Rights groups document 90 abuse cases against Army
Published in the The Philippine Daily Inquirer
Mindanao Bureau
Human Rights groups in Ozamis City, Southern Philippines have uncovered at least 90 cases of rights violations committed by the military against residents of upland villages of Tangub City.
Rosebeth Bagarinao of Karapatan-Western Mindanao said the violations were monitored as the military intensified its operations against New People's Army rebels.
Bagarinao said most of the victims were farmers and their families.
Based on Karapatan's documentation, forced surrender topped the count of the 90 rights abuses with at least 38 cases. This was followed by 33 cases of grave threats, especially against members of Bayan Muna.
“In forced surrender, residents are called in a n assembly, asked to sign a document and pose for picture taking. They are then declared as NPA surrenderees,” said Erlinda Cahayagan, secretary-general of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas. and member of the fact-finding mission.
Cahayagan said those who resisted the order, allegedly by mebers of the Army's 5th Infantry Battalion were thretened with inclusion in the military's order of battle.
Bagarinao said the soldiers also destroyed property and looted homes.
There were also alleged cases of hamletting, arbitrary arrests, displacements, tortures, and illegal searches.
“The military operations that were directed against the so-called enemies of the state are victimizing innocent upland villages, ” Bagarinao said.
But the Army's 1st Infantry Division based in Zamboanga del Sur said if the allegations were true, then the soldiers involved should be charged.
A senior military official, however, denied the abuses.
“As far as we are concerned, we make sure that the basic rights of the people are observed,” said Col. Estrellito Romero,commander of the Army's 101st Infantry Brigade.
Karapatan said it was wary of more human rights violations as more soldiers were being detained to the hinterlands.
