Standpoint: TFDP's Reaffirmation of Principles

(This article was first published in the Philippine Human Rights Update Volume 2, Number 10 on September 1987.)

Sr. Mariani Dimaranan, SFIC in a fact finding mission with victims of  human rights violations. Photo taken by Ms. Ceres Doyo. File copy from Museum of Courage and Resistance

The Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) was established in 1974 by the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines.

As a human rights organization, we in TFDP believe in the inviolable dignity of the human person and his/her basic inalienable rights to life, to freedom and the means necessary and suitable for the proper development of life. As such, we adhere and take reference to the universal principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

At the same time, guided by the teaching of the Church, we take as our own the Gospel’s preferential option for the poor, the deprived and the oppressed, as we recognize our duty to be in the service of all  those in need. We also believe that the “ideal of free human beings enjoying civil and political freedom and freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy civil and political rights, as well as his economic, social and cultural rights” (from the Preamble: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights).

Therefore, we envision a society wherein human rights violations are no longer being committed and the Filipino people may freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development including freely disposing of their natural wealth and resources. We therefore support social structures and actions towards this vision and oppose forces which prevent its attainment. This is consonant with our quest for the full observance of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

However, as a matter of policy, constrained by our resources, we exercise our commitment to human rights and our preferential option for the poor by addressing the more basic human rights. These are mainly civil and political rights, among them a right to life, liberty, security of person and freedom from torture.

Rally 1986, file photo from the Museum of Courage and Resistance

We take it as our duty as a non-governmental organization to act as watchdog over the government, cognizant of the fact that it is the government which has the responsibility to ensure the enjoyment of human rights by their governed subjects. It is therefore more reprehensible if the supposed protectors abuse the people whom they are duty-bound to protect (salvaging or summary execution for instance is far graver than ordinary murder). Thus, we go by the practice of human rights organizations all over the world, including the In Commission on Human Rights, which views human rights violations as those committed by the government authorities or their agents. In so doing, we differentiate between human rights violations and common crimes. We believe that abuses committed by government agents are graver in nature than common crimes, and these are what we document and publicize.

On another plane, we recognized that the current Philippine situation is complicated by the reality of an armed conflict between government troopers and rebels. In war situations, humanitarian principles embodied in the Hague and Geneva conventions (including their protocols), are what are applicable. The Geneva Conventions, particularly, provide for the protection of civilian forces. In this regard, we assert that the responsibility for the observance of these safeguards lies on both sides. We, in principle, are against violations on humanitarian law (otherwise known as war crimes).

We therefore urge the parties engaged in armed conflict to respect the dignity of man by abiding by humanitarian law. We also strongly urge them to refrain from causing the civilians misery or making them targets for reasons of the conflict.

We shall go on, definitely, with documenting human rights violations, which are government deeds, in the instances that they are committed in conditions of relative peace, and especially if employed for the purpose of suppressing legitimate dissent. But in the case of armed conflict situations, where military objectives are to be taken in consideration, we hold as responsible both contending forces, and shall denounce any war excesses, whether committed by the government or its adversaries.