AFP will disprove allegations of cause-oriented groups

May 31, 2019

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will prove before the court that the allegations of cause-oriented groups are mere claims.

“We will prove through evidence in the hearing that the charges are mere claims and are bereft of basis,” Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman, said Friday.

“The AFP Chief of Staff General Benjamin Madrigal Jr. and all the impleaded Officers of the AFP will be filing their answer in due time through the OSG ( Office of the Solicitor General) as the public respondents’ statutory counsel. And they will, in that return, be citing the bare truth refuting all the petitioners’ allegations and imputations,” he said.

“The AFP as an institution committed to the rule of law has utmost respect to the processes in the courts-it’s inherent powers and authority,” he added.

Arevalo issued the statement after the Supreme Court issued a writ of amparo and writ of habeas data in favor of the petition filed by Karapatan, Rural Missionaries of the Philippine Inc. and Gabriela.

The Supreme Court ordered the government to file on or before June 13, 2019 its comment through a verified return to the petition filed by the groups.

Despite the issuance of the Writ of Amparo and habeas data, Arevalo said the petitioners should not rejoice as “this is not all a decision on the merits of the case.”

“There is absolutely no basis in that triumphant-sounding declaration by Cristina Palabay of Karapatan that, 'This favorable decision by the Supreme Court ... has seen the merit of our petition, and we see this as an acknowledgment of the perilous environment that human rights defenders work in...” She is misleading the public',” he said.

“What was issued was not a Temporary Protection Order favoring the Petitioners. The Supreme Court’s resolution is a procedure of the writs and an exercise of its prerogatives,” he noted

“As a matter of fact, the SC referred the petition to the Court of Appeals to give the respondents the opportunity to be heard and adduce evidence,” he added. Robina Asido/DMS