AFP official in 'Morong 43' case promoted Army division chief

MANILA, Philippines - The military’s operations chief has been promoted to Army division commander, drawing negative reactions from groups who accuse him of human rights violations.

Brig. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, the outgoing Armed Forces deputy chief for operations, has been named chief of the Capiz-based 3rd Infantry Division, succeeding Jose Mabanta, who retired from the service this month.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes said the appointment order took effect last June 20. Sources said Baladad is expected to assume his new post within the week.

Before he was named as the military’s operations chief, Baladad served as deputy commander of the 9th Infantry Division based in Camarines Sur.  

He was among the military officers who were accused of torture and robbery by the so-called Morong 43, a group of suspected communist rebels who claimed to be rural health workers.

In a statement, supporters of the “Morong 43” said they are not surprised by Baladad’s appointment.

“The Aquino administration obviously rewards instead of punishes human rights violators such as Gen. Baladad,” said Alex Montes, spokesperson of the Morong 43 alliance, in a statement.

Montes said Baladad should not have been promoted because of the pending cases slapped against him and other persons involved in the arrest of the Morong 43.

The military defended Baladad’s appointment, saying it does not expect positive statements from its critics.

“Gen. Baladad won’t be given a key position if he is not upright,” Coballes said.

Baladad, for his part, said he is ready to answer the allegations against him.

“They (critics) can harass the military so that it won’t be aggressive in achieving its mission,” he said.

Baladad stressed that the military’s security plan puts emphasis on human rights, the International Humanitarian Law and the rule of law.

The Morong 43 members were arrested on Feb. 6, 2010 in Morong, Rizal for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Baladad was commander of the Army’s 202nd Brigade when the arrest took place.

The military had alleged that the “Morong 43” members were holding a seminar on bomb-making.

The suspects, however, claim they were merely attending a medical symposium when the raid happened. Militant groups have accused the military of fabricating evidence and using torture to obtain confessions from the suspects.

In December 2010, President Aquino ordered the dropping of charges against the suspects after the Justice department had declared that the procedures conducted by military in their arrest were questionable.

Last year, some “Morong 43” members filed robbery and torture cases against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Baladad and 17 others in connection with their arrest and detention in 2010.