Opinion: The Case of Rebel Returnees

WHAT DOES IHLs PROVISIONS SAY ABOUT THIS? Not a few rebel returnees and members

of the RPA-ABB have been killed in operatives by the NPA’s sparrow units or death squads. One can see this if he reads and listens to radio and TV. In our case, because we are enmeshed in this kind of work, we have to be aware happenings in the province.

Lately, we have monitored as have been published or aired on radio and TV, several returnees and RPA-ABB members killed by the NPAs in legitimate liquidation operations or in ambuscades.

On the other hand, leaders of cause-oriented groups or sectoral organization, even of partylist groups have been killed by the military or by their controlled paramilitary units, combatants of the military or AFP who, under the International Humanitarian Laws (IHLs) are legitimate targets.

This is something which the military should have made steps to inform them once they surrender or become CAFGUs or affiliates in any way, with the military.

INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAWS PROVISIONS. The international humanitarian laws, of course, provide that combatant are legitimate targets when a civil conflict in a country, prevails. This would allow that when a rebel gives up, he should not be a target anymore if and once he lives his own life and is already a civilian and no longer a combatant. On this score, once he is harmed, by rebels, even we ourselves would take pains to condemn them because under humanitarian law, he is already “hors do combat,” meaning he is no longer engaged in combat or is no longer involved in spying for the military, not involved in criminal activities or is not armed with the intent of fighting back against his former comrades.

Unfortunately, about four or five returnees in the past two months continue to either fight against their former comrades either as members of their intelligence unit, as combatants, intimidating and harassing people, working for the government in capacities which would harm their former follow rebels and are involved still one way or the other, in combat or in fighting on the side of government. They should be informed by the military along this line to just live a normal peaceful life.

No harm, we believe, will come to them and they will not be harmed, then.

EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS. But in a number of cases, rebel returnees, former CAFGUs and breakaway rebel groups, such as the RPA-ABB are still engaged in working for the military so they are still combatants and therefore, are targeted by the rebels’ Sparrow Unit and the rebels have a basis under the IHL.

It is possible for one to live peaceful and normal lives if they want, but purposely military officers and men convince them to become military assets.

For the military to cry human rights violations if something happens to rebel returnees, ex-CAFGUs, CAFGUs, RPA-ABB and military assets of any kind that would not be justifiable.
It shows that the complainants are not deeply aware of what human rights and what human violations are. Cause-oriented, groups sectoral and partylist groups under the IHL should never be targets. They are civilians.

They should, therefore, study manuals of these. Tell you me. But, indeed!*