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MANILA, Philippines – Attorney Rafael AL Aquino demands an apology from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for including him on a list of University of the Philippines students who were allegedly recruited into the New People’s Army (NPA).
The list, which was published on AFP’s website, was removed.
Aquino, a graduate of the UP Law School, said in a statement that he was “maliciously included” in the list of UP students who were allegedly captured and killed after joining the communist rebel armed wing.
“With the others on the list, AFP owes me an apology on whose website this list appeared. In these dangerous times, this malicious inclusion on this list is dangerous to our health and safety, ”said Aquino, a partner at the Santos Parungao Aquino law firm and a member of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG).
He also noted that he did not participate in any NPA activities. Aquino, a partner at the Santos Parungao Aquino law firm, also said he was never captured or killed.
“I was a student at UP for twelve years in a row, from high school to law school; I did not have the opportunity to associate myself in any way with the New People’s Army. Not being an NPA to begin with, I was never caught by the military. Nor did I have the opportunity to be assassinated by the military or anyone else; I am very much alive, ”he said.
Currently, Aquino said that he is included in the team of lawyers to represent petitioners who question the legality of the controversial Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020.
After the cancellation of the 1989 agreement between the UP and the Department of Defense, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he would be willing to talk with the university if he could explain the deaths of some students in the confrontations between the NPA and the army.
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