Saturday, December 11, 2021

Army ‘ready’ for CHR probe on Miag-ao airstrike

From Panay News (Dec 11. 2021): Army ‘ready’ for CHR probe on Miag-ao airstrike (By Ruby Silubrico)

AREVALO

The 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) of the Philippines Army is open to being investigated for the Dec. 1 airstrike in Barangay Alimodias, Miag-ao town, according to Major General Benedict Arevalo, commander.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Region 6 is interested, according to Atty. Jonnie Dabuco, regional director.

The clash in Barangay Alimodias left 16 suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels dead.


“Wala pa gid man kami naka-conduct sang mas madalum nga imbestigasyon. Nag-coordinate lang kami anay sa police kag sa Philippine Army just to get some initial information regarding sa natabu sa Miag-ao,” said Dabuco.

The 3ID denied committing violations.

“As the legitimate Armed Forces, we must defend the people in our area of responsibility against these NPA terrorists who are blatantly abusing the rights and dignity of the civilians,” said Arevalo.

He added that CHR should investigate the NPA’s recruitment of youth and minors, too.

Arevalo pointed out that two suspected rebels killed in the encounter were recruited to the NPA when they were 17 years old, based on the allegations of their family members.

According to Arevalo, the abuses and human rights violation made by the rebels were rampant.

Based on the records submitted by the AFP’s Center for the Law on Armed Conflict to CHR, around 1,672 cases of rebels’ human rights violations were committed between 2010 and 2021 in the country.

For this year alone, 166 new violations have been recorded including 16 cases of recruitment and use of child combatants, 10 cases of destruction of civilian-owned properties, 113 cases of anti-personnel mine use, 20 cases of willful killings and seven other alleged violations of international humanitarian law, data showed.

“Let us be wary of these terrorists, for they are hiding behind the mask of fake human rights advocates. Let us not be fooled by their deceptive tactics,” Arevalo added.

https://www.panaynews.net/army-ready-for-chr-probe-on-miag-ao-airstrike/

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