MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Army chief, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, has assured United Nations (UN) representatives that Filipino soldiers will always abide by the provisions of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the rule of law.

Bautista made the statement during a recent dialogue with a UN delegation led by Dr. Jacqueline Badcock, the UN Resident Coordinator, at the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.

The Army chief warmly received the delegation that also include representatives from other agencies including the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“We welcome this dialogue. We hope to thresh out some issues and we hope to continuously engage, not just the UN, but other international organizations. The only way to do that is to engage each other in a dialogue and find out ways where we can be of mutual support to each other towards a common agenda,” said Bautista.

“The United Nations and the Philippines have been partners since the birth of the UN. We have always been supportive of the UN cause and the UN agenda,” said Bautista in his statement,” he said.

In the open forum attended by senior military officials, Badcock said she was impressed with the Army’s efforts and actions.

“We’ve always have a great respect for the Bayanihan, that people-centered and human security approach that you have been engaged in. That is a very positive way forward,” said Badcock.

Badcock was also pleased upon receiving the copy of the soldiers’ Rules of Engagement (ROE) card which were earlier issued by the Army to all soldiers throughout the archipelago.

“I am very pleased to have a copy of the ROE card. I think that is very important if you are going to have people upholding human rights principles and international humanitarian rule of law,” she added.

She also disclosed, “the UN have been providing support in many trainings and have been developing relationships with these offices.”

Badcock appreciated the contributions of the Philippine Army in the UN Peacekeeping missions, adding that, “I will report this meeting to the peacekeeping operations (DPKO)”.

“One of the issues that always come to the fore is on the special attention to children affected by armed conflict and any violation that come about,” she said.

“I would just like to highlight that the things that get reported to us are not just related to the Army or to the AFP. There are many violations reported to be committed by the MILF, NPA, and CAFGU,” she said.

She was referring to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighting for a separate Muslim state in Mindanao; the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed rebels of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP); and the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) supporting the military.

At present, the Army has recorded the lowest number of alleged human rights violations committed by soldiers, said Maj. Harold Cabunoc, Army spokesman.

He said a Commission on Human Rights (CHR) report indicates a decrease in the number of cases filed against the Army personnel.

Col. Francisco Pabayo, the G7 (Civil-Military Operations (CMO) officer) of the Philippine Army, citing records from the AFP's Human Rights Office, said that from a record number of 78 cases in 2009, 56 in 2010, to 24 in 2011, there is a 69 percent reduction of alleged human rights violations filed with the CHR.

“The decrease in reported allegations of human rights violations committed by our soldiers can be attributed to the people-centered and human security approach of the IPSP Bayanihan. Likewise, different measures have been undertaken by the Army including the conduct of human rights seminars in the various units of the Army, and the implementation of stringent punishment to members who violate human rights and the military’s rule of conduct,” Pabayo explained.

He added, in all of the alleged human rights violations, the Army promptly facilitated the conduct of investigation and meted administrative sanctions against the offenders.

In Basilan province, the soldiers involved in the alleged torture of Abdul Khan Balinting Ajid had been discharged from the military service, and an officer is facing the Army’s Efficiency and Separation Board Rights(ESB).

In Negros Occidental, two soldiers who were implicated in the alleged killing of a progressive group member were discharged from the service. They are now behind bars in a provincial jail as they are facing criminal charges before a local court.

The Army official also cited reports that based on records of the CHR-Negros Occidental, the NPA has topped the list of human rights violators from January-November 2011.

The head of provincial CHR, Romeo Baldevarona, said the NPA accounted for eight of the 36 cases of human rights violations, and none for the Army, in the province.

Baldevarona commended the full commitment of the Army leaders from the infantry brigade down to the company level of command, “for upholding human rights and respect for the International Humanitarian Law, leading to the zero record of human rights violations in the province.”

He also stressed that the Army soldiers in the province of Negros Occidental may have been enlightened and came to realize the significant effect of human rights protection on their peace and development efforts especially in the depressed areas.