The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has no record of violating human rights even before, as it denied allegations of human rights violations that served as the basis of some United States lawmakers to file a bill that would suspend security assistance to the Philippines.
AFP spokesman Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo even issued a challenge for the accusers to present solid evidence in order for them to prosecute any soldier who engaged in human rights violations.
“In many instances in the past, we have been solid, we have been emphatic about our position against human rights violations, that the AFP has no record of any human rights violation then and now,” said Arevalo.
The US House Resolution is seeking the stoppage of all assistance of the US government to the Philippine police and the military, including donation of equipment and training programs.
The Philippine police and the military have been one of the beneficiaries of training programs for their respective personnel both in the country and in the United States in the past years. Several police and military equipment were also donated over the years.
Col. Ysmael Yu, spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP), recognized the support of the US government in the form of training and equipment donation.
“The PNP recognizes these gestures of goodwill among friendly nations and counterpart national police forces as manifestation of international solidarity against domestic and transnational crime and terrorism,” said Yu.
But he did not directly comment on the issue,
Arevalo, however, said that they are leaving to the US Congress to decide on the matter.
“First things first, we do not deal with policies and inclinations of governments especially foreign governments but if that is going to be their decision then it is really entirely up to the US Congress,” said Arevalo.
“We say that it is unfair to judge or to pronounce that the AFP is violator of human rights and for it to be the basis of removing aid for the military in case of the Philippines,” he added.