A thing of the past?

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

A 14-minute video recently uploaded on YouTube showed a group of young Armed Forces of the Philippines recruits being beaten by soldiers with ropes and sticks as loud screams could be heard in the background. In the face of incontrovertible video evidence, the military has admitted that the video was taken during an “escape and evasion” training exercise three years ago in eastern Bicol region but at the same time stressed that the painful hazing had already been outlawed and was a “thing of the past”.

Major Harold Cabunoc, regional army spokesman, described the exercise as a part of military training wherein the “captive soldiers” were subjected to simulated physical pains endured during captivity. He said the trainers acted as opposing forces and were only authorized to threaten the trainees with force but not subject them to real harm. He said that in most cases, the trainees were only blindfolded as they were made to listen to their colleagues faking screams of torture to scare them. However, the video did show that some trainers were beating the captives with ropes and sticks and the Major called it unacceptable, because undue harm was already inflicted on the soldier. The training was supposed to have been discontinued because it proved to be “counterproductive”.

It may be necessary to prepare recruits for the harsh realities of certain combat situations, one of which is the possibility of being captured and tortured by an enemy that does not bother following local and international human rights laws, but crude and primitive methods that involve actual torture are not only counterproductive, they also contribute to the negative impression of the AFP that labels recruits, trainers, and officers as being too masochistic and trigger happy for their own good. The AFP can surely come up with a scientific and practical training program that can prepare recruits for the rigors and realities of armed conflict without resorting to the humiliating and dehumanizing torture of its own people.

The truth is, no matter what they say, most of us still find it hard to believe when military and even police officials deny the use of torture, both on criminals and rebels as well as on their own recruits. It will take some more time and a lot of effort and sincerity on the part of AFP and PNP officials if they want to change the common perception about how our armed forces view and use torture as a tool to achieve their goals.*