A total of 54 representatives of peace and human rights groups, progressive groups, church, workers, youth and academe based in this city have joined the other 100 contingents for a fact-finding mission in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on February 8 to 12.
According to the delegates, the fact-finding mission is a response to the call of Suara Bangsamoro and Kawagib Moro Human Rights group.
The objectives are to "investigate and verify cases of human rights violations against civilians; seek an understanding of the context, antecedents, and implications of the incident; determine and analyze US involvement; and express interfaith solidarity and unity with the affected communities."
Aside from that, The Children Rehabilitation Center and Kabiba will also conduct a psycho-social intervention to the affected children.
"Based on the initial report cited by Suara Bangsamoro and Kawagib on its preliminary fact-finding mission, there were several cases of human rights violations committed against civilians which include extrajudicial killing, destruction of properties and forcible evacuation," the group said.
They added that the number of displaced residents, which reached 1,500, urged them to conduct such fact-finding mission as "an independent probe to seek for truth and accountability."
"We do not want to rely on the Board of Inquiry (BOI) formed by the government," the groups said.
But Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte urged Filipinos to remain loyal to the government, as he remained hopeful that the members of the BOI will manage to seek for the truth behind the Mamasapano incident.
"There is an investigation going on. [It's] better for us to wait for the result of that investigation even though the President has already spoken that he accepts responsibility for all of the things," Duterte said Sunday.
"Just because there is this fiasco, we do not withdraw our loyalty to the President. We remain loyal to the government and to our elected leader, that is President Aquino," he added.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2015/02/08/fact-finding-mission-bound-mamasapano-390969
As noted in my previous comments, this "fact-finding mission" is nothing more than a Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) front group propaganda effort.
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