Arrests, extra-judicial killing of activists intensify
Human rights group Karapatan condemned the recent arrest of a pregnant daughter of the late Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal–the latest in a series of arrests and killings of supposed revolutionary leaders and sympathizers across the country. Andrea Rosal, nine months pregnant, was arrested by elements of the National […]
Human rights group Karapatan condemned the recent arrest of a pregnant daughter of the late Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal–the latest in a series of arrests and killings of supposed revolutionary leaders and sympathizers across the country.
Andrea Rosal, nine months pregnant, was arrested by elements of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) yesterday morning in BF Homes, Brgy. 169, Caloocan City. She was arrested together with Ruben Gatchalian, a barangay captain and member of Anakpawis Party-list, as well as a certain Rafael de Guzman.
Authorities claimed Rosal is a member of the CPP in Southern Tagalog and was arrested by virtue of a warrant for kidnapping and murder. She denied the authorities’ allegations in media reports.
“Karapatan paralegals were not allowed to have access to those arrested when they arrived at the NBI at around 4:30 PM yesterday,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary-general, who condemned the arrest and the denial of the right of the arrested persons to have access in legal representation.
“We demand for the immediate release of Andrea Rosal and that she be given proper medical care and attention considering her condition. We demand that the NBI and all security forces involved in this highly questionable operation respect the rights of Rosal, Gatchalian and Rosal’s companion to access to counsel, their relatives and human rights organizations,” Palabay said.
On Saturday, March 22, Wilma Austria and Benito Tiamzon, both senior leaders of the CPP, were arrested in Cebu. Lawyers and human rights groups said the arrest was illegal. Austria and Tiamzon have immunity from arrest as peace consultants, in the Joint Agreement on Immunity and Safety Guarantees (Jasig) but government officials and the military claimed otherwise.
Karapatan also raised the alarm over the spate of killings and demanded that President Aquino step down from office for the alleged escalation of human rights violations. The group said the president is accountable for the 169 victims of extra-judicial killings, from July 2010 to December 2013. And in span of 13 weeks for this year alone, 19 more victims were added.
Latest additional victim of extra-judicial killings is a human rights worker in Ifugao. William Bugatti a member of Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) was gunned down on March 25, along the Ifugao Highway in Bolog, Kiangan, Ifugao.
According to Karapatan, Bugatti was also listed in a military’s order of battle together with other members of peoples organizations in Tinoc Ifugao.
The CHRA also said that posters bearing faces of members and leaders of progressive organization appeared in Ifugao and other provinces of the Cordillera regions.
Bugatti was killed more than a week after Romeo Capalla, the younger brother of Archbishop Antonio Capalla was killed in Iloilo, and two weeks after the massacre of Ligiw family in Abra.
Also in Bicol, Vince Casilihan, Karapatan-Bicol secretary general, said four small-scale farmers were killed on March 22, 2014. The victims Julio Labiano, Rene Labiano, Salem Virtus, and Jessie Brondia, were allegdely killed by Bantay Kalikasan Task Force of Camarines Sur.
“The cold-blooded murder is another chilling case of political killing in Bicol. The poor victims eke out a living by engaging in small-scale mining in their barangay. The perpetrators are members of the Civilian Security Unit (CSU) of the provincial government of Camarines Sur assigned to Task force Bantay Kalikasan. It is hard to dismiss that the killing is an isolated case and has nothing to do with the powers-that-be in Camarines Sur. Small scale mining is hot in the eyes of politicians in the province and of the military,” Casilihan stated.
Aside from this, child rights advocates in Southern Mindanao slammed the military for the alleged abduction and branding of a certain child named by the Military as “Balong”, 14, as a New People’s Army “child soldier” on March 24, 2014 in Magpet, North Cotabato. The military claimed Balong has been active for two years in the communist movement, and allegedly surrendered as an NPA guerrilla.
According to Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC), Balong’s elder brother showed up saying that he just got the Form 137 of “Balong” from Brgy. Guinoyuran Elementary School in Bukidnon in compliance with the child’s requirements for graduation. The child who transferred to Bangkal Elementary School last S.Y. 2012-2013 in Magpet and expected to garduate last March 27, 2014 as Grade 6 pupil.
The group said that the child’s adviser had his complete class records.
“This is not just a branding case but a case of abduction,as for a very long time, the military failed to turn him over to his family or assigned authorities, and even his whereabouts was only known to the family after March 24, 2014”said Rius Valle, advocacy officer of CRC Southern Mindanao Region.
Karapatan said that the latest arrests and the other human rights abuses sabotage the peace negotation between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
“Aquino’s duplicity on the issue of peace is further emphasized today. On one hand, he boasts of forging peace with the MILF, while military offensives continue in Mindanao victimizing thousands of civilians. On the other hand, he lies on his administration’s interest on peacetalks with the NDFP, while his government illegally arrests peace consultants, rights defenders and individuals and kills those who are vocal critics of his anti-people governance,” Palabay said.
