Office of the Chief for Law of Armed Conflict, Philippine Army

20/05/2026

"𝘏𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘰."

13/05/2026

The Office of the Chief for Law of Armed Conflict, Philippine Army (OCLOAC,PA) is tasked with institutionalizing International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and Human Rights (HR) within the Philippine Army. To that end, the office conducted a comprehensive study of the 2nd Infantry "Jungle Fighter" Division, Philippine Army's management of the case of Chantal Anicoche- analyzing their responses to legal challenges and public scrutiny.
Extracted essential lessons learned and identified best practices for maintaining the rule of law will be shared with other PA Major Units.

28/04/2026

The Office of the Chief for Law of Armed Conflict, Philippine Army (OCLOAC, PA) conducted the 3RD PHILIPPINE ARMY-UNITED STATES ARMY PACIFIC (PA- USARPAC) LEGAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT EXCHANGE (SMEE) with the ffg objectives:
a. Capacitate OPLEGADs;
b. Enhance professional understanding of the OPLEGADs on OPLAW;
c. Foster the sharing of best practices in operational legal advising; and
d. Strengthen bilateral cooperation between PA and USARPAC JAGS

The USARPAC Judge Advocate General Corps (JAGC) delegation was headed by COLONEL ERIC HUSBY (Staff Judge Advocate, 25ID). The 2-day activity was held on 23-24 April 2026 at Indammog Bldg., Intelligence Center of Excellence, Philippine Army, FBTC.

25/04/2026

Ay aba, wag na nating padagdagan yang kabataang namamatay sa mga bakbakan, Ms. Tuesday Vargas!

Actually, kaisa mo kaming mga sundalo dyan.

Let me explain.

Sabi pa ni James Stavridis, isang batikang military thinker sa counterinsurgency warfare, "You can't kill your way to success in a counterinsurgency effort."

Ibig sabihin, di ito masolusyonan ng bodycounts. Aral ito sa COIN warfare sa Algeria, Vietnam, Iraq, Vietnam, at sa graveyard of empires, ang Afghanistan.

Syempre, aral din ito ng mga Amerikano sa "Philippine Insurrection noong 1900s" (Filipino-American War) at ang namana ng AFP na internal security campaign.

Alam na alam namin na pag maraming namamatay, maraming nagagalit. Ang galit na ito ay ginagamit para linlangin ang iba na lumaban na naman. Pag ganon ang kalakaran, aba eh wala nang katapusan ang patayan.

PROBLEMA

Ang core problems na drivers ng armed conflicts sa Pilipinas ay non-military in nature.

Kahirapan. Pang-aabuso ng haring uri. Pang-aapi ng oligarko. Pangungurap ng taong gobyerno. Kamangmangan. Pangangamkam ng lupa mula sa mga tribo.

Lahat yan ay hindi masolusyonan gamit ang baril, gamit ang patayan.

SOLUSYON

Ang pagiging komunista ay hindi ipinagbabawal sa Pilipinas. Lalong hindi ipinagbabawal ang pagiging aktibista para lumahok sa mapayapang pamamaraan. Hindi bawal ang maglatag ng mga solusyon. Hindi bawal ang manawagan sa pamahalaan para ang mga isyu ay maaksyunan.

Pero, magpakatotoo na tayo ha. Kakaiba ang komunismo sa Pilipinas kung ikumpara mo sa mga bansa na may communist party sa pulitika.

Ano ang kaibahan?

Armed struggle. Armadong pakikibaka. Marahas na pamamaraan.

Ang komunista sa Pilipinas ay naniniwala na ang barrel of the gun ang ultimate option.

Kaya, pinanatili ng mga komunista sa Pilipinas ang "Pangmatagalang Digmaang Bayan".

Tuloy ang pag rekrut ng mga mga mahihirap na tao sa kanayunan para gawing hukbo na panlaban.

Syempre, kailangan ding magrekrut ng mga lider o cadre, ang mga intelektwal para mamuno sa mga hukbo. Ang mga cadre (leadership) ay ang Center of Gravity (COG) sa bawat NPA Platoon.

Ang mga cadre na ito ay ang mga brainwashed recruits mula sa legitimate student orgs sa mga unibersidad at kolehiyo. Sila yong ipinapadala sa kanayunang may NPA platoons para hubugin na maging NPA commanders at political instructors!

