Military will continue upholding human rights even under new administration, says official

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 6): Military will continue upholding human rights even under new administration, says official

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will continue its human rights advocacy and monitoring functions even after a new president is elected in 2016, according to the head of the military’s Human Rights Office (HRO).

“Magbago man ang administrasyon, ang inyong AFP HRO ay nandito pa rin,” Jose Antonio Carlos Motril, Chief of the AFP-HRO said. “Siguradong ang AFP ay nariyan, tutuparin ang mandate niya na pangalagaan at respituhin ang karapatang-pantao.”

(AFP HRO will stay even under a new administration…Rest assured that we are here to comply with our mandate: that is, to protect and respect human rights.)

The AFP HRO was established in December 2010—or on the sixth month of President Aquino’s term—to serve as the main platform in addressing all human rights and international humanitarian law (HR/IHL) issues involving the AFP.

Earlier, in August 2010, AFP launched its HR/IHL Handbook which serves as a soldiers’ guide during the conduct of operations.

Motril also said that the military will continue to implement its internal peace and security plan dubbed “Bayanihan.”

“Isa sa mga functions ng AFP HRO ay mag monitor ng reported incidents ng human rights violations  whether ito ay na-perpetrate ng state agents–AFP, Philippine National Police (PNP), Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit, o mga non-state agents, mga armed groups na rebels,” Motril said.

(One of the functions of AFP HRO is to monitor reported incidents of human rights violations, whether these are perpetrated by state agents – AFP, PNP, CAFGU – or non-state agents, or armed rebel groups.)

He said the military keeps track of all “incidents that come our way.” These include newspapers, social media, report by victims themselves or by civil society organizations.

During last Friday’s Kapihan sa Media ng Bayan  commemorating the annual International Human Rights Day on December 10 , Motril said, “Mandato namin na pangalagaan, respetuhin, at protektahan ang karapatang-pantao ng sambayanan.”

(It is the mandate of AFP to safeguard, to respect, and to protect the rights of the citizens).

The functions of AFP HRO are the following: (1) manage programs to implement HR/IHL instruments; (2) advocacy, education, and training; (3) policy formulation and integration; (4) monitoring, causing investigation of violations; and (5) liaise with stakeholders for promotion of HR/IHL.

Kapihan sa Media ng Bayan airs live every Friday over Radyo ng Bayan DZRB 738 AM, from 10am to 11am, telecast over PTV4 from 7 pm to 8pm, and IBC 13 from 10.30 to 11.30 pm, in cooperation with the Philippine Information Agency and Philippines News Agency.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/3001449312657/military-will-continue-upholding-human-rights-even-under-new-administration-says-official