Militants blast Año’s appointment as AFP chief

Lt. General Eduardo Año. Noy Morcoso lll/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

A human rights group has slammed the appointment of Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año by President Rodrigo Duterte as the new chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Roneo “Jigs” Clamor, deputy secretary general of KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (Karapatan), said the group hopes that the President will reconsider, given Año’s implication in the forced disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos in 2007.

“It is a great insult to the human rights community,” Clamor said.

He added that the appointment sends an alarming message that those involved in grave human rights violations are promoted to higher ranks in the military and law enforcement.

Año, who is set to replace Gen. Ricardo Visaya on Wednesday, was later cleared of the charges against Burgos.

READ: Año is new AFP Chief of Staff

But Clamor said there remains to be “no clear closure” to the case.

A seasoned intelligence officer, the new AFP chief also served as the former chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces. It was during his term that security forces arrested Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, former political prisoners and now consultants to the peace talks.

On Twitter, Anakbayan national chair Vencer Crisostomo also condemned the decision, calling Año a “fascist Palparan protege.”

He was alluding to former senatorial candidate and retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, who was also allegedly involved in several human rights violations.