PINANGUNAHAN ng Philippine Army ang paggunita sa International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Month kahapon sa Headquarters ng Philippine Army, sa Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City bilang patunay na seryoso ang hukbo na iginagalang ng kanilang organisasyon ang karapatang pantao.

“Ang paggunita sa IHL month ngayong taon ay may temang ’75 Taong Paninindigan sa IHL Kamalayan, Kalinga, Kaunlaran: Kalakasan ng IHL sa Bagong Pilipinas,’ summarizes our national government’s enduring commitment to upholding the rule of law and respect for human rights. It also emphasized the importance of raising consciousness and promoting greater awareness for IHL,” mariing pahayag ni AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner.

Sa ginanap na seremonya sa pagbubukas ng buwan ng IHL, muling pinagtibay ng lahat ng officers, enlisted personnel, at civilian human resource, ang AFP Soldiers’ Pledge of Reaffirmation and Commitment and Support to the International Humanitarian Law.

“The 2024 IHL Commemoration becomes even more significant as the Philippine Army shifts its focus from internal security operations to territorial defense. As members of the Philippine Army, let us stand strong and resolute as the vanguards of human rights against the perpetrators of atrocities. Every soldier is expected to carry out his duties and responsibilities according to the highest standard of excellence and discipline,” pahayag ni Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Roy M. Galido

Ang pagdiriwang ng IHL month ay sinabayan naman ng International Committee of the Red Cross sa pagbubukas ng kanilang photo exhibit sa Artistspace, Ayala Museum sa Makati City bilang paggunita sa 75th anniversary ng Geneva Convention of 1949.

Ang nasabing exhibit launched na may titulong: “75 Years of the Geneva Convention: Preserving Humanity in War”, ay tatagal ng sampung araw.

Samantala, nagpahayag din ng kanilang buong suporta at pagkilala ang lahat ng mga tauhan ng AFP-Western Mindanao Command sa umiiral na International Humanitarian Law sa ginanap na regular Monday flag-raising ceremony sa WESMINCOM Headquarters, sa Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City .

Isinagawa ang simultaneous AFP Soldier’s Pledge of Reaffirmation na pinangunahan ni Deputy Commander for External Defense Operations, Brig. Gen. Aldrin Annani.

Sa kanyang mensahe na ipinararating kay Gen Brawner, inihayag ni WestMinCom Commander, Lt. Gen. William Gonzales, na ang pag-unawa, pagtalima at pagsusulong ng International

Humanitarian Law ay pinakamahalaga sa kanilang military service. “It defines the roles of the soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines as professional Armed Forces,” aniya pa. (JESSE KABEL RUIZ)