New York-based group calls on Aquino, army chief to act on human rights violations

MANILA, Philippines—An international human rights group called on President Benigno Aquino III and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Jessie Dellosa to stop using schools as military detachments and act on human rights violations committed by members of the military.

In a letter to Dellosa, New York based Human Rights Watch said they have “seen little progress on key issues, including impunity for extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, continued use of abusive paramilitary forces, the false tagging of children as rebel fighters and the unlawful use of schools as camps or detachments.”

Elaine Pearson, Deputy Asia Director of HRW said “the public rhetoric of senior military officers has improved since President Benigno Aquino III took office almost two years ago. But the public statements have not resulted in better military cooperation with investigating authorities, comprehensive internal investigation of implicated military personnel or increased openness within the military structure.”

Established in 1978, HRW monitors human rights developments in over 90 countries and coordinates with international bodies such as the United Nations, European Union for changes in policy.

Early this month, the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance called on President Aquino to pull out troops from communities in the Cordillera where they allegedly committed human rights violations and be held accountable for the crimes.

The cases reportedly included harassment cases against members of the Community Health, Education, Services and Training in the Cordillera region.Harassment cases against Kalinga and Ifugao scholars of the progressive party lists Kabataan and Gabriela were also bared during the inquiry.

HRW said the military occupies schools for about three months to a year.

The HRW said the military should “issue a public order to all forces stating clearly that political activists, unionists, and members of civil society groups are not to be targeted as part of efforts against rebel fighters. The armed forces leadership should fully comply with all civilian inquiries and assist authorities in apprehending members of the armed forces, regardless of rank, implicated in extrajudicial killings and other serious human rights violations.”