The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) signed a declaration of cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Monday, Dec. 12, to setup a partnership in areas of common interests such as counter-terrorism, transnational organized crimes, and human rights.

(L-R) Oliver Georges-Lermet, senior policy advisor and head of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes in the Philippines, and Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, sign a declaration of cooperation on Dec. 12, 2022 at the AFP General Headquarters in Quezon City to setup a partnership on areas of common concern such as health, counter-illicit drugs, counterterrorism, transnational organized crimes, anti-corruption, human rights, and criminal justice. (Photo by AFP)

Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, AFP Chief of Staff, signed the declaration on behalf of the AFP while Oliver Georges-Lermet, senior policy advisor and head of UNODC in the Philippines, represented the other party.

“The declaration is a non-legally binding instrument. However, the parties are expected to act in good faith concerning each other’s role stipulated in the document with the end view of having the areas of possible cooperation materialize into a formal and binding agreement,” explained Col. Jorry Baclor, chief of AFP public affairs office.

According to Baclor, the document covers “common interests and areas of cooperation” such as health, counter-illicit drugs, counterterrorism, transnational organized crimes, anti-corruption, human rights, and criminal justice.

The cooperation will involve the development and institutionalization of training and education on human-rights-based approaches in said areas.

Joint research projects, internships, fellowships, and other capacity-building measures will also be held by the two parties.

“The United Nations specify that the security sector’s role is to enhance effective and accountable security for the state and its people, without discrimination and with full respect for human rights and the rule of law,” said Gustavo Gonzales, UN resident coordinator in the Philippines.

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