PREDA Answer-Counter Affidavit
ANNEX D: Open Letter of KABIBA
STATEMENT OF ALARM AND CONCERN REGARDING THE ARBITRARY KILLINGS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN DAVAO CITY
As an alliance committed towards the attainment of a better future for today's children, we, the members of the KABIBA Alliance for Children's Concerns, express our deep anguish over the series of dreadful incidents that have caused so much suffering and even death among street children in our city for the past few months.
We have gathered evidence and testimonies showing evidence that.
- Many young girls and boys suspected to be members of the'buntog' gangs, rugby sniffers and snatchers have been caught, some forcibly, due to alleged violations of the curfew ordinance on minors. These children and youth have allegedly been sexually molested while in custody and subjected to tortured and mockery by members of the local policed force, the very people we thought would serve cis guardians. What has become of our police force that they have turned into petty tyrants and barbarians?
- These children suspects have been extremely harassed by unidentified motorists who keep them under continued surveillance, for reasons unknown to them. Who are these men and what do they wcint? Is the local government aware of this and what action is it taking?
- Two juvenile boys suspected to be snatchers were summarily executed in broad daylight for no apparent reason. It was alleged that they were gunned down by the dreaded 'death squad to get rid of the individuals considered unsightly nuisance such as rugby boys and drug pushers. Who is behind this despicable practice and why are they allowed to go scot-free?
These children and young people are already victims of poverty and dysfunctional families. Why should they continue to suffer under the hands of abusive lawmen and lawless elements? Have they committed hideously serious crimes that they are treated so brutally, and without regard of their civilian rights? These distressing conditions violate the rights of the children under the Constitution and the UN Convention on the Rights -of the Child, both bodies of law that recognize the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of the human family. Lest they forget, these victims are human beings too.
We therefore call upon:
- Mayor Ben de Guzman, to immediately institute measures compelling concerned government units to undertake all appropriate legal and administrative measures to ensure that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination and punishment and to provide the necessary social services that are in the best interest of the child victims;
- The members of the police force to dispense their services with honor and compassion, and cognizant of the fact that children, because of their vulnerability, need special care and protection;
- Parents, to ensure that their children can grow in an atmosphere of happiness, love and care; and
- The general public, to remain vigilant and expose irregular practices and signs of brutality either inflicted by families or law-enforcement agencies upon children, so as to curtail further violations on their rights and personhood.
We believe that for children and youth to become upright and mature citizens, we must combat the conditions that threaten their future. To reach this goal, we must oppose all kinds of criminal activity that expose the lives of children to extreme danger and social stigma. There is a need.to develop a more positive attitude towards children who have been deprived of the love and care they require to grow into responsible adults. Let us replace malice with understanding, indifference with charity, intolerance with patience and passivity with action. Let us all together, save our children, before it is too late.
KABIBA ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN'S CONCERNS, is a network of
more than 30 child-focused NGOs, POs and 15 individual member child advocates
serving those children who are in need of special protection and who belong
to the marginalized, oppresses and deprived sectors of our society.
26 July 1999, Davao City
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