Eh, labag sa batas ang pagbitbit ng armas, pamamaslang (revolutionary justice kuno), pangingikil, pamamaril ng kahit sino. Syempre, iyan ang dahilan kung bakit nagdi-deploy ng sundalo at pulis para ipagtanggol ang mamamayan na ayaw ng karahasan.

Kung ang mga kaibigan mong aktibista ay nag susuot mandirigma, nagbibitbit ng armas at kapiling na ng kilabot na mga murderers at arsonists na NPA, sila ay nagiging combatants ayon sa batas pakidigma!

Pag mag aabutan na ang NPA at sundalo sa mga bakbakan, aba di na nagtatanungan kung sino ang dating aktibista na kakarating lang para mag training bilang NPA!

Dios mio, simpleng analysis lang yan eh!

Lastly, kung manawagan kayo ng JUSTICE FOR TOBOSO 19 (mga napatay na NPA combatants), baka pwede isama sa placards nyo ang JUSTICE FOR NEGROS 49 (Mga sibilyan na hinatulan ng NPA ng kamatayan)!

(Photo CTTO)

24/04/2026

The first leg of Training of Trainers (T0T) Workshop on Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act (TFPSA) was successfully conducted at Multipurpose Hall, G3 Annex Bldg., FBTC on 14-16 April 2026 and was organized by the Office of the Chief for Law of Armed Conflict , Philippine Army (OCLOAC, PA), The 3-day activity was aimed to strengthen the participants’ understanding of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020 and other related laws. Subject Matter Experts (SME) from the PA-ICOE, Anti-Terrorism Council Project Management Center (ATC-PMC) and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) gave lectures on the Infiltration Methodologies of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in Red and White Area, the legal process for surveillance, designation, and proscription of terrorists under ATA and TFPSA and effects of Designation and Proscription.
Participants of the said activity included Division QRT members composed of Legal, Operation, Intelligence, and CMO personnel from 2nd Infantry Division 9th Infantry "Spear" Division, Philippine Army as well as representatives from Reserve Command, Philippine Army , National Capital Region Command, and 2IR.

10/04/2026

The Office of the Chief for Law of Armed Conflict, Philippine Army (OCLOAC,PA) held a one-day capacity development session for Staff Judge Advocates (SJAs) from Philippine Army Major Units (PAMUs) and chosen legal officials from the HPA. The activity is designed to keep the participants up to date on current operational legal issues and upcoming programs of the office for the development of Operational Legal Advisers (OPLEGADs)- fostering camaraderie and improved coordination among Army legal officers.
Furthermore, the activity aimed to strengthen SJAs' awareness of operational law and legal risk management, as well as their skills in scenario-based legal advising and the exchange of best practices among HPA Legal Officers.

01/04/2026

Suspected Female NPA Member Recovered in San Jose, Mindoro
SAN JOSE, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO — A female individual suspected of being affiliated with the NPA terrorist group was reportedly abandoned by her companions while carrying an M16 rifle in the municipality of San Jose.
She was immediately brought to the San Jose Police Station for a thorough investigation and verification of her identity. Authorities are also undertaking the necessary procedures to determine the appropriate charges that may be filed against her in accordance with existing laws.
Initial information indicates that the individual is believed to be a student from a university in Manila. Reports suggest that she was allegedly recruited by the rebel group and brought to Mindoro for what they referred to as a “tour of duty.”
Authorities continue to coordinate with other government agencies to ensure a comprehensive investigation and to maintain peace and order in the area.
The public is encouraged to cooperate by providing accurate information that may assist in ongoing efforts to address security concerns.

31/03/2026

Suspected Female NPA Member Recovered in San Jose, Mindoro
SAN JOSE, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO — A female individual suspected of being affiliated with the NPA terrorist group was reportedly abandoned by her companions while carrying an M16 rifle in the municipality of San Jose.
She was immediately brought to the San Jose Police Station for a thorough investigation and verification of her identity. Authorities are also undertaking the necessary procedures to determine the appropriate charges that may be filed against her in accordance with existing laws.
Initial information indicates that the individual is believed to be a student from a university in Manila. Reports suggest that she was allegedly recruited by the rebel group and brought to Mindoro for what they referred to as a “tour of duty.”
Authorities continue to coordinate with other government agencies to ensure a comprehensive investigation and to maintain peace and order in the area.
The public is encouraged to cooperate by providing accurate information that may assist in ongoing efforts to address security concerns.

