A human rights group called for a total military pull-out in Lacub, Abra to give civilians respite from intensified military operations, alleging that the military used “excessive force” that resulted in the death of two civilians and seven members of the New Peoples Army (NPA), some of whom were tortured.

In a statement, the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) accused elements of 41st Infantry Batallion under the Northern Luzon Command of grave human rights and international humanitarian law violations.

According to the group, there were strong indications that the victims of an alleged military encounter were severely tortured and that their remains were desecrated.

Among those killed in military operations last September 5 was Fidela Salvador, an engineer. The group stressed that Salvador is a civilian, contrary to the claims of the military that she is a combatant of the NPA.

“Salvador is a civilian and a member of a non-government organization monitoring socio-economic projects in the area when the incident happened,” said Audrey Beltran, secretary general of CHRA.

CHRA added that the autopsy report conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reveals that Salvador suffered from 9 gunshot wounds, multiple contusions and lacerations and a head injury caused by a blunt object.

The group also accused the military of violating rules of engagement during their combat operations against the NPA. “Even if the members of the NPA had no more capacity to fight back, they were still slain,” the group stated.

Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan, during the deliberations of the Department of National Defense’s (DND) budget in Congress, also revealed that the NBI autopsy report showed that the NPA combatant Recca Noelle Monte had no gunshot wounds and actually died of “massive blunt traumatic injuries in the head, face and chest.”

In a public post in her Facebook account, Jang Monte, sister of Recca Noelle, described that her sister was almost unidentifiable when she claimed her body. “I could not believe what I saw. Half of her head from the bridge of her nose and up was practically blown off. She was barely identifiable if not for her prominent overbite and the shirt she wore,” wrote Jang.

Quoting from the autopsy report, Jang also wrote that Recca’s legs were also severely fractured, with her left leg nearly separated.

“My sister’s body bore several marks of torture, ” Jang concluded. The Monte family believes that Recca was caught alive by the military, and demands justice for the inhumane treatment she suffered in the hands of the military.

CHRA and the families of the victims are mulling to file complaints against the 41st IB in local and international bodies, as they call for a total military pull-out in Abra. The group will also launch a national fact-finding mission in the coming days to conduct deeper a investigation.

Meanwhile, Ilagan moved for the deferment of the deliberation of the DND budget until Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin submits the incident report of the 41^st IB and brings in Lt. Col. Rogelio Noora, Nolcom field commander, to the House plenary to answer questions on the circumstances of the said military operations.

“It is the responsibility of this House to ensure that the budget of the DND will not be used to violate human rights and international humanitarian law.  It is also about time that the DND and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) take seriously issues of human rights raised against the military establishment and not just brush them with sweeping denials and public avowals about a ‘new AFP,’” Ilagan said.