CHR on AFP’s erroneous red-tagging: Military’s mandate is loyalty to the truth

The Armed Forces of the Philippines should stick to its mandate of being loyal to the truth and the law, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said Monday.

Lawyer and CHR spokesperson, Jacqueline Ann de Guia issued the statement after the Armed Forces admitted to falsely tagging UP alumni as members of the New People’s Army (NPA) by citing such information as inconsistencies.

The military issued its apology after some of those on the list — tagged by the military not only as NPA fighters but were either captured or killed by government agents — came out in a press conference to set the record straight that they never joined the NPA or the communists ranks, never jailed and are in fact, alive and kicking.

“The taxes that serve as the lifeblood of the government are from the people and are presumed to be always intended for the greater good. And one of the best ways to give life to the AFP’s motto of ‘Serving the People, Securing the Land’ is by being loyal to truth, fairness, and the rights enshrined and guaranteed by the Constitution, such as due process and presumption of innocence, among others,” De Guia said.

While the Armed Forces apologized for such erroneous claim and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana admitted that it was a wrong move, the CHR noted that such act sets a bad precedent.

Government institutions including the Armed Forces, De Guia argued, are imbued with an obligation to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of all persons. Government offices and officials are equally reminded to use their influence responsibly.

“Such gaffe continues to be a cause for serious concern. Similar lapses, if left unchecked, can put reputations and lives in serious danger. In this specific case, such obligation for human rights does not only include protecting groups and individuals from harm, but also involves ensuring that government actions do not put innocent lives in peril,” she pointed out.

“This power to shape perceptions and options, coupled with the resources that enables them to do such, should always be put to good use. After all, the taxes that serve as the lifeblood of the government are from the people and are presumed to be always intended for the greater good,” she added.

The red-tagging followed the Department of National Defense (DND)’s unilateral abrogation of a 31-year-old pact with UP that prevents state forces from freely entering the campus without prior coordination.

The DND claimed that UP campuses were being used as venues for the “clandestine recruitment” of students into the armed rebellion.

The Defense Department, however, did not provide details as to who are and how the students are being recruited to the communists' ranks, especially now that face-to-face classes have been cancelled since March 2019 to prevent COVID-19 transmission. — Llanesca T. Panti/RSJ, GMA News