Randy Malayao, a National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant on the peace process, on Wednesday expressed concerns regarding the possible abduction of Aggay tribesmen of San Mariano, Isabela by elements of the Philippine Army 5th Infantry Division.
According to Malayao, the human rights group Karapatan-Cagayan Valley (Karapatan CV) has reported that some indigenous people in San Mariano have been taken away by Army troops operating under the 86th Infantry Battalion of the 5th Infantry Division.
"If there is some truth to this, or that some Aggays are being forced to serve as guide by patrolling troops, we condemn this as violation of protocols of war or of rules of engagement," Malayao said.
Karapatan, in an alert message, stated that 16 Aggays, including women and children, were seized by the government soldiers on June 17, 2016. The human rights group also reported that the soldiers illegally searched the huts of the Agtas.
Malayao said that KARAPATAN CV, with the Social Action Center of the Archdiocese of Ilagan City, Isabela and representatives of the Provincial Government of Isabela conducted a search for the missing Aggays.
According to the group, the 5TH Infantry Division denied that the Aggay tribesmen were in their custody.
Malayao added that Aggays interviewed by Karapatan-CV said some of their village mates were forced into a helicopter.
He said, while this still has to be verified, "ang malinaw, may ongoing military operations sa Tappa-Cadsalan-Buyasan area ng San Mariano (What's clear is that there is an ongoing military operation)."
http://interaksyon.com/article/129406/ndfp-peace-consultant-on-alert-for-missing-tribesmen-allegedly-abducted-by-army-troops
More Communist Party of the Philippines anti-military propaganda designed to discredit the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on human rights issues.
ReplyDeleteThe National Democratic Front (NDF) is the political wing of the CPP while KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights) is the main CPP-linked human rights front active in the Philippines. Karapatan-Compostela Valley (CV) is a local chapter of the national organization.