AFP to watchdog: We are acting on HR complaints

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday assured the independent human rights monitoring group Human Rights Watch (HRW) that it is taking action on complaints of alleged human rights violations committed by the military.

In a statement, the AFP said its Human Rights Office (AFPHRO) last Friday sat down with Carlos Conde, journalist and HRW researcher for Asia, to discuss the actions being taken by the military in response to the HRW’s report on the military’s alleged involvement in several human rights violation cases.

AFPHRO chief Col. Domingo Tutaan, said his office told Conde that for last year, they received a total of 59 official complaints, all of which were “promptly addressed and reported to the higher authority.”

HRW, an independent human rights watchdog based in New York, published in July 2011 a report citing seven human rights violation (HRV) cases allegedly involving Philippine military personnel.

The report was based on interviews the group conducted in 11 provinces in the country. According to Tutaan, the AFPHRO already talked with HRW’s Jessica Evans and Elaine Pearson and encouraged them to present additional evidence needed to conduct further investigation.

However, Tutaan said no data was given by HRW. He said as a result of the AFP’s own investigations, two soldiers involved in killings in Negros Occidental in June 2010 were sent to jail.

“We are with the HRW and other independent organizations in putting a just resolution to these cases but we must take it to the court and undergo due process of law,” he said.

Tutaan said that under Rule 110 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure, prosecution can only start when a formal complaint or a sworn statement by the complainant is filed before appropriate authorities.

According to Tutaan, no formal complaints were filed in the cases cited by the HRW in its report. As such, he said, there was no prosecution.

“We go by our military justice system but the AFP is not a prosecutory body. We can only go as far as undertaking disciplinary actions such as dismissal from military service and privileges but once an involved soldier goes outside military bounds, the final say will come from the higher civilian court,” Tutaan said.

Tutaan urged the HRW to work hand-in-hand with the AFP in order to accomplish the same goal of putting a stop to human rights abuse.

“I am with the HRW to prosecute whoever it is from our organization that violated human rights. The AFP is right there at the helm to cooperate with the proper authorities to bring justice, above all,” he said.