Not a single complaint of human rights violations was lodged against the Philippine Army in Negros Occidental in the first five months of 2012, that was a duplication of its record last year, the Commission on Human Rights noted.

CHR provincial chief Romeo Baldevarona yesterday said the creation of Human Rights Office in every major services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the implementation of its IPSP Bayanihan campaign plan, that gives importance to human rights and International Humanitarian Law, for the improvement of its human rights records.

Baldevarona said human rights and IHL subjects are now being incorporated in the unit enhancement training of the Philippine Army and Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit, with CHR officials as resource speakers.

Since its creation in 2007, the AFP Human Rights Office, that is replicated down to the battalion level unit, has been consistent in its campaign programs pertaining to human rights IHL, and the rule of law, as reflected the advocacy lectures and seminars about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and other international human rights bills, he said.

Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, in response to the CHR report, said “ This is our commitment in IPSP Bayanihan, which adheres to human rights, IHL and rule of law.”

Lactao challenged the New People’s Army in Negros to follow the same, and stop the killings of civilians and non-combatants.

In 2011, the Philippine Army in Negros Occidental also posted a zero complaint in human rights violations, CHR records also showed.*GPB

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