AFP told to answer human rights issues

MANILA, Philippines - Militant group Bayan on Tuesday called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines to refrain from using the ambush of the convoy of Gingoog Mayor Ruth Guingona by members of the New People's Army in Misamis Oriental to divert attention from the human rights violations committed by the military.

"The AFP should stop using the incident to draw attention away from the many unresolved human rights violations linked to the military, such as the abduction of Jonas Burgos, Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said.

Reyes said the Aquino administration should address the root causes of the armed conflict and work for the resumption of the stalled peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

"We agree with Senator Teofisto Guingona III when he said that the incident in Gingoog again underscores the need to resume formal peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines," Reyes noted.

Reyes also blamed the Aquino administration for putting stumbling blocks in the previous peace accords.

"The Aquino government has previously placed many obstacles to the resumption of the peace talks, including the refusal to honor previous agreements such as the Hague Joint Declaration and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees," Reyes said.

He added that the Guingona family could file complaints before the proper venue for the investigation of the incident.

"Complaints by the aggrieved parties can be brought directly to the National Democratic Front of the Philippines through the GPH-NDFP Joint Monitoring Committee on the Comprehensive Agreement for Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

"Mechanisms are in place to ensure that there would be a proper investigation and that there would be accountability for the NPA actions," Reyes said.