Army chief: Troops need ‘reminding’ to respect human rights
By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:20:00 05/15/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The new commanding general of the Philippine Army acknowledged the "need" to remind troops to respect human rights, as he pledged to cooperate in investigations into the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos.
In his assumption speech late Wednesday, Lieutenant General Victor Ibrado said "respect and protection of human rights" would be one of the Army's "dynamic advocacies" under his watch.
"We shall ensure that human rights across all strata of society will be respected and protected at all times," he said.
In a later interview, Ibrado, asked if his statement was an admission that soldiers were guilty of human rights violations, said: "There is really a need to remind everybody from time to time, that's what I meant."
"Sometimes, nakakalimutan natin yan pagka hindi natin inulit-ulit [we forget when you don't say it over and over]. Sometimes people have their own ideas how to fight the war. Sometimes they make mistakes," he said.
Ibrado said he would make Army troops attend seminars on respect for human rights.
Left-wing activists have blamed the military, particularly the Army, for the murders and disappearances of their members.
Next month will mark the first anniversary of the disappearance of Burgos, who was allegedly kidnapped by Army troops in Quezon City. An agriculturist by profession, Burgos worked as consultant for the leftist Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines).
"I said we will not hinder any investigation, we will always cooperate if there are complaints against our people," Ibrado said when asked about the Burgos case.
Burgos' family and colleagues have blamed the Army's 56th Infantry Battalion for his disappearance after the license plate on his abductors' vehicle was traced to a car that was impounded in the unit’s headquarters in Norzagaray town, Bulacan province.
The license plate on a back-up car was traced to the staff car of retired lieutenant general Romeo Tolentino, under whose watch, Burgos disappeared. The Court of Appeals is hearing a petition for habeas corpus filed by Burgos' mother, Edita.
Ibrado is the third Army chief, after Tolentino and Lieutenant General Alexander Yano, the new Armed Forces chief, since Burgos was reportedly kidnapped.
But the new Army chief also lashed out at activist groups, including the human rights watchdog Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights), for "making up stories" on the alleged disappearances of their members.
He cited the case of an alleged missing activist in Negros, who he said was later found participating in an anti-government rally.
"If there are complaints against anybody in the Armed Forces, then they should file the appropriate charges and we will cooperate in the investigation. We will not condone or tolerate anybody who is [violating], or who would violate, human rights," he said.
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