THE AFP IN A DEMOCRACY PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS

THE AFP IN A DEMOCRACY: PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS General Hermogenes C Esperon Jr Chief of Staff Armed Forces of the Philippines National Consultative Summit on Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances- Searching for Solutions July 16, 2007

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights YOUR ARMED FORCES IS STEADFAST IN NEVER WILL NEVER HAD AND ITS DUTY TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE HAVE A POLICY OF PHILIPPINES PROGRESSES INTO A TARGETING DEMOCRACY PROSPEROUS CIVILIANS

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights AFP’S MANDATE PROTECT THE PEOPLE, SECURE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE STATE AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE NATIONAL TERRITORY

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights AFP’S ROLES ESTABLISH A PHYSICALLY AND PREVENT ARMED GROUPS PSYCHOLOGICALLY SECURE FROM USING FORCE AGAINST ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO THE PEOPLE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights CPP-NPA-NDF METHODS PRIMARY THE CPP-NPA-NDF IS THE NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT USE OF DECEPTIVE PARLIAMENTARY FORCE AGAINST NON-COMBATANTS MEANS

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights IRONICALLY, COMMUNISTS AND “FAULT-FINDERS”ADVANCE THEIR SUPPORTERS HAVE OWN AGENDA AND OBSTRUCT VICTIMS ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT AS SEEKING RECOURSE PERPETRATORS OF PROCESSES THROUGH THE LEGAL KILLINGS

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights THE MELO COMMISSION FOUND AS DEPLORABLE THE REFUSAL OF ACCUSERS TO COOPERATE IN INVESTIGATIONS

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights FROM FACT-FINDING TO FINGERPOINTING KARAPATAN AND BAYAN IGNORES ATROCITIES OF THE CPP-NPA-NDF AGAINST INNOCENT CIVILIANS IN THE CPP’S SYSTEMATIC CAMPAIGN OF TERROR

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights EXCLUDED CASES (500) INCLUDE: 23 Abu Sayyaf Terrorists KARAPATAN’s 836 Incidents VALID CASES (TF USIG) 15% 59% 26% 17 Fictitious victims 5 Alive persons EXCLUDED CASES FOR VERIFICATION SOURCE: PNP Task Force Usig (www. pnp. gov. ph)

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights SOURCES: PNP (www. pnp. gov. ph) as of Dec 2006 Task Force Detainees of the Philippines ( http: //tfdp. net) as of Dec 2006, Karapatan ( http: //stopthekillings. org), PDI (www. . inquirer. net) as of July 2007

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights Of the 836 incidents by KARAPATAN only 10 had evidence KARAPATAN’s 836 Incidents Under Investigation- 4 Filed- 6 6 Cases filed in Court Personnel charged: 13 AFP, 1 CAFGU 2 Cases Dismissed SOURCES: Karapatan (http: //stopthekillings. org) AFP Human Rights Office

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights IF KARAPATAN BELIEVES IN THE WHY ARE THE 826 OTHER RULE OF LAW JUDICIAL PROCESS AND THEINCIDENTS NOT TO FILE COURT? WE URGE THEMFILED IN CASES IN COURTS

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights POLITICAL WARFARE BY THE CPP-NPA-NDF Objectives: • Discredit Government • Undermine the AFP through Asymmetric Warfare • Gain Support from the Populace

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights POLITICAL WARFARE BY THE CPP-NPA-NDF ARMED WARFARE AS THE CPP-NPA-NDF’S COMPLEMENTED BY “LEGAL” AND PRINCIPAL FORM OFEFFORTS “PARLIAMENTARY” STRUGGLE

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights CPP’s Three Fighting Tasks Further Strengthen the Revolutionary Party of the Proletariat SOURCE: Philippine Revolution Web Central, www. philippinerevolution. net

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights CPP’s Three Fighting Tasks Expand Intensify the Armed Revolution SOURCE: Philippine Revolution Web Central, www. philippinerevolution. net

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights CPP’s Three Fighting Tasks Mobilize the People through the United Front SOURCE: Philippine Revolution Web Central, www. philippinerevolution. net

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF PARTY COMMITTEE METRO MANILA COMMUNIST REGIONAL THE CPP-NPA-NDF MMCRPC FUNCTIONAL COMMISSIONS TERRITORIAL COMMITTEES MMCRPC

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights CPP UNDERGROUND ORGANIZATIONS UNDERGROUND ORGANIZATION TARGET SECTOR Rebolusyonaryong Kongreso ng Kilusang Unyon (RKKU) TRADE UNIONS Katipunan ng mga Samahang Manggagawa (KASAMA) LABOR ORGANIZATIONS Kabataang Makabayan (KM) STUDENTS/YOUTH Pambansang Katipunan ng Magbubukid (PKM) PEASANTS Makabayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (MAKIBAKA) WOMEN Katipunan ng mga Gurong Makabayan (KAGUMA) TEACHERS Makabayang Kawaning Pilipino (MKP) GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES Christians for National Liberation (CNL) RELIGIOUS SECTOR Makabayang Samahang Pangkalusugan (MSP) HEALTH Lupon ng Manananggol para sa Bayan (LUMABAN) LAWYERS Artista at Manunulat ng Sambayanan (ARMAS) ARTISTS AND WRITERS Liga ng Agham para sa Bayan (LAB) SCIENTISTS Cordillera People's Democratic Front (CPDF) INDIGENOUS GROUPS (CORDILLERA) Moro Resistance and Liberation Organization (MRLO) MORO GROUPS Revolutionary Organization of Lumads (ROL) INDIGENOUS GROUPS

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights POLITICAL WARFARE BY THE CPP-NPA-NDF TARGETING THE AFP WHICH IS CPP-NPA-NDF’S CURRENT PROPAGANDA BLITZ THE GREATEST HINDRANCE THE FIT INTO EFFORTS TO DEMONIZE TO AFP THE CPP’S GOAL

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights THE CPP-NPA-NDF UNDERMINES “ENEMIES OF THE STATE” ARE THE AFP DOES NOT RENOUNCING THEIR BANTAY LAYA 2 DOES NOT TARGET CIVILIANS DEMOCRACY BY NOT STIFLE PRINCIPLED THOSE WHO SUBSCRIBE TO VIOLENCE CRITIQUEARMEDSECTORS OF SOCIETY. FROM STRUGGLE. AND VIOLATE STATE SOVEREIGNTY.

