The Children’s Rehabilitation Center and Karapatan-Central Visayas urge the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the incident
The Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC) has called on the government to "immediately" release 3 minors who have been detained by the military in Negros Oriental for over a week.
"Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC) calls on the Duterte government to immediately release the three minors who were illegally arrested and detained by elements of the 62nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental last August 14," it said in a statement on Friday, August 21.
It said that the 3 minors include two girls aged 15 and 17, and a 17-year-old boy.
CRC accused the military of "falsely" tagging the minors as members of the New People's Army (NPA) who were nabbed during a supposed armed encounter in Guihulngan City.
Karapatan-Central Visayas said in a statement on August 19 that the 17-year-old boy was supposedly charging his phone inside a farmer's house, when soldiers arrived to arrest them. The two girls were supposedly looking for a strong mobile phone connection when they, too were nabbed.
No armed encounter reportedly took place, claimed Karapatan-Central Visayas. It also said that the boy is the brother of Requem Remasog, the 24-year-old farmer who was killed in an encounter with troops also in Ginhulngan earlier that day.
Karapatan-Central Visayas said the soldiers brought the minors to a Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) detachment of the 62nd IBPA. However, by the time their families reached the detachment, the minors were no longer there.
"Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC) calls on the Duterte government to immediately release the three minors who were illegally arrested and detained by elements of the 62nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental last August 14," it said in a statement on Friday, August 21.
It said that the 3 minors include two girls aged 15 and 17, and a 17-year-old boy.
CRC accused the military of "falsely" tagging the minors as members of the New People's Army (NPA) who were nabbed during a supposed armed encounter in Guihulngan City.
Karapatan-Central Visayas said in a statement on August 19 that the 17-year-old boy was supposedly charging his phone inside a farmer's house, when soldiers arrived to arrest them. The two girls were supposedly looking for a strong mobile phone connection when they, too were nabbed.
No armed encounter reportedly took place, claimed Karapatan-Central Visayas. It also said that the boy is the brother of Requem Remasog, the 24-year-old farmer who was killed in an encounter with troops also in Ginhulngan earlier that day.
Karapatan-Central Visayas said the soldiers brought the minors to a Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) detachment of the 62nd IBPA. However, by the time their families reached the detachment, the minors were no longer there.
(READ: Lives in danger as red-tagging campaign intensifies)
'Child rights violations'
“CRC condemns the 62nd IBPA and the Duterte government for persistently committing grave child rights violations by implementing a counter-insurgency program that deliberately targets and victimizes civilians including minors in armed conflict areas," CRC said.
CRC said that under Article 38, Section 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), "States Parties should undertake to respect and to ensure respect for rules of international humanitarian law applicable to them in armed conflicts which are relevant to the child."
CRC also cited Article 37 (b) that “No child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily,” as well as Republic Act No. 11188 or the Special Protection of Children in Situation of Armed Conflict Act which ensures that “children have the right not to be interned or confined in any military camp.”
"The law also prohibits the abduction and false branding of children as child soldiers. It has long been a practice of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to maliciously brand children victims of military abuses as NPA child soldiers in order to escape accountability," CRC said.
"The false narratives and accusations weaved by the military give them a license to subject innocent children to harassment, threat and intimidation, surveillance and other forms of human rights violations. Undoubtedly, it poses serious danger to children and subject them to greater fear, anxiety, discrimination and even social stigma that may affect their full development," the group added.
Dangers of anti-terror law
CRC also expressed concern that the anti-terror law would pave the way for more child rights violations.
“With the Anti-Terror Law in place, state forces can easily get away with these kinds of violations by tailoring false narratives. CRC fears that this law would double the number of cases of grave child rights violations in the country,” CRC added.
'Child rights violations'
“CRC condemns the 62nd IBPA and the Duterte government for persistently committing grave child rights violations by implementing a counter-insurgency program that deliberately targets and victimizes civilians including minors in armed conflict areas," CRC said.
CRC said that under Article 38, Section 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), "States Parties should undertake to respect and to ensure respect for rules of international humanitarian law applicable to them in armed conflicts which are relevant to the child."
CRC also cited Article 37 (b) that “No child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily,” as well as Republic Act No. 11188 or the Special Protection of Children in Situation of Armed Conflict Act which ensures that “children have the right not to be interned or confined in any military camp.”
"The law also prohibits the abduction and false branding of children as child soldiers. It has long been a practice of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to maliciously brand children victims of military abuses as NPA child soldiers in order to escape accountability," CRC said.
"The false narratives and accusations weaved by the military give them a license to subject innocent children to harassment, threat and intimidation, surveillance and other forms of human rights violations. Undoubtedly, it poses serious danger to children and subject them to greater fear, anxiety, discrimination and even social stigma that may affect their full development," the group added.
Dangers of anti-terror law
CRC also expressed concern that the anti-terror law would pave the way for more child rights violations.
“With the Anti-Terror Law in place, state forces can easily get away with these kinds of violations by tailoring false narratives. CRC fears that this law would double the number of cases of grave child rights violations in the country,” CRC added.
(READ: Feared anti-terror law takes effect in the Philippines)
CRC and Karapatan-Central Visayas urged the Commisson on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the incident and other cases of police and military abuses. The CRC also extended the call to the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Military's response
In a phone interview, Major Cenon C. Pancito III of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division told Rappler that troops “rescued” the two female minors during an armed encounter with communist rebels.
The military also maintained that Remasog was a member of the Leonardo Panaligan Command in central Negros.
On August 13, there was a similar clash between government troops and the NPA in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla town in Negros Occidental. Earlier this year, four soldiers were killed in clashes with communist rebels in that province.
Major General Eric C. Vinoya, Commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, for his part, lauded the 62IB as well as LGUs and communities that help them.
“I commend our troops from the 62IB for their dedication to our mandated task, and for upholding the International Humanitarian Law, which we commemorate this month of August, during these series of engagements with the CPP-NPA,” said Vinoya. –
https://rappler.com/nation/visayas/groups-seek-release-minors-detained-military-negros-oriental
CRC and Karapatan-Central Visayas urged the Commisson on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the incident and other cases of police and military abuses. The CRC also extended the call to the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Military's response
In a phone interview, Major Cenon C. Pancito III of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division told Rappler that troops “rescued” the two female minors during an armed encounter with communist rebels.
The military also maintained that Remasog was a member of the Leonardo Panaligan Command in central Negros.
On August 13, there was a similar clash between government troops and the NPA in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla town in Negros Occidental. Earlier this year, four soldiers were killed in clashes with communist rebels in that province.
Major General Eric C. Vinoya, Commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, for his part, lauded the 62IB as well as LGUs and communities that help them.
“I commend our troops from the 62IB for their dedication to our mandated task, and for upholding the International Humanitarian Law, which we commemorate this month of August, during these series of engagements with the CPP-NPA,” said Vinoya. –
https://rappler.com/nation/visayas/groups-seek-release-minors-detained-military-negros-oriental
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