Philippines announces human-rights edict

MANILA, Philippines, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced a human-rights directive during a speech at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Command Conference.

"Macapagal-Arroyo called on members of the armed forces to adhere to a strict principle of human rights in its effort to fight the country's militant insurgency and other terrorist threats," the Philippine Government news reported.

"All men and women are equal before the law, whether a former president or military man," Macapagal-Arroyo said in a statement. "We have to adhere to the principle that the death of any Filipino just because he expressed his politics is a violation of human rights."

Macapagal-Arroyo thanked the top Philippine defense officials for their work protecting the nation against terrorism and for keeping the country stable. She also called on the 175 AFP officials present at the conference Monday to continue productive relations with the Philippine National Police.

During meetings Macapagal-Arroyo was updated on current intelligence and the AFP's internal security operations along with the coordination effort with the Department of Interior and local governments on the activities of "900 barangay officials in the Philippines who have been tagged as communist sympathizers," the release said.