The Philippine Army (PA) on Wednesday announced that it has
zero tolerance for human rights violations and stressed that it judiciously
investigates cases filed against troopers.
"The PA will not tolerate its erring personnel,
especially those who will violate human rights regardless of rank and
position,” Army Human Rights Office (AHRO) head Lt. Col. Alfredo Patarata said.
This is in wake OF the alleged rape incident involving a 14-year-old
Lumad girl and three soldiers in Davao Del Norte.
“We are now conducting a special investigation on the three
Army soldiers involved in the alleged sexual offense on a Lumad minor in
Talaingod, Davao Del Norte,” the AHRO chief said.
The three soldiers, names are withheld as part of the due
process, were placed under the custody of an Army division in Mindanao
while awaiting for the result of the investigation.
According to AHRO, the PA has received a total of 24 alleged
human rights cases filed against Army personnel this year.
“Even if it is still an allegation, we take it seriously,
our adherence to human rights, international humanitarian law, and the rule of
law is an imperative to the success of our current campaign – the Internal
Peace and Security Operation 'Bayanihan',” Patarata added.
However, only two of the 24 allegations have so far been
elevated to the next legal proceedings.
One of the cases of human rights violation is undergoing a
court martial proceeding while the other case is facing the Philippine Army
Efficiency and Separation Board.
The soldiers involved in these two cases are prosecuted for
violating the Army’s Rules of Engagement in the conduct of their operations.
The rest are mere allegations that lacks evidence.
The PA recorded a zero human right violation case in 2013
based on official records of the government.
In 2014, the Army recorded a total of two alleged human
rights violation but did not prosper due to lack of supporting evidence.
Based also on the monitoring of AHRO from civilians news
reports, the New People’s Army has committed a total of 274 human rights abuses
all over the country since 2012.
Protecting human rights is universal. It is not an excuse to
violate human rights even if you are a rebel or a member of the NPA.
The AHRO, established in 2010 in the Army organization, is
tasked to monitor incidents of alleged human rights and international
humanitarian law violations of Army personnel.
The AHRO directs concerned units to conduct an initial
investigation on reported human rights violations.
The investigating units then recommend for proper authority
for further investigation and the subsequent prosecution of personnel before
the General Court Martial, if their involvement in the cases is duly established
and proven by competent evidence.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=802064
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