All AFP units ordered to set up human rights office

All military units from major services to the battalion level are now required to have a human rights office (HRO) to ensure better adherence to respect of human rights among the officers and men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The order to “organize and activate" HROs came from AFP chief Gen. Ricardo David in a letter directive dated November 8 to the Army, Air Force and Navy. The HROs would “uphold, protect and promote" human rights and adherence to international humanitarian law and other international human rights instruments, David said in his directive. The military is at the receiving end of accusations by leftist organizations and human rights advocates that it is behind the rash of extra-judicial killings of mostly leftist personalities. The military had denied this, saying the killings could be part of a “purging" within leftist groups. According to David’s directive, HROs will be created at the unified area commands, divisions, brigade and battalion levels or their equivalent in the Air Force and Navy. At present, the AFP only has the Human Rights Office based at the AFP general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo. David said the HROs will also be responsible for the implementation of education and training programs, advocacy and awareness mechanism and information dissemination. They will likewise be responsible in reporting human rights and internal humanitarian law violations by government forces, members of the threat groups, and to “monitor/assess incidents of alleged violations as reported in open sources and conduct immediate inquiry for further actions." “The State values the dignity of every person and guarantees full respect for human rights. The government promotes the protection of and respect for human rights by all as embodied in the Constitution. The AFP being the protector of the people upholds human rights and adheres to International Humanitarian Law," said David in the directive. - KBK, GMANews.TV