Newly appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo M. Aṅo assured the public that the military will never be a threat to the ongoing peace negotiation between the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front.
Ano gave the assurance after a progressive group issued a statement that Aṅo can “cast dark light on the ongoing peace talks” because of his records of human rights violations.
The Exodus for Justice and Peace based here in Davao City issued a statement regarding their concerns on the appointment of Aṅo.
“The Exodus for Justice and Peace believes the appointment of Gen Aṅo casts a dark light on the ongoing peace talks between the government and the national Democratic Front especially with the complaints of human rights violations filed against the general at the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) on CARHRIHL,” the press release reads.
Aṅo was allegedly involved with the abduction and disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos in 2006 when he was still the Intelligence Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) chief.
Aṅo on the other hand said that the allegations of EJP is not true and are recycled issues.
“The allegations were already dismissed by the DOJ (Department of Justice) in 2012. Those are recycled issues that are not true,” he said.
He said that he would rather do his job silently to give his best service to the Filipino people and leave the issues behind.
“I just want to focus on doing my job silently so I can give my best service to the AFP and to our people,” he added.
Aṅo was the former commander of the Davao based 10th Infantry Division before he became the Commanding General of the Philippine Army after the military’s successful operation against New People’s Army (NPA) leader Leoncio “Parago” Pitao.
