“We welcome and thank our Commander in Chief for pushing for the free legal assistance for our soldiers and police facing cases of alleged abuse,” Capt. Jonathan Zata, AFP public affairs chief said on Tuesday.
“We believe that when enacted, this will ease the burden of our uniformed personnel as they perform their duties and focus on accomplishing their mandate,” he said.
But Zata “reiterate that this will not be an excuse or open opportunities for our soldiers to commit abuses.”
“Rather, this is a testament that the rule of law reigns on every aspect of our efforts in support to law enforcement operations,” he said.
“Your AFP has been transforming and continues to inculcate respect for Human Rights, IHL, and Rule of Law. This has been one of the hallmarks in our effective campaign against communist terrorists and other lawlessness and we will not let our gains in this end to go to waste,” he added.
In his last State of the Nation Address delivered on Monday, Duterte said it is high time “to pass a law providing free legal assistance to AFP and PNP officers and enlisted personnel to help them from charges arising from incidents related to the performance of official duty.” Robina Asido/DMS