Military operations against insurgents to comply with laws

MANILA, Philippines - Newly installed Armed Forces of the Philippines Civil Relations Service (CRS) chief Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. vowed yesterday that all military operations against insurgents would comply with existing laws.

Mabanta, who formally assumed his position last Thursday, said he will see to it that all operations are documented and that all searches would be covered by warrants.

“We will approach insurgency and solve insurgency within the purview of the law... All searches will be covered by warrants,” Mabanta said.

“This time we will give premium to documentation of neutralization operation,” he added.

Mabanta made the statement amid complaints by militant groups who claim that the AFP’s anti-insurgency efforts have resulted in extrajudicial killings and violations of human rights.

He said the military would continue to uphold international humanitarian laws and respect human rights in all their operations.

“We feel these are all doable things and certainly can be done within the bounds of law,” the civil relations chief said.

He, however, noted that arrests without warrants are allowed if security forces see insurgents carrying illegal weapons.

Mabanta said the three-year deadline to beat the decades-old insurgency is doable.

“We feel that it can be done within that timeframe. We are crafting an effective campaign plan but we are still waiting for the national strategy (to address communist rebellion),” he said.

“We feel with the number (of communist rebels) down to less than 5,000 it is very much doable.”

Mabanta replaced Brig. Gen. Francisco Cruz Jr., who was appointed deputy chief of staff for intelligence. The CRS is tasked, among others, to highlight the achievements of the military and to undertake communication strategies that will support the government’s internal security operations.

The Arroyo administration sought to wipe out the communist rebellion by June 30 but failed.

The AFP, however, claimed that it has significantly weakened the influence of the insurgents in the countryside. Military data showed that the strength of the New People’s Army has declined to 4,742 in the first quarter of 2010 from a peak of 25,200 in 1987.

During his assumption as AFP chief of staff this month, Gen. Ricardo David said he wants the military to defeat the insurgency in two to three years.

Military officials said a new counterinsurgency plan similar to “Oplan Bantay Laya” is now being crafted.