AO35 Task Force delves into IHL violations in regions

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 24, 2021): AO35 Task Force delves into IHL violations in regions (By Benjamin Pulta)

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (File photo)

The investigation of the Department of Justice into the more than 1,500 violations of the international humanitarian law (IHL), submitted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), is in full force.

This, according to Department of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra adding that the technical working group (TWG) of the Administrative Order (AO) 35 committee is evaluating all IHL cases in the regions.

Cases have been filed in violations with sufficient evidence.

The AO 35 Task Force is the government's inter-agency committee on extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and other grave violations on the right to life liberty and security.

“The TWG has also advised law enforcement agencies and the AFP on what further steps to take in order to build up their cases against communist terrorist groups for various violations of international humanitarian law,” Guevarra told reporters via text message on Friday.

“Some complaints have actually been filed in the past, but not as violations of IHL. Instead, common crimes like murder, kidnapping, arson, etc., have been filed against persons associated with the NPA (New People’s Army),” he added.

The violations consisted mainly of attacks on civilian properties, willful killing of civilians/non-combatants, children involved in armed conflict, and use of anti-personnel mines (APM).

Most of the incidents happened in the Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Western Visayas regions.

The international community adopted the 1997 APM Ban Convention prohibiting the acquisition, production, stockpiling, and use of weapons.

More than 160 states are party to the APM Ban Convention that went into effect in 1999.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1163681