Military anti-riot personnel, who are on stand-by for President Aquino’s third state of the nation address (Sona) on Monday, were subjected to human rights and rules of engagements seminar yesterday to properly guide them on how to deal with rallyists during deployment.
Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said more or less 500 members of civil disturbance management (CDM) units from the Standing Joint Task Force National Capital Region (SJTF-NCR) were briefed by AFP-Human Rights Office chief Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan.
“Aside from training in crowd control this morning, they had seminar on rule of law, protection of human rights and international humanitarian law, particularly rules of engagement,” Burgos said.
“This will guide actions of the soldiers once they are deployed,” he added.
Burgos stressed the 500 anti-riot troops from seven CDM units of the SJTF-NCR will act in support of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
“They will be on alert for possible deployment but coordinating closely with the NCRPO,” Burgos said.
The AFP spokesman, however, maintained that the military will not raise its alert level in connection with the Sona on Monday at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.
“There is no raising of alert. We will continue to monitor and coordinate with the NCRPO and other law enforcement agencies,” Burgos said.
“We have not monitored (any threat) but as I’ve said we will continue to monitor and coordinate with the security forces and ground forces,” Burgos added.
Thousands of rallyists from various militant and cause-oriented groups are expected to troop to the streets during the Sona in different parts of Metro Manila.