Officer says military does not condone torture, rights violations

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine military said Friday it was in no state of denial with respect to alleged human rights abuses perpetrated by soldiers in the guise of counter-insurgency measures.

Colonel Domingo Tutaan Jr., chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Human Rights Office, said torture and other human rights violations were not part of AFP policy, particularly its “Bayanihan” plan against communist guerrillas nor the plan’s precursor “Oplan Bantay Laya.”

“The AFP is not in denial of anything. The point is we have to undertake due process of law,” he said in a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.

He was alluding to remarks by Amnesty International country director Aurora Parong last week that some AFP leaders would not acknowledge soldiers’ human rights violations made in the name of counter-insurgency.

“It was they who mentioned there are officers who deny. We ask them who are the officers. It’s hard to read and react on their claim that is generally stated. I’ve always been in coordination with Amnesty International,” Tutaan said.

He noted that more than 300 soldiers took part in a run against torture for the celebration of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on June 26.

“It has been pronounced by the Chief of Staff (Eduardo Oban Jr.), as we pursue Bayanihan, our zero tolerance of human rights violation. Everyone should abide with human rights international humanitarian law,” Tutaan said.

He added: “If you violate, you won’t be tolerated nor condoned. The necessary investigation and court martial proceedings will be filed and a case in court will be filed. We will cooperate with the authorities.”

Tutaan said the human rights efforts of the AFP were “gaining ground.” Since January, he said, there has been only one human rights complaint and the Philippine Army is expected to release the findings of its probe soon.

“Our efforts and advocacy has been good enough in a sense that our soldiers inculcated upon them the need for this paradigm shift for IPSP (Internal Peace and Security Plan) Bayanihan,” Tutaan said.

On Monday, Parong and Fr. Eddie Panlilio, chair of the human rights group Defend-Central Luzon, urged the Aquino administration to act on human rights violations in the region.

Of the 305 cases and 390 victims of extra-judicial killings recorded from 2001 to August 2010, Central Luzon had the most with 62 cases and 72 victims, a study by the United States Agency for International Development and the Asia Foundation said.