Int’l rights group slams AFP appointment

MANILA, Philippines—The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticized the appointment of a spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines who, it said, had not been able to improve the human rights record of the military.

“The appointment of Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan, former head of the AFP’s Human Rights Office, as the new military spokesperson only underscores the suspicion that the Human Rights Office, which has mainly done damage control for the military, is nothing but a PR initiative,” said Brad Adams, HRW Asia director.

In a letter to AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Jesse Dellosa, the HRW said the military leadership should take concrete steps to hold soldiers accountable for human rights abuses.—Cynthia D. Balana