Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City— Following the “zero
ceasefire violations” recorded since January, the Armed Forces of the
Philippines welcomes the appointment of BGen Gilberto Jose C Roa as the
new Chairman of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) panel in the
Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH).
A
legal expert as a lawyer and experienced officer as The Judge Advocate
General (TJAG) of the AFP, Roa’s appointment is seen vital in the
expected transformation of the CCCH to a monitoring committee once a
peace agreement is made with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
this year.
Replacing Roa as Officer-in-Charge of the Judge
Advocate General’s Office of the AFP is LtCol Maria Victoria M. Girao
from the Judge Advocate General Service (JAGS).
BGen Roa replaced
MGen Ariel Bernardo who is now the Commander of the 10th Infantry
Division. Roa has been with the CCCH since 1998 as a legal
representative, member, and assistant chairman. His primary
responsibility includes the protection of the interest of the AFP in
deference to the GPH-MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of
Hostilities (AGCH).
As the only military-lawyer in the GPH CCCH,
BGen Roa led several Fact-Finding Inquiries (FFI) in cases that occurred
in MILF-held areas including the killing of 14 soldiers in Datu Piang,
Maguindanao in 2004; the encounter in Libutan, Mamasapano, Maguindanao,
and killing of 9 Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces in Sultan Naga
Dimaparo, Lanao Del Norte in 2005. He was also in-charge of the FFI for
the encounter in Rangeban, Midsayap, North Cotabato in 2006; and the
killing of 14 Marine Troopers in Al Barka, Basilan in 2007.
These
FFI missions on alleged AFP ceasefire violations were legally rebutted
and put the AFP in moral high ground as far as respect to the observance
of the AGCH is concerned. Prior to his appointment as TJAG of the AFP,
BGen Roa served as the Judge Advocate General of the Philippine Army.
The
CCCH is a peace mechanism used by the government and the MILF to
implement and monitor the AGCH. It performs quick-reaction missions to
prevent the occurrence of violent incidents; deescalates actual armed
conflict; and conducts FFIs on alleged ceasefire violations.
“The
AFP is keen in upholding the primacy of the peace process and
integrating the spirit of “Bayanihan” in all our operations. We are
optimistic, hopeful, and eager on the immediate closure of conflicts
through the democratic and peaceful means being employed by the
government,” AFP Chief of Staff General Jessie D Dellosa said.
“We
congratulate BGen Roa for his appointment as chairman of the government
panel in the CCCH. This year has been remarkable as far as the peace
situation with the MILF is concerned and we expect that the conditions
for peace will further improve with the appointment of BGen Roa,” Gen
Dellosa added.
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PAO | Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 24, 2012 | Article Link
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