8ID junks
Katungod-SB-Karapatan’s allegation of violation of rights of children
by 14IB
By CMO Battalion, 8ID PA
March 12, 2011
CAMP LUKBAN,
Catbalogan City – The allegation of violation of children’s rights
by soldiers of the Army’s 14th Infantry Battalion as mentioned in the
press release of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP)
Katungod-SB-Karapatan on March 4, 2011 is a mere fabrication.
Accordingly, the incidents transpired in Eastern Samar where 14IB
while conducting military operations at Brgy. Huknan, Giporlos
municipality allegedly threatened and interrogated two 17 years old
children. [
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However, Lt Col
Hermilo Demafiles, Commanding Officer of 14IB dismissed this
accusation as untrue. “The statement of Katungod-SB-Karapatan is a
total lie and only intends to poison the people we are serving.
People might get angry when reading these new propaganda lines of
Katungod-SB for they themselves are the one volunteering their support
in the pursuit of genuine peace in their province,” says Lieutenant
Colonel Demafiles.
“Even the local
government officials are satisfied with the way the 14IB implements
the peace initiatives in their localities in contradiction with the
allegation of Katungod-SB-Karapatan,” he added.
Katungod-SB-Karapatan,
a front organization of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New
People’s Army (CPP/NPA), usually becomes noisy when it sensed that the
government forces are winning in its counter insurgency drive in the
area. It can be recalled that 14IB flagged various feats against the
terrorist NPA in
Eastern Samar
where the enemy camps and firearms were seized and a number of them
either killed or surrender.
Furthermore, no less
than Roberto Gacuma, former secretary of South Samar Front (SSF) of
Samar Provincial Party Committee (SPPC), Eastern Samar Regional Party
Committee (EVRPC) of the CPP who surrendered recently has confirmed
the lies behind this Katungod-SB-Karapatan. In a press conference
sometime in March 2010, Gacuma declared that KATUNGOD-SB-Karapatan is
being run by the CPP-NPA and serves as their immediate propaganda
mouthpiece.
Hence, it is but
normal that KATUNGOD-SB-Karapatan is biased against the military being
a front organization of the CPP. That is why they were silent when an
innocent child was mercilessly killed by members of the NPA that
ambushed the troops of 63IB last December 14, 2010 in Northern Samar.
Is this not a clear violation of human rights especially the rights of
children? KATUNGOD-SB-Karapatan chose to keep their mouth shut
regarding this incident because the perpetrators (NPA) are their
comrades.
We are therefore
appealing to the people of Eastern Visayas not to fall victim to the
black propaganda of Katungod-SB-Karapatan but to work hand-in hand
with the authorities to include media entities and various religious
and people’s organization to take account our moral obligations to
maintain peace and harmony in our respective communities.