AFP denies Cullamat daughter’s body used as ‘trophy’

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday denied that the body of Jevilyn Campos Cullamat, daughter of Bayan Muna party-list Representative Eufemia Campos Cullamat who was killed in a Surigao del Sur encounter, was used as a war trophy.

In a press statement, AFP spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo said the photo of the remains was taken for reporting and documentation purposes which is required after a firefight.

"It was not meant to scoff at the dead or demean the remains whose identity is not known to the soldiers," Arevalo said.

"And to be able to identify her, soldiers had to carry the dead body for half a day of hike from the site of the encounter where she was left behind by her NPA (New People's Army) comrades to the lowland," he added.

Arevalo's remark came after a photo of Cullamat's body — with soldiers posing nearby as well as weapons and assorted rebel paraphernalia — ended up in some media outlets.

The AFP spokesman said the matter is already being investigated.

"It was not an AFP policy to pass a photo like that; and a similar act constitute a violation of our stringent policy," Arevalo said.

The photos of the result of the encounter were sent to the viber group of the Defense Press Corps and public information officers of the military on Sunday. One of the three photos was already deleted.

The elder Cullamat has condemned the posting of the photo, noting that her daughter is not a war trophy.

"Hindi siya bagay, hindi siya isang tropeo na ipaparada para lamang sa propaganda ng militar. Hindi niyo na ginalang ang patay, binabastos pa ninyo ang nagluluksa naming pamilya,” Rep. Cullamat said.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said it is normal for the military to take photos of enemies killed in encounters with government troops.

Lorenzana, however, said he already tasked the AFP to determine how to "treat" the slain individuals better in order to protect their dignity and show respect to their families.

He also said the government's red-tagging and linking Makabayan Bloc to the communist group now has basis following Jevilyn's death.

Jevilyn, who was said to have been a medic of the New People's Army (NPA) and a member of the NPA Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda Platoon of the Guerilla Front 19, Northeastern Regional Committee, was killed in a 45-minute encounter between the military and communist rebels on Sunday.—AOL, GMA News