Philippines: abusive soldiers should be accountable

Human Rights Watch:

Military Chief of Staff Urged to Act to Improve Army’s Reputation

(New York) - The Philippine armed forces need to take effective measures to prevent unlawful killings and hold abusive soldiers to account, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, Gen. Ricardo A. David, Jr. Human Rights Watch urged General David to address extrajudicial killings, abusive paramilitary forces, and alleged mistreatment of the "Morong 43" - 43 individuals detained since February on firearms charges.

"General David has made positive statements about human rights and efforts to raise rights awareness among the troops," said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "But real change requires prosecuting soldiers who commit crimes."

Philippine military personnel, including officers, and paramilitary force members, have been implicated in hundreds of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances since 2001. Under the new administration of President Benigno Aquino III, there have already been more than 20 reported political killings, several of which implicate military personnel.

In recent years there has not been a single conviction of an active duty soldier for a politically motivated killing, despite substantial evidence of military involvement in a number of cases. Human Rights Watch urged General David to discipline officers who facilitate abuses and to ensure that members of the military comply with requests from both military and civilian bodies investigating alleged abuses, and discipline troops who fail to do so.

Philippine history shows that using armed - but barely trained - civilians as paramilitary forces instead of professional security forces is counterproductive, Human Rights Watch said. Until the government disarms and disbands militia forces, the armed forces should disband militia units that do not comply with the Reserve Forces Act or other relevant laws, and suspend members implicated in abuses if credible accusations are pending against them.

In the letter, Human Rights Watch acknowledged that the armed forces are involved in military operations against the communist New People's Army and other armed groups that have long been responsible for serious abuses. Abuses by one party to a conflict never justify abuses by the other, and a professional and well-disciplined armed force is essential for winning the public's trust and support in counterinsurgency operations, Human Rights Watch said.

"General David has the opportunity to radically improve the reputation of the Philippine army," Pearson said. "A professional armed force that holds abusive soldiers to account would be a fitting legacy for the chief of staff."