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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gov't to file criminal cases vs 'terror groups' for 'violations' of International Humanitarian Law

Gov't to file criminal cases vs 'terror groups' for 'violations' of International Humanitarian Law

Published Dec 24, 2021 01:16 pm

Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra

The inter-agency committed on extrajudicial killings (EJKs) has recommended the filing of criminal complaints involving alleged violations of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) against communist terrorist groups.

Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Friday, Dec. 24, said the recommendation was made by the committee’s Technical Working Group (TWG) based on the 1,500 cases submitted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“For those cases where it has found sufficient evidence, the TWG has recommended the filing of the appropriate complaints,” Guevarra, chairman of the committee, said without providing details.

“The TWG has also advised law enforcement agencies and the AFP on what further steps to take in order to build up their cases against communist terrorist groups for various violations of the IHL,” he said.

He pointed out that “some complaints have actually been filed in the past, but not as violations of IHL; instead, common crimes like murder, kidnapping, arson have been filed against persons associated with the NPA (New People’s Army).”

The IHL “is a set of rules that limits the effects of armed conflict, protects people who are not or are no longer participating in hostilities, and restricts the means and methods of warfare.”

The inter-agency committee was created under Administrative Order No. 35 and it is known as the AO 35 Inter-Agency Committee on Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture and Other Grave Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty and Security of Persons.

Assistant State Prosecutor Gino Paolo S. Santiago, head of the inter-agency committee secretariat, said the 1,500 cases of IHL violations were submitted by the AFP’s Center for Law of Armed Conflict (AFP-CLOAC).

“The violations consisted mainly of attacks on civilian properties, willful killing of civilians/non-combatants, children involved in armed conflict, and use of anti-personnel mines,” Santiago said.

“These violations transpired between 2010 and 2020,” he added.

Guevarra assured that “the review has been done of cases in the regions where IHL violations appear prevalent, but the TWG still has to evaluate other cases that occurred in the remaining regions.”

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