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights THE AFP DETERMINES ORGANIZATIONS AS CPP FRONTS BASED ON FACTS

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights CPP UNITED FRONT FOR ARMED REVOLUTION

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights POLITICAL WARFARE BY THE CPP-NPA-NDF FORMER CPP/NPA/NDF RETIRED AFP/PNP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 6. 3% 5. 6% 8. 3% ACTIVE COLD-BLOODED MURDERS DISGUISED AS CIVILIANS 48. 7% 31% AFP/PNP “REVOLUTIONARY JUSTICE” Total NPA Liquidations: 1, 312 SOURCE: AFP Statistics

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights DEC 1999 FEB 2001 CONRADO BALWEG NPA Commander, Cordillera POPOY LAGMAN MRRC Secretary CC Member JAN 2003 SEP 2004 ROMULO KINTANAR ARTURO TABARA NPA Chief Viscom Secretary CC Member CPP/NPA leaders denounced and killed as “traitors” MAY 2006 SOTERO LLAMAS BRPC Secretaqry CC Member

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights “OPLAN BUSHFIRE” issued by the CPP Central Committee on 7 April 2006 26

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights “As we execute these special operations, we shall accuse and hold responsible the Arroyo regime for the killings and persecution of members of our legal organizations…”

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights POLITICAL WARFARE BY THE CPP-NPA-NDF Plaza Miranda Bombing Initially attributed to the Philippine government Eventually proven to be perpetrated by CPP-NPA-NDF

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights POLITICAL WARFARE BY THE CPP-NPA-NDF “Kampanyang Ahos” Killed 900 cadres in Mindanao Admitted by the CPP after several years

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights YOUR ARMED FORCES CONTINUES ITS EFFORTS TO IS STEADFAST IN RESPECTING ENSURE THE ISSUE OF EVERY CITIZEN’S RIGHT TO LIFE KILLINGS IS RESOLVED

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights AFP COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS AFP BEARS THE BRUNT OF THE COST IN LIVES IN PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS Soldiers are the first to shed blood to protect the people

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights AFP BEARS THE BRUNT OF THE COST IN LIVES IN PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS 7 Soldiers killed in Abra protecting the democratic process 14 Marines killed in Tipo-tipo, Basilan

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights AFP BEARS THE BRUNT OF THE COST IN LIVES IN PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS AFP/PNP Personnel killed: 1, 234

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights BEYOND THE TOLL IN LIVES ARE THE ORPHANED CHILDREN AND WIDOWS

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights HOW MANY MORE LIVES ARE WE WILLING TO LOSE BEFORE WE TAKE ACTION?

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights AFP’S COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS Existing policies within the AFP Requiring AFP personnel to obtain clearances from the Commission on Human Rights Including human rights modules in AFP training programs/courses Promulgating clear rules of engagement

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights AFP’S COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS Establishment of the AFP Human Rights Office Works for the improvement of existing internal mechanisms in protecting human rights Promotes the importance of human rights within the AFP

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights AFP’S COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS Command Responsibility Commanders are tasked to: “Accountability or responsibility of the commander of a Take into custody erring personnel Military Force or Unit for the acts of his men, inclusive of the authority to order, to direct, Arrest and confine offenders to prevent or control the acts of his men” Determine the administrative liabilities of personnel Commanders are required to deliver AFP personnel to civilian authorities

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights AFP’S COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS THE AFPAFP DOES NOT CONDONE ABUSES MADE THE MAY CONVENE A GENERAL COURT MARTIAL TO INVESTIGATE AFP PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN BY ITS OFFICERS AND PERSONNEL. THE KILLINGS

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights AFP’S COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS REPUBLIC ACT 7055 SINCE 1991, AFP PERSONNEL CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL OFFENSES UNDER THE REVISED PENAL CODE ARE TRIED IN CIVILIAN COURTS.

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights AFP’S COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS ARTICLE OF WAR 75 REQUIRES COMMANDING OFFICERS TO DELIVER AFP PERSONNEL TO CIVIL AUTHORITIES OR AID IN APPREHENDING AND SECURING THE ACCUSED PERSONNEL

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights AFP’S COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS THE AFP WILL FULLY COOPERATE WITH FACT-FINDING BODIES CREATED BY PROPER AUTHORITIES

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights RECOMMENDATIONS Aggrieved parties should file cases in court ANCHORED ON FOLLOWING DUE PROCESS AND Cause-oriented groups should help victims seek RESPECTING THE RULE OF LAW recourse through the justice system instead of blaming the AFP

The AFP in a Democracy: Protecting Human Rights LEST THE FORGET, EVEN APERSON ITS LET WE JUDICIAL SYSTEM TAKE HAS THE ACCUSED, EVERY SOLDIER, A RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS PROPER UNTIL IS PRESUMED INNOCENTCOURSEPROVEN GUILTY

THE AFP IN A DEMOCRACY: PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS General Hermogenes C Esperon Jr Chief of Staff Armed Forces of the Philippines National Consultative Summit on Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances July 16, 2007