Progressive groups up in arms about Año’s appointment as AFP chief

From GMA News (Dec 7): Progressive groups up in arms about Año’s appointment as AFP chief

Several groups on Wednesday criticized the appointment of Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, citing his involvement in various human rights violations, and urged President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his decision.

In a statement, the National Union of Students of the Philippines called Año’s appointment as a “direct assault” to victims of human rights violations.

“The appointment of a culpable killer in a naturally-violent institution is a direct assault to the victims of this slaughter: Jonas Burgos, Leoncio 'Ka Parago' Pitao, among others,”

NUSP spokesperson Kevin Castro said. Burgos, the son of late press freedom fighter Jose Burgos, was abducted in 2007 and is presumed dead, while Pitao, a New People’s Army commander, was killed by the Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion that Año led.

Castro said Año appointment only proved the government’s disregard for the legitimate demands of the Filipinos.

“Once again, the Duterte administration has shown that his government is not for just and lasting peace; that it is traversing the path of violence and bloodstained service to the ruling elites,” Castro said.

The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) also condemned Ano’s appointment.

“We are infuriated with the appointment of Lt. Gen. Año as new AFP chief of staff, under whose involvement peasant activist and CEGP alumnus Jonas Burgos was abducted,” said Jose Mari Callueng, CEGP national president.

“This only highlights the culture of impunity in which human rights violators get away with their crimes and even stay in power,” he added.

According to Callueng, Año’s track record of human rights violations will only let “the intensifying counterinsurgency operation Oplan Bayanihan” continue.

Youth group Anakbayan shared the same view. “General Eduardo Año is a fascist Palparan protégé and was involved in extrajudicial killings and human rights violations in his stint as Army Chief under former President Noynoy Aquino,” said Anakbayan national chairperson Vencer Crisostomo.

Crisostomo said Año’s implementation of the Oplan Bayanihan created terror in the rural areas.

“No doubt with him as AFP Chief of Staff, the massacres, military occupation of civilian communities, and harassment of activists will continue,” he said.  .

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/591609/news/nation/progressive-groups-up-in-arms-about-a-ntilde-o-s-appointment-as-afp-chief