The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to enhance the military's operations by strengthening its knowledge of the people's basic rights.
(6th Infantry Division – Kampilan Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, AFP Chief of Staff, and CHR Chairperson Jose Luis Martin Gascon signed the agreement Friday at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. They were joined by Col. Joel Alejandro Nacnac, chief of AFP Human Rights Office, and CHR Executive Director Jacqueline Anne De Guia.
"We, in the AFP, will always endeavor to seek the most effective ways to address the gaps, in particular observance of human rights our organization. I am certain that by fostering close coordination, which involves a mutual exchange of knowledge on the intricacies and the proper interpretation of human rights and the best ways to promote them, there is surely much to learn from our counterparts from the CHR," Sobejana said.
Under the MOA, the AFP and the CHR will work together in the aspects of education, training, and advocacy to promote human rights in military operations. They will also collaborate in monitoring mechanisms and data sharing of incidents or cases of human rights violations during operations.
It further stated that both parties shall participate in dialogues, focus group discussions, and other forms of engagements or cooperation that affect human rights issues, as well as foster cooperation on the AFP's clearance system among military officers who will undergo confirmation before the Commission on Appointments.
The partnership between the two organizations will remain in full effect for three years from the time of signing, and subject to renewal and approval of the Secretary of National Defense, the MOA read.
"s duty bearers, we have the obligation to our citizens to uphold and protect human rights and International Humanitarian Law. This MOU will strengthen our respective institutions' efforts in providing protection for the rights of all people in our country," said Gascon.
The partnership came almost a week after nine individuals were killed in joint military and police operations in Calabarzon (Region 4A) last March 7. Human rights advocates said the victims were activists but the Philippine National Police disputed this, saying those killed were communist rebels who resisted the service of search warrants.
The AFP has not released an official statement on the bloody operation until now.
But this was not the first time that the AFP and CHR worked together to improve the military's operations by promoting human rights in the organization.
In 2012, the AFP issued the La Breza Declaration on Human Rights Cooperation which confirmed the continuing commitment of the AFP to protect human rights. This year’s MOU will replace the La Breza Declaration to institutionalize the processes between the AFP and the CHR.
Prior to the MOU signing, both parties have already worked together in numerous activities such as joint conduct of human rights seminars, periodic reviews of AFP Curriculum, and top-level policy dialogues to clarify military operations.
Sobejana said that the activities emphasized the need to strengthen the documentation, verification, and cross-validation of complaints of human rights violations within the organization.