MAGUINDANAO PROVINCE (Mindanao Examiner / July 11, 2013) – Defense by offense is a classic case of someone who is cornered and has nowhere to go, and there’s no other way but to punch one’s way out, this, according to the human rights group Kapapatan, is straight from the horse’s mouth – the Armed Forces of the Philippines finally confirmed that it considers the group its enemy.
“By calling Karapatan its enemy, the AFP justified that the victims of human rights violations are also its enemies,” Cristina Palabay, Secretary General of Karapatan, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
Palabay’s statement came at the heels of newspaper reports that quoted Philippine Army Chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes as saying the “opposition to Baladad’s appointment was expected from the ‘enemy’… You don’t expect any positive statement from the enemy.”
Coballes was referring to Brig. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, who according to Karapatan is among those responsible for the torture and illegal detention of 43 health workers known as “Morong 43”.
Karapatan called the appointment of Baladad as commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, as “exemplary display of impunity under the Aquino government.”
“The AFP and its officials are making a fool of themselves by saying they are human rights advocates. The military’s record of human rights violations speaks for itself,” Palabay said.
“Coballes’ statement signifies the AFP’s continued operations against those whom they perceive as ‘enemies’ of the Aquino administration, and that includes not only members of Karapatan but also leaders and members of people’s organizations and communities opposed to the Aquino government’s anti-people policies.”
Karapatan said it documented 142 cases of extrajudicial killing and 164 frustrated killing; 16 incidents of enforced disappearance; 76 cases of torture; 293 cases of illegal arrest and detention.
“Hindi namin papatulan yang work-work together na linya ng AFP. Any respectable human rights organization will not be trapped into their lies on security sector reform. We have, and will always, work with the poor and marginalised Filipino people,” Palabay said.
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