18 August 2015 - Undersecretary for Policy Evan Garcia led the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in the 2015 commemoration of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Day on August 17. He was accompanied by the principals and high-level representatives of the IHL Ad Hoc Committee, namely: Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP); Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino of the Department of National Defense (DND); Chairperson Richard Gordon of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC); Major General Richard Lagrana, Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil and Military Operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); and Deputy Head of Delegation Ms. Sari Nissi of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
IHL Ad Hoc Committee representatives from the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC)-Secretariat, Department of Justice, Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, Philippine National Police (PNP), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), and the Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court (PCICC) also attended the commemoration.
The event, which started with a flag-raising ceremony in the DFA grounds, launched three major projects of the IHL Ad Hoc Committee, namely: the permanent IHL logo; an IHL promotional video clip and an exhibit at the DFA lobby of photographic images on the application of IHL in the Philippines, arranged under the theme “Pagkilala at Pagpapahalaga sa IHL, Responsibilidad ng Lahat." The launch was followed by a Press Conference in the DFA press room and a reception.
OPAPP Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles highlighted the role of OPAPP and the current administration in working towards a durable solution to achieve lasting peace in the Philippines. DFA Undersecretary for Policy Evan P. Garcia highlighted the DFA’s focus towards continuing education, citing the launch of the IHL projects in the DFA and trainings on IHL in the joint DFA and Foreign Service Institute organized Mabini Dialogue and the Ateneo de Manila University’s Rockwell Campus on August 25 and 27.
DND Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino highlighted the DND’s thrust to prevent IHL violations among its ranks and expressed DND’s strong commitment to IHL’s principles coupled with the Philippines’ ratification of the Rome Statute. Echoing the remarks of DND Undersecretary Batino, AFP Major General Richard Lagrana underscored the role of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in respecting the principles of IHL.
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairperson Richard Gordon highlighted the crucial role that PRCs volunteers undertake when they involve themselves in active conflict zones such as the Zamboanga siege of 2013. Chairman Gordon also emphasized that the Philippines is one of only two countries in the world that have domestic IHL laws. As a previous senator, Chairman Gordon had authored the IHL bill of the Philippines that would soon be RA 9851.
ICRC Deputy Head of Delegation Ms. Sari Nissi reiterated ICRC’s commitment to educating the public about IHL, starting with trainings for city prosecutors on August 13 and the IHL training with the DFA on August 25. Ms. Nissi also stressed the importance of passing the Internally Displaced Persons Bill to address the needs of persons displaced by conflict.
Executive Order (E.O.) 134 mandates the DFA and DND to co-chair an ad-hoc committee to formulate and implement the annual celebration of IHL month, in collaboration with the ICRC, PRC and other concerned NGOs and people’s organizations in the country.
The E.O. also officially declares every 12th day of August as IHL Day to raise people’s consciousness and promote greater awareness of the principles of IHL. Assistant Secretary for United Nations and other International Organizations (UNIO) Jesus R.S. Domingo serves as the Chair of the IHL Month for 2015. UNIO's Humanitarian and Human Rights Division headed by Director Lorena Joy Banagodos coordinated the DFA's preparations for the event. END