The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Civil-Military Operations Office (J7) issued an apology for “inconsistencies” in the ‘List of Students who joined the NPA’ it released recently.
Statement of Apology from AFP Information Exchange
We sincerely apologize for those who were inadvertently affected by inconsistencies regarding the List of Students who joined the NPA (Died or Captured) that was posted in the AFP Information Exchange Facebook account. That article has since been immediately taken down or deleted from our social media accounts.
The Office of the J7, AFP is already conducting an internal investigation as to how the list got published. Personnel who are responsible will be held to account.
We want to assure the public that we are now reviewing our processes and procedures to ensure that similar incident will not happen again in the future.
The Office of J7, AFP remains committed to providing and disseminating information on social media platforms that will contribute to a better Philippines for all.
AFP tags UP alumni who allegedly joined NPA
The ‘List of Students who joined the NPA’ was different from the list of UP alumni who also allegedly joined NPA that was posted by AFP Information Exchange on its Facebook page.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Sunday the AFP would apologize to lawyer Rafael Aquino who was included in the list of alumni.
“Yes, the AFP will apologize. What reason will they give? I do not know. It’s an unpardonable gaffe,” Lorenzana said.
Aquino sought an apology from the AFP on January 21 after he was included in the list of UP students who supposedly joined the NPA who were captured or killed.
Aquino belongs to the team of lawyers from the Free Legal Assistance Group to represent a group that questions the validity of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 before the Supreme Court.
The lawyer vehemently denied that he has never been part of the NPA.
Former Health Undersecretary Alexander Padilla was also tagged in the list.
“Talagang nakakatawa, kung hindi man nakakalungkot, itong naging listahan ng AFP and I’m even more apprehensive doon sa mga taong naka-listahan ko. They don’t deserve this. None of us deserve this,” he said.