Kasugbong Samar initiates regional MSQRT assembly

By GINA DEAN-RAGUDO, Samar News.com
March 14, 2011

CALBAYOG CITY  –  Among the many areas in the country that the Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC) has visited, it was able to establish 3 Multi-Sectoral Quick Reaction Teams (MSQRT) in Eastern Visayas namely, Darangpan (Northern Samar), Kaugop (Leyte) and Kasugbong (Samar) which was recently launched through Samar Partnership for Peace and Development (SPPADE).

In the 1st Regional MSQRT Assembly on March 8, 2011 at Tony’s Kitchen, Catbalogan City, AHRC representative, Atty. Khrizna Gomez said that human rights situation in the Philippines became an issue in recent years and escalated between 2006-2007 with reports of rising number of victims of extra-judicial killings, prompting the United Nations to take action. The UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, visited the country in 2007 and subsequently filed a report with recommendations on how to address the situation. His report was supported by the Melo Commission (created by Arroyo administration) though it did not show the Melo Report to him.

The Supreme Court through its training arm – the Philippine Judicial Academy organized a national forum attended by different experts in the society which includes the government, academe, NGOs and other civil society groups to talk about the issue.  The highest tribunal subsequently issued a Writ of Amparo and Writ of Habeas Data followed by the creation of human rights offices in the Arm Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP). Eventually a multi-sectoral skills building workshop on ELKs and EDs were conducted and the group identified the problem which lies in the prosecution of cases. Realizing that the predicament is so broad, highly domicile and politically sensitive, the group finally decided to initiate a multi-sectoral approach, said Gomez.

In pursuing its goals, AHRC continuously work closely with various government, the academe, non-government organizations (NGOs), grassroots organizations, and other civil society groups. Maintained alliances with the national and international organizations whose operations and expertise are relevant to the respective sectors served by the center; and involved in establishing MSQRTs which serves as one-stop assistance centers where victims and/or their families can report human rights violations, specifically violations of civil and political rights; request immediate investigation; seek legal advice and assistance; and request witness protection.

Gomez stressed that the essence of MSQRT is to address the needs of Extra-Legal Killings (ELK) and Enforced Disappearances (ED) victims by means of a coordinative mechanism between security forces, CSOs, church, media, academe, government, NGOs and law students. Since it is a “victim-centered” mechanism it includes psychosocial counseling and other forms of assistance or services intended for the victims.

For Samar Province, PSupt. Maximo Manicani suggested that the next MSQRT Assembly should be held in Calbayog City or Gandara as reports revealed that human rights violations and other forms of criminalities mostly occurred in said places compared to Catbalogan and Tacloban Cities. He also recommended that politicians should be requested to attend since ELKs and EDs are allegedly politically related.

Kasugbong convenors Emy Calagos-Bonifacio and Fr. Cesar Aculan has yet to decide on the proposition.