation of the IPSP “Bayanihan” in 2010, was giving more emphasis on HR-IHL-ROL in the curricula of all trainings, seminars of officers and enlisted personnel, and also in its Troop Information and Education (TI&E) sessions at the 9th Division Training Unit. This was also replicated the lower units of the Command. “However, despite our continued efforts, we cannot ultimately fight the abuses against human rights without the help, cooperation and commitment of every one.We reaffirm today our commitment because we believe that Human Rights protection is the responsibility of all,” he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=476654