An ICRC staff explains ICRC’s activities in Mindanao to participants of the IHL training of AFP mobile teams at the 401st Infantry Brigade in Agusan del Sur province. (ICRC/Chiara de Leon)
DAVAO CITY – The Philippine military’s Human Rights Office and the International Committee of the Red Cross will train about 30 government soldiers on how to disseminate the law of armed conflict – also known as international humanitarian law – for thousands of government militias who are members of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit.
The three-day training of enlisted personnel – who will form part of the military’s mobile training teams – started on Mnday at the 10th Infantry Division in Davao City.
“As our front-liners, our enlisted personnel and Cafgu members need to know the basic principles of IHL, including the protection of civilians and respect for wounded or captured fighters. This training is part of our commitment to integrate IHL into the teaching of our armed forces personnel, and we look forward to replicating this program in other areas,” said Col. Jose Antonio Carlos Motril, chief of the military’s human rights office.
The training includes lectures on IHL principles and the Philippine IHL Act, R.A. 9851, among other topics. After the training, the AFP mobile training teams are tasked to go around patrol bases to disseminate IHL among members of the Cafgu.
IHL regulates the means and methods of warfare and protects those not or no longer participating in hostilities. As guardian of IHL, the ICRC helps enhance the teaching and dissemination of IHL to increase awareness and promote compliance among weapon bearers.
The ICRC is a neutral, independent and impartial humanitarian organization that is mandated to protect and assist civilians affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. (Mindanao Examiner)
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