Thursday, September 18, 2014

Human rights violations still prevalent in Davao Region

FromMindaNews (Sep 18): Human rights violations still prevalent in Davao Region

Progressive groups here said human rights violations are still prevalent in the Southern Mindanao Region, citing reports on extrajudicial killings, illegal arrests and torture.

Karapatan Southern Mindanao Region secretary general Hanimay Suazo said that since the start of the administration of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, there have been 33 cases of extrajudicial killings in the region; 36 cases of illegal arrests involving human rights activist, environment defenders, civilians suspected as rebels, and even members of New People’s Army whose cases have not undergone due process; and 11 tortures.

Speaking at a forum on human rights and peace at the Homitori Dormitel, Karapatan chairperson Marie Hilao Enriquez said it was high time to increase vigilance by monitoring human rights abuses, especially with the approach of the anniversaries of the declaration of martial law on Sept. 21 and the Ampatuan Massacre in November.

“Nothing is happening yet with the Ampatuan Massacre,” Enriquez noted.

Suazo said that Mindanao is among the most “highly militarized” regions in the Philippines.

She accused the Armed Forces of the Philippines of allocating more than 50 percent of its resources to the regions here.

In a statement, Felixberto Calang, of the human rights organization Barug Katungod, said the Mindanao Human Rights and Peace Conference was a venue where different progressive groups aimed to reach a unified decision on different issues, among these the resumption of peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front.

“As Mindanawons, there is a need for grassroots communities and the basic sectors, human rights workers and advocates, church people, lawyers, and other professionals to come together and forge common action to meet these challenges head on,” Calang said.

Enriquez said that the presidency of Benigno Simeon Aquino III is “not helpful” to the Philippines’ human rights situation, with the administration inheriting 206 extrajudicial killings from the Gloria Arroyo administration.

“Now, during the administration of Aquino, there have been 204 extrajudicial killings, 71 missing persons, and 99 reported tortures,” Enriquez said.

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2014/09/18/human-rights-violations-still-prevalent-in-davao-region/

1 comment:

  1. KARAPATAN (The Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights) is the main Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) human rights umbrella front organization active in the Philippines. Furthermore, Bishop Felixberto Calang of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church or PIC) serves as a member/officer of several CPP human rights front groups and apparently maintains a cozy relationship with the commies.

    The sources and methods that KARAPATAN uses to arrive at the statistics the group frequently disseminates to the media is rarely, if ever, challenged. One has to be highly suspicious of statistics that are conjured up by such a pro-CPP organization. KARAPATAN's anti-government/military agenda is certainly no secret.

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