Int’l group's letter to AFP chief: Stop rights abuses

MANILA, Philippines — An international human rights organization on Wednesday sent a letter to the new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri urging him to create human rights reforms.

New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) asked the Philippine military to take all necessary action to prevent abuses by its personnel and ensure accountability for human rights violators.

It also asked Iriberri to address discredited rights and hold violators to account.

"General Iriberri has the time and the opportunity to make greater respect for human rights a priority of the Philippine armed forces," said Phelim Kine, the groups's deputy director for Asia.

"It is long overdue for the Philippine military to deliver on its human rights rhetoric," Kine added.

The organization noted that Philippine military personnel continue to be implicated in violations of international humanitarian law in armed conflict situations involving the New People's Army and Moro insurgents.

It said there have been reports of abuses such as arbitrary arrests, tortures, illegal killings of civilians and rebel fighters in custody.

Human Rights Watch said Iriberri should conduct prompt, transparent and impartial probe into the abuses and uphold international humanitarian law in conflict areas.

Military elements are also implicated in the harassment of activists, such as red baiting and publicly marking government detractors as state enemies, the group said.

"General Iriberri is now the point man for making sure the Philippine armed forces stop committing abuses and respect human rights. It’' his responsibility to ensure the military meets its international legal obligations throughout the Philippine archipelago," Kine said.

Among the demands of the HRW in the letter is the effective command and control of paramilitary groups, long been allegedly responsible for serious human rights abuses.

The organization said the military's human rights office should undergo reforms to make it more responsive as it has not lived up to its mandate and responsibilities.

The human rights group also asked the military to join the new international Safe Schools Declaration committed in protecting students, teachers and schools from armed conflict. This was signed by 47 countries to date.

President Benigno Aquino III appointed Iriberri on July 10 this year.