The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday renewed its pledge of commitment to protect and defend human rights in the face of still unsolved and persisting reports of human rights violations committed by soldiers against perceived "enemies of the state".
Right after the Monday General Headquarters flag-raising ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang led soldiers and civilian staff in reaffirming their commitment and adherence to the tenets of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
International humanitarian law, also known as the law of armed conflict, regulates the conduct of armed conflicts.
It is that branch of international law that aims to limit the impact of armed conflict by protecting persons who are not or no longer participating in hostilities, and by restricting and regulating the means and methods of warfare available to combatants.
"We should execute our duties and responsibilities to protect our citizens caught in the midst of armed conflicts in the country, and guarantee total respect for their human rights as prescribed by IHL," Gazmin said.
The AFP is committed to ensure that its "operations and procedures are anchored on the imperative to protect the populace, especially those who are not parties to the conflict," Catapang, for his part, said.
But the case of activists Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, two students from the University of the Philippines (UP) abducted by soldiers 11 years ago, continues to hound the AFP.
The alleged mastermind in the twin abduction, retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, remained at large.
Likewise is the case of Jonas Burgos, a peasant organizer, who remained missing after soldiers abducted him in Quezon City seven years ago.
Many more families remain in anguish, hoping that their loved ones who were victims of state-perpetrated enforced disappearances will one day return.
In marking IHL month, the Department of National Defense (DND) is opening a photo exhibit at its office lobby on Tuesday, to be followed by a Fun Run on August 16 inside the camp and a Fun Bike circuit from Fort Bonifacio Global City to the AFP GHQ grandstand.
On August 31, the Philippine Red Cross Quezon City Chapter will mobilize around 30,000 National Capital Region-based students and AFP members for the Human IHL Formation at Camp Aguinaldo parade grounds, aimed at setting a new Guinness world record.
"This year's national celebration of IHL is hosted by the DND, in commemoration of the August 12, 1949 signing of the four Geneva Conventions," Catapang said.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/93071/afp-renews-human-rights-commitment-despite-unsolved-enforced-disappearances-cases
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