CPP: Aquino, AFP is coddling Burgos’ abductors and human rights abusers--CPP

From the CPP Website (Apr 1): Aquino, AFP is coddling Burgos’ abductors and human rights abusers--CPP

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) denounced the Aquino regime and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for “continuing to coddle and promote the abductors of peasant activist Jonas Burgos in 2007 and other key military and defense officials who are responsible for violating human rights and committing other crimes.”

In a ruling issued a few days ago, the Court of Appeals found the AFP and elements of the Philippine Army accountable for the 2007 abduction of Burgos in Quezon City. Burgos’ family and human rights organizations have long maintained this assertion but the AFP has persistently denied its responsibility.

“The AFP has long maintained the policy of denial of its role in the abduction of Jonas Burgos, as well as its responsibility in the abduction, illegal incarceration and torture of UP student activists Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, peasant activists Raymond and Reynaldo Manalo and hundreds of similar cases,” said the CPP. “They have gone the lengths of concocting one story after another putting the blame on the revolutionary forces for their crimes and violations of human rights.”

The CPP pointed out that the principal military official who was responsible for the actual act of Burgos’ abduction then 1st Lt. Harry A. Balliaga, Jr. has since been promoted by the Philippine Army to his current position as army major. Then Col. Eduardo Año, who was among those named in the complaint filed by the Burgos family, has since been promoted to general and was appointed last year by Aquino as chief of the AFP’s intelligence branch.

“The Aquino regime’s failure to arrest, detain and prosecute the notorious fascist general Jovito Palparan despite criminal charges having been filed against him, reveal Aquino’s hypocrisy in dishing out human rights and peace rhetoric,” added the CPP.

“By continuing to coddle these criminals in the AFP, the Aquino regime insists on promoting the culture of impunity among the military in its drive to intensify its war of suppression against the Filipino people and their revolutionary forces,” said the CPP.

“Aquino does not want to set a precedent of actually prosecuting and putting to justice any of the AFP officials involved in the long-running war of suppression lest this undermines and weakens its Oplan Bayanihan war of suppression which relies on the unmitigated brutality and fascist mindset of its military officials and men,” said the CPP.

“Behind Aquino’s noisy peace and human rights rhetoric and the accompanying roadshows being launched by the AFP, the Oplan Bayanihan is no different from the brutal campaigns of suppression of the past,” said the CPP.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20130401_aquino-afp-is-coddling-burgos-abductors-and-human-rights-abusers-cpp