CAMP PERALTA, Jamindan, Capiz – The Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division is fully committed to the protection of human rights and maintains that the recent encounters in Calinog, Iloilo, between members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) and the combined forces of the 12th, 61st, and 82nd Infantry Battalions were legitimate.
Days following the said encounters, various cause-oriented groups flooded social media with statements and reports of allegations of foul play, delayed retrieval and release of the cadavers, intimidation and harassment of family members, among other malicious accusations aimed at maligning our soldiers and discrediting the result of the said operations.
Truth be told, our soldiers strictly abide with the provisions of the International Humanitarian Law and the Rule of Law. They conduct combat operations in accordance with the prescribed Rules of Engagement, otherwise they risk themselves being investigated by the military courts.
Notably, our soldiers made significant efforts to retrieve and transport the bodies of the NPA members who were abandoned by their comrades. Even with the inclement weather, helicopters were deployed to ensure that these dead bodies are retrieved the soonest time possible. The encounter sites are located in the boundaries and accessibility is very much challenging, but our soldiers undertook this difficult task to ensure the proper handling and sending of the deceased to their families.
It is essential to note that in nearly all encounters, the NPA routinely abandons their deceased and injured comrades, with no evidence of providing treatment or first aid to the wounded. This contrasts sharply with the Army’s dedication to treating all individuals humanely, even those opposing the state.
Meanwhile, the standard procedures following any encounter require thorough documentation and coordination with forensic experts to ensure proper identification and determination of the cause of death of combat casualties. This process takes time to ensure accuracy and transparency, aligning with our commitment to upholding human rights and the rule of law.
The injuries observed on the bodies of the deceased were consistent with the nature of the encounter, involving heavy gunfire. Any suggestion that these injuries resulted from torture lacks credible evidence. It is crucial to emphasize that the military neither engages in nor condones any form of torture or extrajudicial activities, as such practices contradict our core values and the laws we uphold.
We also refute allegations of intimidation during the body identification process. Our personnel conducted their duties professionally and respectfully towards the families involved. Our soldiers were there present purposely to assist the families and to offer help in whatever form necessary. Any insinuation of inappropriate behavior by our personnel is unfounded and contrary to the professional conduct we expect from our soldiers.
With all these misinformation going on, the public is advised to exercise caution and be more discerning regarding these false claims and narratives orchestrated by organizations with dubious agenda. We should not be blinded by this kind of propaganda. We should not let them create discord and destroy what we have achieved so far in our concerted effort to end local communist armed conflict and eventually declare the Panay Island as stable internal peace and security.
Moreover, we urge concerned groups and organizations to refrain from exploiting families’ grief for political gain, as this only adds to their anguish and detracts from the genuine mourning process. Families deserve the space to mourn their loved ones without being used as political pawns.
To ferret out the truth, MGen Marion R Sison, Commander of 3ID, explicitly welcomes any form of investigation into said encounters and assures full cooperation by providing all necessary reports and documents for a fair and impartial inquiry into these events. This he said as he firmly believes that these investigations will uncover the truth and, in the process, vindicate our soldiers.
“While we acknowledge the grief and pain of the families who lost their loved ones, it is essential to understand that the operations in question were conducted in the context of maintaining peace and security against armed insurgency. Your Army in Western and Central Visayas remains fully committed and dedicated to protecting the rights of all individuals while fulfilling our duty to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty and security,” MGen Sison ended.