CHR warns against alleged CAFGU abuses

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 10): CHR warns against alleged CAFGU abuses

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales has condemned the killing of another B’laan tribal leader in Barangay Kiblawan as she asked the military, police, the local government and other government agencies to work harder to stop the killings in Davao del Sur.

Eking Dayanton Freay, 28, and Sony Planda, 18, both native B’laans, were ambushed while riding a motorcycle on their way to Sitio Bong Mal in the morning of June 28. Five CAFGU members allegedly shot them with Garand rifles killing Planda instantly, according to the police report.

Freay managed to bring himself to the Gregorio Matas District Hospital and survived attack.

“While it is true that the killings under the Aquino administration have reduced, the local government and the police have to take an extra mile to put a definitive stop to extra-judicial killings,” she reiterated.

While the CAFGU is a legal formation by law, many abuses are attributed to this group’s behavior because of its ignorance and lack of training on human rights and rule of law. This makes the CAFGUs a liability in the protection of the rights of the B’laans in the area.

To make matters worse, Saguittarius Mining Incorporated (SMI), in a dialogue on the Human Rights Impact Assessment, has admitted to give “subsistence allowance” to CAGFUs to support peace and order in the area amid tensions brought about by mining operations.

“This subsistence allowance can easily result in making the CAFGUs beholden to the mining companies, thereby straining their objectivity in enforcing their mandate as provided by law,” Rosales pointed out.

Further, the CHR underscored that there is a possibility that SMI is putting itself at risk of criminal prosecution whenever it gives benefits particularly money to government employees. Likewise, public officials who solicit and accept gifts can be prosecuted in violation of RA 6713 otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=542751