AFP chief seeks cooperation with rights bodies over NPA abuses

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Gilbert Gapay directed military units to enhance their coordination with human rights bodies to flag abuses committed by the communist New People's Army.

"Let us endeavor to raise all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law to legitimate organizations that are mandated to protect and promote the well-being of non-combatants," Gapay said in a conference attended by top military officers on Friday.

The AFP earlier submitted to the United Nations (UN) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) a list of 532 incidents of attacks on civilians allegedly perpetrated the NPA since 2010.

"Let us empower civilian agencies and work together with them in ensuring that pertinent laws are respected and the full weight of the law pressed upon the violators," Gapay said.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) previously accused the AFP of “concocting statistics” to give the impression that the New People’s Army systemically attacks civilians.

The CPP also underscored that the CHR does not have jurisdiction over rebel groups.

The CHR earlier called on both the CPP and the AFP to respect the rule of law.

In November last year, the CHR called out the AFP after military men were photographed posing next to the dead body of Jevilyn Cullamat, an NPA medic and the daughter of Bayan Muna partylist Representative Eufemia Cullamat.

The CHR also said in September 2020 that it would investigate allegations that Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division forced Aetas in Zambales to eat human waste.

In the same month, the AFP said it was “unfair” to say that the military committed human rights violations after an American lawmaker proposed the suspension of assistance to the Philippines’ security forces due to human rights concerns.

In 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte told soldiers and police officers not to respond to UN special rapporteurs seeking to review the country’s human rights situation at the time.  — DVM, GMA News