The “INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE ON EXTRA-LEGAL KILLINGS, ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES, TORTURE AND OTHER GRAVE VIOLATIONS TO THE RIGHTS TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND SECURITY OF PERSONS”(IAC)

The Inter-Agency Committee On Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture and Other Grave Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty and Security of Persons (IAC) was created under Administrative Order No. 35 (series of 2012).

The IAC is chaired by the Secretary of Justice with the following members:

1. Chairperson, Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRCP)
2. Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
3. Secretary, Department of National Defense (DND)
4. Office of Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs (OPAPA)
5. Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU)
6. Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
7. Director General of the Philippine National Police (PNP)
8. Director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)

The Ombudsman, CHR and DFA participate as independent observers of the IAC.

The IAC is supported by a Technical Working Group (TWG) and a Secretariat composed of representatives of the IAC member-agencies. The TWG serves as the central support system of the IAC in rationalizing its focus and in providing recommendations in the handling of AO 35 cases. The Secretariat on the other hand, provides coordinative, data management, and service support to the IAC and the TWG.

MANDATE

To serve as the government’s institutional machinery dedicated to the resolution of unsolved cases of political violence in the form of extra-legal killings (ELK), enforced disappearances (ED), torture and other grave violations of the right to life, liberty and security of persons.

POWERS AND FUNCTION

1. Inventory of all cases of ELK’s, ED, torture and other grave violations of the right to life, liberty and security of persons perpetrated by both state and non-state agents, from all government offices as well as non-government sources (independent and non-partisan international and national human rights organizations and groups);
2. Classify the cases into: unsolved, under investigation, under preliminary investigation, and under trial;
3. Prioritize unsolved cases for action by assigning Special Investigation Teams (SIT) composed of prosecutors and investigators, in order to conduct further investigation for the possible identification of perpetrators; and
4. Designate and mobilize SIT’s for the various AO35 cases for the immediate investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators; and
5. Monitor the progress of all inventoried cases and maintain an updated database of the same.

 

ALSO AVAILABLE:         ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 35, s.2012 ................ View / Download PDF File
                                   AO35 OPERATION GUIDELINES ............................... View / Download PDF File
                                   DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR NO. 020 ........................... View / Download PDF File
                                   DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR NO. 020 - A  .................... View / Download PDF File

 

LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES

• The AO35 Secretariat oversees the implementation of trainings for AO35 prosecutors, law enforcement, AFP and Commission on Human Rights investigators in Region II to further strengthen the implementation of AO35 dated on 12 - 16 August 2024.

 

• The AO35 Secretariat and the Technical Working Group Members conducts Regional Case Conference in Region VI, held at Goldberry Suites and Hotel, Cebu City, Cebu, on 22 - 26 July 2024. The PNP personnel presented before the TWG, 51 cases that transpired in Region VII. Each presentation detailed the elements of the incident, the alleged non-state armed group and/or perpetrators behind the acts and their actual victims. Aside from the presentation of the PNP, the AFP from region VII conducted cross-referencing to ascertain whether these incidents were reported to PNP or if they have additional documents/evidences to support the case.

 

• The AO35 SEcretariat and the Technical Working Group Members conducts Regional Case Conference in Region VIII, held at Hotel Estrella, Tacloban City, Leyte, on 8 - 12 July 2024. The PNP personnel presented before the TWG, 97 cases that transpired in Region VIII. Each presentation detailed the elements of the incident, the alleged non-state armed group and/or perpetrators behind the acts and their actual victims. Aside from the presentation of the PNP, the AFP from 801st BDE conducted cross-referencing to ascertain whether these incidents were reported to PNP or if they have additional documents/evidences to support the case.

 

• The AO35 Secretariat and the Technical Working Group Members conducts Regional Case Conference in Region IX, held at Grand Astoria Hotel, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Zur, on 24 - 28 June 2024. The activity was conducted for purposes of assessing case records in the possession of the regional commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), (who initially gave a list of 1,886 violations of International Humanitarian Law by the CPP-NPA) to determine whether the said incident should be included in the list of cases being monitored by the AO35 Secretariat.

 

• The AO35 Secretariat and the Technical Working Group Members conducts Regional Case Conference in Region V, held at Ninong's Hotel, Legazpi City, Albay, on 18 - 21 June 2024. The AFP personnel from 9th Infantry Division presented before the TWG, 82 cases that transpired in Region V. Each presentation detailed the elements of the IHL, the alleged non-state armed group and/or perpetrators behind the acts and their actual victims. Aside from the presentation of the AFP, the PNP particularly the Investigators-On-Case conducted cross-referencing to ascertain whether these incidents were reported to them or if any cases had been filed, along with the status of each case.

 

• The United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), through the Technical Working Group on Strengthening Domestic Investigative and Accountability Mechanisms of the UN Joint Programme for Human Rights in the Philippines, with support from the AO35 Secretariat, held a Regional Training for AO35 Prosecutors, Investigators and Other Relevant Personnel in Davao City, Region XI on June 3 to 7, 2024.

 

• Representatives from International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) / United Nations Joint Programme, Medical Action Group and members of the AO35 Technical Working Group, with the assistance of the AO35 Secretariat, held a roundtable dialogue on torture and the Istanbul Protocol on 31 May 2024.

