Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will evaluate the complaint filed against the leaders and officials of Myanmar's military junta, the Tatmadaw, for alleged war crimes committed in the country’s Chin State.
“Kung ito ay sufficient in form and substance saka natin pasasagutin yung mga taong dapat managot sa mga reklamong ito (If the complaint has been found to be sufficient in form and substance, only then the respondents would be asked to answer the allegations made against them),” Remulla said.
On Wednesday, Oct. 25, five Myanmar nationals went to the DOJ and filed a joint complaint-affidavit against Myanmar officials for war crimes in violation of Section 4(b)(1), Section 4(c)(10), Section 4(c)(2), Section 4(c)(7) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9851, also known as the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.
Named respondents in the were Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the Myanmar State Administration Council and commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Defence Services and Tatmadaw; Chin State Chief Minister Dr. Vung Suang Thang; Lt. Gen. Min Naing, chair of the Cyclone Mocha Emergency Response in Chin State; Lt. Gen. Tay Zar Kyaw, chief of the Bureau of Special Operations 1; Major Gen. Phyo Thant; Major Gen. Than Htike; Brg. Gen. Myo Htut Hlaing; Col. Saw Tun; Lt. Col. Myo Zin Tun; and Major Nay Myo Oo.
The complainants are all natives of Thantlang in the Chin State, namely, Mai Zong Tha Din Ral Tu, Pastor Ngun Thawng Lian, Salai Lai Lian, Salai Tha Peng Ling Hrang Lung, and Salai Za Uk Ling. They were accompanied to the DOJ by their Filipino lawyers from the Center for International Law (CenterLaw).
Remulla said the complaint "is noveland it is the first time this was filed in our jurisdiction and this involves International Humanitarian Law."
He said: "Dito ay gumaganap tayo sa isang usapin na napagkasunduan sa United Nations pagreinforce ng international humanitarian law (this involves agreements with the United Nations concerning enforcement of international law).”
“Ang bawat estado ay merong responsibilidad na pangalagaan lahat ng tao sa mundo pagdating po sa usapin ng international humanitarian law (Each state has the responsibility to take care of every person in the world when it concerns international humanitarian law),” he pointed out.