FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City – This is a reaction on the published CHR statement that both the AFP and the NPA are involved in human rights violations, extra judicial killings, as well as recruitment of Lumads.
On the recruitment of Lumads, the Philippine Army is recruiting Lumads to be soldiers as part of the equal opportunity given to them by the government.In fact, at least 5% of our current soldiers’ recruitment in Eastern Mindanao are Lumads.
Unlike the force recruitment of the NPAs, the recruitment of the Philippine Army is based on the clamor of the local Lumad leaders. The Philippine Army support the premise of “who else can serve and secure them better than the Lumads themselves.”
Based on the current strength of the Philippine Army today of 85,000, there are 200 indigenous people — 78 officers and 122 enlisted personnel.
It is also important to note here that there are also some Lumads who voluntarily joined the CAFGU service to secure their respective communities.
On the statement that the AFP as human rights violators and doing extra judicial killings, the Philippine Army have been very transparent on the issue. We have already answered openly all the accusations against us in all formal investigations conducted by recognized legal bodies of the government and even by some key stakeholders in good governance.
We have provided the CHR all legal documents needed to express our strict adherence on human rights, international humanitarian law, and the rule of law. We will be asking again the CHR some clarifications on the published news in the PDI in order to clear the issue.
What is clear to the Philippine Army is the number of admission of the NPAs on killing civilians and soldiers inhumanely. It is also clear to us that they are recruiting Lumad minors. Most importantly, it is clear to us the purging that the NPAs did to their comrades in arms that are still happening even now. The killing of the Mayor of Loreto and his son is a clear manifestation of this point.
The Philippine Army is currently checking other efforts of the leftist organizations to distort the truths on the Lumad issue. The Army is giving a special attention on the existence of the fake international fact finding mission composed of six foreign tourists. If they are found violating our immigration laws, they will be deported and be banned forever in entering our country. The Army is also looking into the legal liability of their cohorts.
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