For the militants, the recent appointment of General Eduardo M. Año as the new chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines raised more questions than answers.
President Duterte named Año, the former chief of the Philippine Army, to the top post of the AFP on Wednesday.
He replaced General Ricardo Visaya who turned 56, the retirement age, on Wednesday. Both Año and Visaya are members of the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” class of 1983.
Año also served as the commander of the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division that covered the areas of Davao region and parts of Regions 12 and 13.
It was during his stint at the 10th ID that known New People’s Army (NPA) leader Leoncio Pitao alias Kumander Parago was killed by government troopers in the hinterlands of Davao City.
The militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Wednesday raised more questions to the present administration on the recent appointment of Año.
In a statement, Bayan asked “How will this impact Duterte’s peace process?
The group went on to raise the questions: “What direction will the AFP take now? Will this mean a continuation of the current counter-insurgency program despite the ongoing ceasefire declarations of the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) and NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines)?
Bayan also asked President Duterte is he is also “undermining his own peace initiatives?”
The group said Año has been accused of involvement in the Jonas Burgos abduction and has been deeply involved in counter-insurgency operations in Mindanao that led to the displacement Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the area.
Another militant group, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) also expressed belief that Año’s appointment to the top post of the AFP will give rise to more human rights abuses in the country.
In a statement to the media on Thursday, KMP’s secretary-general Antonio Flores said Ano is known for the disappearance of activist and peasant advocate Jonas Burgos in 2007 and the arrest of Wilma Austria and Benito Tiamzon of the NDFP.
“President Duterte appointed the very same person responsible for the ceasefire violations and the continuing human rights violations,” Flores added.
The same concern was also raised by human rights group Karapatan, calling Año as “a notorious implementer of US-directed counter-insurgency programs Oplan Bantay Laya and Oplan Bayanihan” that now holds the highest position at the AFP.
With Año as AFP chief, Karapatan expressed concerns over “greater danger of human rights violations and militarist efforts to sabotage peace initiatives.”
“Aside from the abduction and disappearance of peasant organizer Jonas Burgos in 2007, this GMA-Aquino general is responsible for the 2014 Paquibato massacre, the hamletting of civilian communities and the proliferation of various paramilitary groups in Mindanao which cost the lives of many Lumad,” said Critina Palabay, secretary-general of Karapatan.
The group also recounted the killings of Lumad leaders Datu Ruben Enlog, Randy Carnasa and Oligario Quimbo last June 14, 2014 in Paquibato District in Davao City and the filing of trumped up cases against human rights workers and leaders of mass organizations that all took place when Año was still the commander of the 10th ID.
“Gen. Año also made trophies out of the illegal arrest of peace consultants Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, Adelberto Silva, Ruben Saluta, which is a direct violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG). The killing of NPA Commander Leoncio Pitao and medic Vanessa Limpag, both violations of international humanitarian law, is also part of his bloody ‘credentials,’” Palabay added.
“Reconsider Año’s appointment,” was the call made by ACT Teachers Party-List Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro addressed to President Duterte.
I a statement, both members of the House of Representatives cited human rights violations committed the army under the leadership of General Año in Mindanao.
“The Army under Año’s command was responsible for various human rights violations, including the Paquibato massacre in June 2014 which killed three indigenous peoples (IPs) and the pouring in of battalions in Mindanao which caused widespread displacement of IPs,” the lawmakers said.
They added that Año’s appointment implies that human rights violators and those who allow them are rewarded with higher ranks rather than jail time.
His appointment, the lawmakers stressed, is a huge mockery to human rights, which is unfortunate since we would be celebrating the International Human Rights Day in a few days.
“When he signed Año’s appointment papers, the President might as well have signed the death warrant for the search for justice and accountability for these human rights violations,” they added.