 

• The UN Joint Programme (UNJP) on Human Rights launched a week-long training on the Istanbul Protocol on Torture Prevention — a collaboration between the UNJP, AO35 - Department of Justice and the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, held on May 27 - 30, 2024. The UNJP, AO35 and the IRCT came together to train more than 80 participants from the government, judges, CHR and CSOs on the Istanbul Protocol to capacitate the participants on the international guidelines for the medical documentation of torture and its consequences.

 

• AO35 Prosecutors, Law Enforcement, National Bureau of Investigation, AFP and Commission Human Righhts participates the AO35 Regional Training in General Santos City, Region XII, held on May 20 to 24, 2024. The training was conducted and facilitated by the AO35 Secretariat.

 

• The United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), through the Technical Working Group on Strengthening Domestic Investigative and Accountability Mechanisms of the UN Joint Programme for Human Rights in the Philippines, with support from the AO35 Secretariat, held a Regional Training for AO35 Prosecutors, Investigators and Other Relevant Personnel in Mandaue City, Region VI on May 13 to 17, 2024.

 

• The AO35 Regional Training held in Iloilo City from May 6 to 10, 2024, is being implemented by the AO35 Secretariat as part of capacity building efforts. Cooperation and collaboration between different agencies in the investigation of grave human rights violations are enhanced based on a common understanding of investigation protocols.

 

• The Inter-Agency Committee on Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture, and Other Grave Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty and Security of Persons created under Administrative Order No. 35, s. 2012 (AO35), during its 17th Regular Meeting, approved amendments to the Revised Operational Guidelines of AO35. The amendments streamline efforts aimed at a more effective and efficient action and strengthens the policy on a more pro-active involvement of AO35 prosecutors in case build-up. The activity was held on 30 April 2024 at Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City. .................. (See more photos)

 

• The AO35 Regional Training held in Cebu City from April 15 to 19, 2024, is being implemented by the AO35 Secretariat as part of capacity building efforts. Participants include law enforcement, military and Commission on Human Rights officers and personnel. ........... (See more photos)

 

• AO35 Prosecutors, law enforcement, AFP and Commission on Human Rights investigators participate in a joint activity during the “AO35 Regional Training” held in Davao City on April 1-5, 2024. Cooperation and collaboration between different agencies in the investigation of grave human rights violations are enhanced based on a common understanding of investigation protocols. The AO35 Secretariat facilitates the conduct of the trainings. .................... (See more photos)

 

• The AO35 Secretariat and the UNJP are working together to deliver the Training of Trainers on the Minnesota Protocol held on March 11 - 15, 2024. The Minnesota Protocol, formally known as the “United Nations Manual on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra- Legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions,” is a set of principles and standards designed to assist countries in conducting prompt, thorough, impartial, and effective investigations into all suspected cases of unlawful death. Developed in 1989 and revised in 2016, the Minnesota Protocol provides useful guidelines in securing the crime scene and gathering testimonial, physical, digital, and forensic evidence. ....................... (See more photos)

 

• The AO35 Technical Working Group (TWG) held a dialogue with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) based in Region VIII on strengthening human rights protection and enforcement, held on March 7, 2024. ............................ (See more photos)

 

• AO35 International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Case Conference in Region VIII. The AO35 TWG reviewed 100+ records of incidents of alleged violations of Domestic Humanitarian Law (R.A. No. 9851) committed in Region VIII since 2010.​​​​​, held on March 4 - 8, 2024 at Hotel Estrella, Tacloban City, Leyte. ................... (See more photos)

 

• Planning and Workshop on Proposed Amendments to the Operational Guidelines of AO35 and Dialogue between Representatives of the United Nations and AO35 TWG on Planned Activities for FY 2024 held on February 19 - 23, 2024. .................... (See more photos)  

 

• 1st Special Meeting of Inter-Agency Committee On Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture and Other Grave Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty and Security of Persons on January 30, 2024. ............... (see more photos)  

 

 

2023 ACTIVITIES:

• AO35 TWG MEMBERS WITH UNJP RE: MINNESOTA PROTOCOL ON THE INVESTIGATION OF UNLAWFUL DEATHS (February 07, 2023) ................ (See more photos)

 

• AO35 REGIONAL CASE CONFERENCE IN REGION III AND STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR FY 2023 (February 21-23, 2023)

 

• A CONVERSATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY SEEKING MECHANISM WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS  (March 16, 2023)

 

• AO35 DIALOGUE WITH CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS IN CEBU CITY, REGION VII (March 27-29, 2023)

 

• INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW (IHL) CASE CONFERENCE IN DAVAO CITY, REGION XI (April 17-21, 2023)

 

 

• PHILIPPINE DELEGATION TO THE HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF THE 55TH SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL (HRC55), GENEVA SWITZERLAND (February & May 2023)

 

• TECHNICAL TRAINING ON THE MINNESOTA PROTOCOL ON THE INVESTIGATIONS OF POTENTIALLY UNLAWFUL DEATHS (July 3-7, 2023)

 

• AO35 - IACAT TRAINING FOR CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT IN SUBIC, ZAMBALES (July 10-12, 2023)

 

• REGIONAL TRAININGS FOR POLICE INVESTIGATORS IN DIFFERENT REGIONS (July - November 2023) ..................... (see more photos)

 

 

 

 

 

SECRETARIAT:

GINO PAOLO S. SANTIAGO
Assistant State Prosecutor
Head, AO35 Technical Working Group

 

Contact Information: