JAMBY SLAMS ADMIRAL TOLENTINO
DEFENDS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

I strongly condemn the harsh and unfair statement made by Armed Forces Civil Relations Service Chief Rear Admiral Amable Tolentino tagging Amnesty International (AI) as a persona non grata. This propensity of branding human rights organizations smacks of irresponsibility. Is this the beginning of a government crack down on International Human Rights Organizations working in the country?

Amnesty International is a recognized institution worldwide in the protection of human rights. Rear Admiral Tolentino should be reminded that, we are still a democratic country. We are not a military state. If admiral Tolentino only seeks to score brownie points with Mrs. Arroyo, he should check his facts. Even Mrs. Arroyo visited Amnesty International during her last trip in Europe.