Panel on "Duterte death squads": civilians should be happy

DEFENDING DUTERTE. The spokesperson of President Salvador Panelo fears that "death squads Duterte" lead to abuse. Malacañang photo file

MANILA, Philippines – President's spokesman, Salvador Panelo, has justified President Rodrigo Duterte's plan to create firing squads to kill communist rebels, saying that they are legal because they are intended for the defense of soldiers and civilians.

He even said that civilians should be "relieved" because these fighter squads would protect them.

Panelo had responded to the assertion of the President of the Commission on Human Rights, Chito Gascon, that under international humanitarian law, governments are prohibited from maintaining death squads.

States can only have "regular armed forces subject to strict military discipline," Gascon said Wednesday.

Panelo responded to this on Thursday, November 29th.

"IIf you say death squad, the intention is simply to kill, but not to kill in self-defense, he is right. You create that precisely to prevent the killing of these people, the civilians. His point of view is too narrow, "said the spokesman for the president.

But Duterte's description of his "death squads", which he calls "his own units of sparrows", involves the assassination of targets.

By creating such strike groups, Duterte said that he would "align his talent with the talent of killing people".

Asked about the legality of the procedure before the assassination of death squad targets, Panelo said that they were too dangerous.

"We are in a situation where there is a group of men who will kill with impunity.What do you want the state to do, stand idly by and look at it? We can not do it", did he declare.

When asked if this meant that Duterte already had strong intelligence reports that such targets would carry out their own killings, Panelo appeared uncertain.

"I suppose. The President will not undertake any baseless action. He has all the resources in the world to support him, "said the spokesman.

Relieved civilians?

Panelo was also questioned about how the government could prevent death squads from being abused by soldiers who would use them to kill their personal enemies or detractors of the administration.

Death squads could also foster a culture of impunity in which civilians could do justice to themselves and use striking squads to eliminate their enemies.

Panelo dismissed these concerns, saying that civilians would probably be "relieved" that these death squads would exist to protect them.

"We should be relieved of the presence of a president who is doing everything in his power to put an end to all acts of crime, all acts of terrorism against civilians," he said. declared.

Later he said, "People will be relieved that this is so if this idea becomes reality. "Maybe mga nagbabantay pala ng can gustong pumatay his amin. Kung ako & yung civil, matutuwa ako ("Someone is watching over those who want to kill us." If I were a civilian, I would be happy). "

Just an idea & # 39;

At the same press conference, Panelo downplayed the importance of the planned "death squads", claiming that it was only an idea at this point.

"First of all, I think the president was only bringing an idea, and if that idea becomes a reality," said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, "it's a good idea. the army will be responsible, "said Panelo.

Lorenzana told Rappler on Wednesday that the division commanders of the Philippine army would be responsible for death squads, formally called anti-Sparrow units, and that Duterte's proposal would be implemented "as soon as possible".

Panelo also confirmed what looked like a proposal from the president to use the capitulants of the NPA to identify current members of the NPA to be targeted by death squads.

"There is also the idea that maybe if you organize this, composed of men in uniform, then you need those who have come from the NPAs to join so that these people know who are the members of the sparrow units so that they can easily point, "said Panelo.

But will this suggestion not endanger the lives of the capitulants of the NPA and hinder their return to normal life and society?

Panelo said their lives were in danger from the moment they surrendered anyway.

"Their lives were already in danger when they surrendered, they were the first targets of sparrow units," he told Filipinos.

Duterte and the army had launched a national campaign to convince the NPA rebels to surrender and hand over their firearms to the government.

The president had even promised to help pay school fees for their children and provide them with housing. – Rappler.com