MANILA, Philippines — Rights group Hustisya slammed the appointment of Eduardo Año as the officer-in-charge of the Department of Interior and Local Government, saying his designation will give him a “badge to kill and arrest more” individuals.
In a statement Tuesday, Hustisya chairperson Evangeline Hernandez said Año has with him his “bloody record of human rights violations” during his stint in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“Año will be the main implementor of a more brutal campaign of extrajudicial killings under the Duterte government’s campaign on the war on drugs and the arrest and crackdown of activists and progressives as part of the counter-insurgency program,” Hernandez said.
She noted that putting “rights violators” like Año in the helm of government agencies signals people to be more vigilant in defending their rights.
“Año and the rest of military and government officials who are rewarded and put in higher positions despite their record of rights violations should always serve as reminders that we should confront the guns pointed by the Duterte government against the people with defiance and resistance,” Hernandez said.
President Rodrigo Duterte has formally named Año as the officer-in-charge of DILG last January 5. He is filling in for the position of Ismael Sueno, who was fired over corruption allegations last
The former AFP chief of staff was appointed DILG undersecretary when he retired last October.
Rights group Karapatan earlier denounced the appointment of Año who has been tagged in the abduction of Jonas Burgos and the militarization of communities and killings of Lumads during the term of former president Benigno Aquino III.
READ: Duterte names Año DILG OIC, Cuy to lead drugs board