PNPA PRESS RELEASE Control No. 2022-13
AUTHORITY: PBGEN ERIC E NOBLE, Director, PNPA
ACTION OFFICER: PLTCOL LOUIE DC GONZAGA, Chief, PIO
DATE: September 16, 2022
Silang, Cavite— Since its founding in 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has placed a priority on protecting and assisting those who have been impacted by armed conflicts and strife. It accomplishes this by taking unwavering action through numerous global initiatives, promoting the expansion of international humanitarian law (IHL), and promoting the observance of IHL by all states and individuals who use weapons.
IHL is one of the most powerful tools at the international community’s disposal for ensuring people’s safety and dignity during times of war. It seeks to maintain a sense of humanity in the midst of conflict, with the guiding principle that there are limits even in war. In addition, IHL requires that people caught up in conflicts be treated humanely and without discrimination; it also prohibits torture and other forms of degrading treatment.
PNPA: A STAUNCH ADVOCATE OF IHL; SUPPORTER OF ICRC
The Philippine National Police Academy, the Home of the Iskolars Para Sa Bayan—future leaders of this country—esteems IHL and recognizes the ICRC’s vital role in the country. They have made significant contributions in a variety of areas, including the search for missing persons, facilitating information exchange among family members separated by conflict, facilitating family reunions and visits to detainees, ensuring healthcare, water, and nutrition during emergencies, and promoting the rule of law.
The Philippines is currently besieged by a decades-long insurgency that has devolved into organized banditry and terrorism. For the longest time, these terrorists have been willful violators of IHL, including the use of landmines in warfare, which has long been prohibited. They have haplessly murdered innocent civilians, including children; and, most recently, they have slaughtered a promising young football athlete in Bicol. The ICRC’s active presence in the country, working alongside the government, would then ensure that our people’s rights are protected and that such crimes against our people are prevented from happening again.
HISTORIC VISIT OF ICRC DELEGATION
On Friday, September 16, 2022, Mr. Erich Meier Júnior, an International Law on Armed Conflicts specialist, Police and Gendarmerie Delegate of ICRC in the Philippines paid his courtesy visit to PNPA and was warmly received by the Director, PNPA PBGEN Eric E Noble together with the Command Group and select Key Officials. Mr. Júnior was accompanied by Mr. Eugenio Gepte Jr., ICRC Country Adviser on Police and Gendarmerie Program.
ENHANCEMENT OF IHL AND RIGHTS-BASED POLICING PROGRAMS
Mr. Júnior gladly discussed enhancing the existing academic programs on IHL that are offered in the current curriculum at PNPA during his visit. He also discussed the most recent updates since the formation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) comprised of the Philippine National Police’s various directorates and units. One of these is the creation of an updated Manual on International Humanitarian Law to be included among the other references aimed at increasing the 122,000-strong organization’s understanding of how IHL works and its relevance to its actions. Despite the fact that the PNP’s constitutional mandate is “national in scope and civilian in character,” it continues to provide proactive support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines on internal security matters.
WAY-FORWARD
Humanitarian law is a delicate topic that must not be tampered with, according to PLTCOL Arlene T. Abastillas, the PNPA’s IHL Focal Person: “As we prepare the cadets for their future endeavors as officers in the PNP, they must be well aware of the delicate balance between the exigencies of their duties on the one hand and the laws of humanity on the other.” “For the survival of human values and, frequently, for the sake of life itself, it must be respected under all circumstances.” She added.
PBGEN Noble also calls on “each and every one of us to do something to promote greater understanding of IHL and its fundamental principles, we should pave the way for our cadets to respect them. Better respect for humanitarian law will do much to help create a more humane world.”
The aforementioned visit is only the beginning of the many activities that will be undertaken by the ICRC’s working cooperation, including the launch of the Training of Trainers on IHL Program, which is currently being crafted in the National Headquarters’ Directorate for Human Resources and Doctrine Development (DHDRDD); academic and faculty exchange; and other initiatives aimed at making our cadets and policemen champions of International Humanitarian Law.