AFP exec slams Reds for using Writ of Amparo as 'psychological propaganda'
Writ of Amparo as latest communist propaganda tool and psy-war trade?
For a top official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) here, it might as well be for the ragtag members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). Yet three months into its availability as legal remedy and one of the means to bring an end to extra-judicial killings and disappearances in the country, the Writ of Amparo has generated a flurry of exchanges from authorities in the war front and CPP hierarchy and its legal front organizations.
The Writ of Amparo has since been given the go-signal by the Supreme Court. It took effect October 24 last year.
The AFP in a statement sent to The News Today (TNT) has since said "we are ready to obey and accept the Supreme Court Resolution in order to solve the political killings and abductions extremely initiated by the terrorist Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) particularly here in Region 6."
Further still, AFP Captain Gil Lowen Marquez, Commanding Officer of the 3rd Civil Relations Group added that the Writ of Amparo will be of tremendous help to the families of the victims.
"With this they will now be able to have further help in locating their loved ones and have further investigation of human rights violations done by these communist-terrorists with the conditioning propaganda propagated by its front organizations," Marquez said.
The SC-issued Writ of Amparo enables one to file for a petition cum remedy. It is an option when one's right to life, liberty and security is violated or threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee or of a private individual or entity.
The Writ covers extralegal killings and enforced disappearances and/or threats.
The Petition may be filed at any day or time before any Regional Trial Courts where the perceived threat or violation took place. It may also be filed before the Sandiganbayan, the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court or any Courts of justice.
Once issued, the Writ is enforceable anywhere in the Philippines.
Problem is, or so Captain Marquez said, the Writ of Amparo has allegedly become as convenient tool for the CPP's political war.
"It is a tool for the political war of the communists to harass the government and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo," Captain Marquez said. "In plain and simple language, it has sadly been used as psychological propaganda of the terrorist communists, their armed group the New People's Army and the entire National Democratic Front. With the Writ of Habeas Corpus dismissed, now they used the Writ of Amparo to harass us. What's next for them, wreath-laying for their perceived enemies?"