READ | Suspected Female NPA Member Recovered in San Jose, Mindoro

SAN JOSE, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO — A female individual suspected of being affiliated with the NPA terrorist group was reportedly abandoned by her companions while carrying an M16 rifle in the municipality of San Jose.

She was immediately brought to the San Jose Police Station for a thorough investigation and verification of her identity. Authorities are also undertaking the necessary procedures to determine the appropriate charges that may be filed against her in accordance with existing laws.

Initial information indicates that the individual is believed to be a student from a university in Manila. Reports suggest that she was allegedly recruited by the rebel group and brought to Mindoro for what they referred to as a “tour of duty.”

Authorities continue to coordinate with other government agencies to ensure a comprehensive investigation and to maintain peace and order in the area.

The public is encouraged to cooperate by providing accurate information that may assist in ongoing efforts to address security concerns.

2nd Infantry "Jungle Fighter" Division, Philippine Army

30/03/2026

THE CONCEPT OF CIVILIANS' DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN HOSTILITIES (DPH) UNDER THE IHL:
This simulation video emphasizes that civilians are generally protected from attack during armed conflict; however, this protection is temporarily lost when they directly engage in hostile acts.
DPH is defined through three key elements: a threshold of harm (the act must adversely affect military operations or personnel), direct causation (a clear link between the act and the harm), and a belligerent nexus (the act must be specifically intended to support one party to the conflict against another).
This video highlights that once civilians cease their direct participation, they regain protection from attack. It underscores the importance of distinguishing between civilians and combatants to minimize unlawful targeting and ensure compliance with IHL principles such as distinction, proportionality, and necessity.
While civilians can lose protection when participating directly in hostilities, such loss is temporary and situation-dependent, and PA troops must carefully assess each case to avoid violations of humanitarian law.

26/03/2026

JOB HIRING: The Office of the Chief for Law of Armed Conflict, Philippine Army (OCLOAC, PA) is accepting applicants for the position of a researcher/writer with the following qualifications:

QUALIFICATIONS:
- Graduate of Bachelor of Science in English or related degrees.
- Graduate of Legal Management, Juris Doctor, Journalism or related degrees in advantage.
- Excellent in writing and verbal communication skills in English and Filipino.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications particularly Word, Excel, Publisher and PowerPoint
- Ability to conduct research both qualitative and quantitative
- Ability to work under pressure and provide quality written outputs with minimum supervision.
- Goal-driven and detail-oriented.
- Passionate and committed to serve the nation in a civilian capacity.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Employed as a Civilian Human Resource (Civ HR) under Contract of Service (COS) at Headquarters Philippine Army, Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City.

• Research topics particularly on Human Rights (HR), International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and Rule of Law (RoL).

HOW TO APPLY:
Email your CV (with a recent 2x2 photo) and Letter of Intent addressed to:

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF FOR LAW OF ARMED CONFLICT
Headquarters Philippine Army
Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City
📩[email protected]

Subject Line:
Last Name, First Name - Application for Researcher/Writer: OCLOAC, PA

✨️Fresh graduates are highly encouraged to apply!

Deadline: Applicants must send their requirements to the listed contact details on or before April 13, 2026 (Monday).

=====

Please be aware that the contact details give are the ONLY official contact details of the hiring office. This Office DOES NOT request any form of payment from the applicants in any part of the application process. Please refrain from interacting with unverified pages or individuals claiming to be affiliated with the hiring office or any recruitment offices of the Philippine Army.

25/03/2026

THE CONCEPT OF CIVILIANS' DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN HOSTILITIES (DPH) UNDER THE IHL:

This simulation video emphasizes that civilians are generally protected from attack during armed conflict; however, this protection is temporarily lost when they directly engage in hostile acts.

DPH is defined through three key elements: a threshold of harm (the act must adversely affect military operations or personnel), direct causation (a clear link between the act and the harm), and a belligerent nexus (the act must be specifically intended to support one party to the conflict against another).

This video highlights that once civilians cease their direct participation, they regain protection from attack. It underscores the importance of distinguishing between civilians and combatants to minimize unlawful targeting and ensure compliance with IHL principles such as distinction, proportionality, and necessity.

While civilians can lose protection when participating directly in hostilities, such loss is temporary and situation-dependent, and PA troops must carefully assess each case to avoid violations of humanitarian law.