Phl committed to obligations on humanitarian law

The Philippines is committed to its international obligations, specifically the Geneva Conventions outlining International Humanitarian Law (IHL)’s core principles.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo made this statement as he led the department’s celebration of the 2016 IHL Day through an exhibit of images depicting how IHL is applied in the Philippines.

Around 20 photographs are on display until Sept. 15 in the Passport Enrollment Center at the 2nd floor of the DFA’s Office of Consular Affairs in its ASEANA Building in Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City to mark the occasion.

Accompanying Manalo were representatives from the IHL Ad Hoc Committee, the Presidential Human Rights Committee-Secretariat, Department of National Defense, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Commission on Human Rights and other offices in the DFA.

In his keynote speech, Manalo highlighted the administration’s continuing commitment to the Geneva Convention outlining IHL’s core principles, while recalling the effects of the Philippines’ own long-drawn out armed conflict on its people.

He underscored the government’s peace and development roadmap, actively pursued through the recent talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and discussions with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front.

Manalo ended his remarks with a quote from President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address: “Enduring peace can only be attained if we meet these fundamental needs of every man, woman and child… All of us want peace; not the peace of the dead, but the peace of the living.”