Army reaffirms commitment to uphold human rights

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - The rank-and-file personnel of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID) will take turns reaffirming commitment to universal human rights doctrine as part of the unit’s observance of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) month.

The commander of 6th ID, Major Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, on Monday launched the activity at Camp Siongco in Datu Odin, Maguindanao with the swearing en masse of Army officials to uphold IHL in performing their peacekeeping missions.

Units of the 6th ID scattered across Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces will also initiate various activities meant to highlight the division’s commemoration of IHL month, which started first day of August.

Soldiers in other 6th ID units will also hold pledging sessions in the presence of peace advocacy groups and local officials.

Captain Joan Petinglay, spokesperson of 6th ID, said on Wednesday that Pangilinan had also urged soldiers under the division to continue with their programs complementing the government’s diplomatic dealings with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front.

There has not been any single encounter since 2010 between units of the 6th ID and the MILF, both bound by an interim ceasefire crafted by government and rebel negotiators in 1997.

The enforcement of the ceasefire is being observed since late 2003 by the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team, whose members include soldiers and policemen from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Libya, and non-uniformed conflict resolution experts from Norway, Japan and the European Union.

Pangilinan said it was for the religious compliance with IHL by 6th ID units in flashpoint areas in Central Mindanao that helped forestall undue military-rebel hostilities in the area since 2010.

The MILF has more than 50 enclaves in Central Mindanao, including its main bastion, Camp Darapanan, which is located in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao.