Amidst continuing human
rights violations
Aquino’s ‘superbody’ vs. extrajudicial killing and HR violations mere PR
scheme – Karapatan
By KARAPATAN
January 8, 2013
QUEZON CITY – Rights groups
and advocates, led by Karapatan and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN)
met with protest the first meeting of Noynoy Aquino's "high-level
inter-agency superbody" against extrajudicial killings and other
rights abuses.
"The victims and their loved
ones have had enough of these extraneous superbodies that are mere
publicity schemes but does not solve human rights violations," said
Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay, "What's worse is that
this body may even attempt to conceal the continuing atrocities,
especially in the rural areas."
Karapatan pointed out that
the "superbody," like other inter-agency task forces under the Arroyo
government, is inessential in solving cases of extrajudicial killing (EJK)
and other human rights violations.
As of November 30, 2012, the
rights group has documented a total of 132 victims of EJK and 12
victims of enforced disappearance under the Noynoy Aquino government.
Palabay added that the body
will not deter rights violations perpetrated by state security agents,
especially by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as long as the
Aquino government's counter-insurgency program Oplan Bayanihan is
still being implemented.
"The wave of illegal arrests
and detention of a total of 29 civilians, all accused as members of
New People's Army, in December 2012 and January this year, is a reason
for alarm," Palabay said.
The most recent case of
illegal arrest is that of Virgilio Corpuz, 61, Cagayan Valley regional
coordinator for Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor
Nationwide (Piston) on January 4, 2013. Corpuz was arrested at his
home in Santiago City, Isabela by members of the PNP Regional Mobile
Group who accused the victim as being "Harold Castillo." Castillo is
charged with 17 other individuals, including ACT Teachers Partylist
coordinator Rene Boy Abiva for their alleged involvement in an NPA
ambush in Tinoc, Ifugao in April 25, 2012. (For list of documented
cases of December 2012 illegal arrests, please see shaded box below)
"We believe that incidents
of illegal arrest, extrajudicial killing and other rights violations
against innocent civilians and activists will escalate as the mid-term
elections draws near. The Aquino government and the military are
likewise hell-bent in reaching the 2013 deadline set under Oplan
Bayanihan, the counter-insurgency program that victimizes civilians,”
explained Palabay.
“If this government is truly
sincere in rendering justice for the victims of rights violations, the
mandated agencies and the courts should do what they should be doing –
properly and effectively investigate these incidents, and to jail and
prosecute the violators,” Palabay concluded.
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Incidents of illegal arrest in December 2012.:
1. Union organizers
and staff of Confederation for Unity, Recognition and
Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) Randy Vegas and
Raul Camposano. The two, who were arrested on December 3, are
implicated in the ambush of soldiers by the NPA in April 29,
2012. This fabricated charges filed in Labo, Camarines Norte,
also implicates Bayan-NCR leaders Roy Velez and Amelita Gamara.
2.
Lay church worker Anecita Rojo, 48, was arrested and forcibly
dragged from the Parish convent in Bago City, Negros Occidental
by members of PNP Regional Intelligence Unit on December 7. She
was brought to Bago City Police Station where she was shown a
warrant of arrest for murder charges issued by Branch 60 Cadiz
City Regional Trial Court. Rojo was later brough to Cadiz City.
During the two-hour trip to Cadiz, the police interrogated Rojo
about her daughter, as well as her son-in-law Christian Tuayon.
Tuayon is the Secretary General of Bayan-Negros who was
arrested, and was later released on bail, on April 2012 for
robbery-in-band charges, also filed at Branch 60 Cadiz City RTC.
Both Rojo and Tuayon are implicated in alleged NPA ambuscades
(or activities?) in Negros. Rojo remains in detention at Cadiz
City-BJMP.
3.
In Isabela, Negros Occidental, nineteen, including three minors,
of the Tribu Bukidnon indigenous people were illegally arrested
on December 13. Members of the 11th Infantry Battalion of the
Phil. Army barged in their village and accused the farmers of
keeping NPA members. The farmers were threatened and hauled off
to the Isabela police station. Eleven of them were released on
December 15, while 8 farmers were charges with murder and
multiple frustrated muder, and are currently detained at the La
Carlota-BJMP jail. One of the victims is now showing
psychological trauma due to alleged (beatings by the police).
4.
In Mulanay, Quezon, farmers Dennis Ortiz, Eleceo Lopez and a
17-year-old boy,were arrested on December 21, while travelling
by habal-habal. The three are accused as NPA members and charged
with violation of Republic Act 8294, and are currently detained
at the Quezon Provincial Jail. Also arrested were the drivers of
the habal-habal, Alex Gerez and Ariel Bordahe who were released
the following day.
5.
On Christmas day, Oligario Sebas, 65, was arrested in Negros
Oriental by joint AFP and PNP members. The arresting team
insisted that Sebas is "Felimon Mendrez," supposedly a
top-ranking NPA cadre in Central Visayas, who is charged for
rebellion. The soldiers and police also barged into, and
illegally searched his house. Despite his denials that he is
Mendrez, the ailing and diabetic Sebas was brough to Manjuyod
Police Station. Sebas is currently detained ay Bayawan City-BJMP.
6.
Rene Boy Abiva, a 23-year old employee of the Department of
Social Work and Development in Cagayan province and a
coordinator of the ACT Teachers Partylist, was arrested on
December 28 for charges of murder. He was arrested by units led
by a certain Col. Julius Balana of the Regional Intelligence
Division of the PNP and is currently detained at the Sto.
Domingo PNP station at Tuguegarao City. Upon inquiry of his wife
on the supposed charges against him, his arresting officers said
that he is being arrested for his supposed involvement in the
April 2012 NPA ambush of at least 12 soldiers under the 86th
Infantry Battalion of the Phil. Army. The said unit has been
reportedly carrying out rights violations in the course of their
military operations in the communities in Tinoc, Ifugao. |
