From MindaNews (Nov 7): 31 witnesses to attend HR congressional hearing in Davao
The House committee on human rights will have 31 witnesses during its two-day hearing to be held in this city on November 8-9, Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Neri Colmenares said at a press briefing here Wednesday. Attending the hearing, he said, will be witnesses of extrajudicial killings and victims of other human rights violations (HRV) in Mindanao since the 15th Congress in 2010 until June this year based on House resolutions filed by several representatives. Colmenares cited a total of 114 extrajudicial killings nationwide, 26 of which are in Mindanao, since President Benigno Simeon Aquino III sat in office. Representatives from various military commands all over Mindanao, the Commission on Human Rights and Philippine National Police will also be present, he added. However, the military and police will not be allowed to attend the hearing on the first day for the protection of, and to prevent intimidation, of victims and witnesses, Colmenares stressed. He noted that House committee chair Rene Relampagos will be attending, including Representatives Luzviminda Ilagan of Gabriela Women’s Party and Karlo Nograles (both from this city), Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers Partylist, Raymond Palatino of Kabataan Partylist and Erin Tanada, among others. Colmenares mentioned that ANAD (Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy) Partylist Pastor Jun Alcover may attend the hearing but only on the second day, citing that the latter has been declared “persona non grata” by the city council a few years ago for declaring Davao as an unsafe city....
http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2012/11/07/31-witnesses-to-attend-hr-congressional-hearing-in-davao/
Looks like CPP front groups will use GRP HR commission to slam the human rights record of the Philippine military. CPP fronts mentioned above are Gabriela, Bayan Muna, ACT, and Kabataan. Lots of statistics and allegations but many not verified.
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