New AFP chief has poor record on human rights, say Abra rights groups

From InterAksyon (Jul 20): New AFP chief has poor record on human rights, say Abra rights groups



The wake of Brandon Magranga, NPA fighter killed in September 2014. Photographed by Arthur L. Allad-iw

 Some human rights groups in the province of Abra are not happy about the Aquino administration's promotion of Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri as the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, on grounds, they claimed, of Iriberri's alleged human rights violations in the province.

The Abra Human Rights Alliance (AHRA) and the Kakailyan Salakniban Tay Amin a Nagtaudan (KASTAN), a province wide people's organization, claimed that the track record of Gen. Iriberri dates back to when he was commanding officer of the Philippine Army 503rd brigade.

They also said that the militaristic approach of the new AFP chief to crush the insurgency will bring "un-peace rather than addressing the root cause of the armed revolution in the country," a situation where, they added, the brunt of the conflict will be shouldered by the civilians.

Among the alleged human rights violations attributed to Iriberri under his command were:

The bombing by the 503rd Brigade of villages in Lat-ey, Malibcong where two minor girls were almost hit and traumatized by the incident;

The desecration of the remains of eight NPA rebels in Tineg by the 41st IB under the 503rd Brigade;
The alleged murder of father and sons Licuben, Fermin and Eddie Ligiw in Sito Sucao, Domenglay, Licuan-Baay, in March 2014 by the 41st IB under his 503rd Brigade;

The verbal abuse of women in Malibcong by 41st IB troops under his 503rd Brigade, where he failed to reprimand them. The community directed them to indemnify the victims but that has remained unfulfilled until now.

Still under the 503rd Brigade, the 41st IB allegedly killed Engineer Fidela Salvador, a civilian who was supervising community projects when the 41st IB encountered elements of the NPA in the area.

"They used 23 individuals in Lacub to act as human shields from their enemy, where one civilian, Noel Viste, was killed in the incidents," AHRA said, adding that seven NPA fighters were killed and desecrated and bore sign of torture.

"He has a record of violating human rights of civilians and NPA combatants. Only his fellow human rights violators can say that his hands are clean," Villamor Pati, KASTAN chairperson, pointed out. "Gen. Iriberri failed to correct the excesses of his men."

AHRM chairperson Demetrio Batay-an claimed that it was under Iriberri that the AFP implemented Oplan Bayanihan where even legitimate groups and NGOs in the province were systematically harassed.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/114528/new-afp-chief-has-bloody-records-on-human-rights-say-abra-rights-groups