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E-mailThe Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will confer medals on two of its officers involved in the recent arrest of 43 health workers in Morong, Rizal.
Gmanews.tv reported that bronze cross medals will be given to Lt. Col. Jaime Abawag, commander of the 16th Infantry Battalion, and Col. Aurelio Baladad, commander of the 202nd Brigade, for the February 6 feat.
The medal is a cross in gold, with two tendrils of green laurel leaves tied at the center base as a wreath. The word “bravery” is engraved on the cross, a symbol of risk of life and sacrifice. It is the fourth highest award given by the AFP.
On February 6, around 300 combined elements of the police and military arrested without warrant 43 health workers in Morong, Rizal. They are now detained at Camp Capinpin. Military officers claimed the health workers were members of the New People's Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines that has been waging a Maoist revolution for more than four decades.
“We have to recognize this feat because we are serious in our mission of defeating the communist insurgency by June 2010," Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, chief of the Armed Forces public affairs office, said.
Brawner said some of those arrested have warrants of arrest for murder, multiple murder, arson, robbery in band, destruction of property and other crimes. He also said some of them were involved in raids and ambuscades in Rizal province.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said the "citations send the wrong message that human rights abuses committed in the name of counter-insurgency will be rewarded under the Arroyo government."
"This simply reinforces the climate of impunity that has resulted in numerous abuses in the recent past," he added.
“The move is obviously self-serving as it aims to cover up the liability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the illegal arrests, illegal detention and torture of the 43. It is a hollow counter-move to the snowballing local and international public opinion in support of the 43,” Reyes said.
In another statement, Darby Santiago, chairperson of the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), said, “Rewarding human rights violators is not only insulting to the victims and their families but also an affront to basic decency in a country that is supposedly a democracy."
Santiago maintained that the 43 were neither supporters nor members of the New People’s Army (NPA) as the military and police claimed. He also said that the health workers were arrested without warrants, denied legal counsel, and were subjected to sleep deprivation.
HEAD reiterated its position that the February 6 raid was illegal, and condemned the treatment of the 43 who were arrested in “flagrant disregard of due process and basic human rights.” “Are these the alleged feats that the AFP now honors?” decried Dr. Santiago.
Bayan said it would block future promotions of military officials who were involved in the alleged illegal arrest and detention of the 43 health workers. A complaint will also be filed before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
The Court of Appeals, in compliance with the writ of habeas corpus issued by the Supreme Court, is expected to issue its resolution on the charges of illegal arrest and detention filed by relatives of “Morong 43” and activist groups soon.
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