AFP to uphold rights, vows no martial law abuses

MANILA, Philippines — With concerns raised over possible military abuses, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday vowed to uphold human rights as martial law is extended for a year in Mindanao. 

AFP chief Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero gave the assurance to allay fears that the military’s intensified campaign against terrorist groups across the country would result in human rights abuses.

Guerrero said the military’s Human Rights Office will actively monitor the activities of AFP troops, and violators will be held accountable.

He gave assurance that human rights complaints would be entertained and acted upon.

“We have our mechanism to check on the discipline and misconduct of our soldiers to make sure that they are accountable and they are answerable for their misdeeds,” Guerrero said.

In his first press briefing at the AFP headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo, Guerrero said the one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao would specifically deal with the threats posed by Islamic State (IS) remnants and the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

“Let us not talk about martial law for the whole country because our concern for now is the implementation of martial law in Mindanao,” he said.

In a separate press briefing, AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said the remnants of the IS-linked Maute group are actively recruiting civilians in Marawi City and from towns near the war-torn cityin exchange for money.

“What we can say for now is we are monitoring these reports of recruitment, which is why we are continuing our operations to make sure they will not succeed,” Arevelo told the Bangon Marawi press briefing in Malacañang yesterday.

Arevalo revealed the recruits were enticed with “financial remunerations.” He added the militants are also using social media to upload videos for recruitment.

Arevalo said the military is working with concerned government agencies to counter the recruitment.

“We have made efforts there. For example, we conduct dialogues among the youth to counter violent extremism,” Arevalo said.

“The objective is to make them realize and learn what is extremism, and how is recruitment being done by these extremists,” he said.

Guerrero said the intelligence gathered showed the continuing presence of foreign jihadists and local terrorist groups in Mindanao despite the defeat of the Maute group in Marawi City.

“We can never tell for now. Our projections can only extend up to what the information we have at hand. We have to focus our efforts in Mindanao… As for the other parts of the country, nobody can tell. It will depend on new developments and of course it will also depend on the future actions of our adversaries,” Guerrero said.

“It’s too far in the future for me to project. Let’s see, the AFP’s actions will always depend on the political situation and also the reaction of our adversaries. If they become violent, perhaps the answer is obvious,” he said.

The heightened military actions will not only be in the areas of Eastern and Northern Mindanao but also in Sulu and Basilan against the Abu Sayyaf.

Outside Mindanao, the military will also be dealing with the NPA that President Duterte has tagged as a terrorist group.

“You can expect more focused and intensified military operations shall be conducted nationwide, most especially in Mindanao. This (martial law in Mindanao) is to address first and foremost the remnants of IS threat groups and secondly, all other threat groups to include the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army,” Guerrero said.

The gathering

Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), also gave assurance the troops will uphold human rights of civilians even as the AFP deployed more forces in the region as part of preparations for the fight against the NPA and Islamic militants.

“With the existing mechanism established with other government agencies and multi-sectoral group, we would like to assure the public that (we) will faithfully perform our mandate to protect the people and communities in Eastern Mindanao and thwart any group from conducting acts of terrorism while preventing the spillover of violence and radicalism in the region,” Madrigal said.

Madrigal is the concurrent martial law implementor in Eastern Mindanao,

“Our implementation will always be ruled by the principles of necessity, proportionality, rule of law and respect for human rights,” he said.

The AFP has activated two new military groups, the 88th and 89th Infantry Battalions. They will be deployed to Eastmincom to support the 15th IB and the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion, both veterans of the fighting in Marawi City.

Eastmincom covers Southern Mindanao, Northern and Eastern Mindanao as well as part of Central Mindanao, the areas where the NPA mostly operate. 

At least 50 percent of the total strength of the NPA in the country is reportedly operating in Eastmincom’s area of operations.

Eastmincom said there are about 1,900 NPA rebels in its area.

The Marawi uprising, which began on May 23, prompted President Duterte to declare martial law to contain the extremists in the region. There were fears that the IS was taking serious steps to gain a foothold in Asia and elsewhere as it faced setbacks in Syria and Iraq.

Some gunmen and commanders managed to escape during the Marawi fighting and were recruiting new militants and consolidating and plotting new bombings and attacks.

Extremist groups in other southern provinces, including the brutal Abu Sayyaf, continue to pose threats, according to the military.

Local military officials also warned of possible NPA attacks to celebrate the 49th founding anniversary of the communist insurgency in the country.

Col. Andres Centino, commander of the Army’s 401st Brigade in Agusan del Sur, said they have received directives from the Department of National Defense (DND) to sustain the military offensives against the NPA since there will be no traditional truce with the rebels during the holidays.

“The directives from the DND secretary were clear: no NPA gatherings by way of NPA plenum this coming Dec. 26,” Centino said. 

Centino was referring to the annual gathering of the NPA in the hinterlands during their anniversary to show off their firepower before civilian supporters and local officials during the Christmas truce with the government.

Tacit approval

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the Philippines has not received condemnation from any country around the world with regard to the extension of martial law in Mindanao.

He said many countries, in fact, have congratulated the Philippines for neutralizing the IS-linked Maute group in Marawi City.

“So far, I think there’s calm,” Cayetano said. “Actually we’re getting congratulations around the world for acting upon it decisively, and a war of that magnitude to be actually solved.”

Cayetano stressed other countries are aware of the threat of terrorism.

“The whole world knows the threat of terrorism,” he said.

He noted that members of the diplomatic community are also aware of the legal limitations of martial law under the Constitution.

Cayetano said many countries are sharing information about the terror threats in Mindanao, including the return of jihadists.

“So they no longer ask why we need martial law, because they are the ones who are telling us we have to take measures because (while) the main group has been neutralized, there are pockets of support and developments in the Middle East that may push some to fund terrorist groups,” he said.

Cayetano, however, said he would still schedule a briefing for foreign diplomats to be attended by military and defense officials.

“The international community are looking more at why, how is it going, etc. Definitely we will be scheduling a briefing with them with our AFP, DND and get everyone together to share more information with them,” he added. – Helen Flores, Christina Mendez, Edith Regalado, Ben Serrano, Jose Rodel Clapano