Activists protest military ‘abuses’
Armed forces deny rights violations in southern Luzon provinces
- ucanews.com reporters, Manila
- Philippines
- May 16, 2012
About 300 human rights activists rallied Tuesday in front of the armed forces headquarters and government offices in Manila to protest alleged abuses by soldiers against civilians in southern Luzon provinces.
Members of Karapatan, a human rights organization, gathered in front of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City with a mock coffin to symbolize alleged victims of abuses.
According to radio reports, some of the protestors threw red paint and soldiers retaliated with water cannons.
The group then went to the offices of the Department of Interior and Local Government, the National Housing Authority, the Philippine Coconut Authority and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), all in Quezon City.
Karapatan has also been campaigning against continuing military operations in Mindanao, which have allegedly displaced more than 80 families in Agusan del Sur province.
"Bombings of communities by the military and the consequent displacement of people ... have become frequent and widespread since the start of 2012. Thousands, including women and children, have now become victims of forced evacuation," said Karapatan spokeswoman Cristina Palabay.
The armed forces has denied the accusations, saying there was no evidence to substantiate violations by government soldiers since President Benigno Aquino took office in June 2010.
Armed forces spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos said last week the military has created a board of inquiry to look into the complaints received earlier by the CHR.
"The findings of the [board] revealed that all of the referred cases tagging military personnel were only accusations and did not produce sufficient evidence against AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] soldiers," said Burgos, citing the initial result of the probe.
He added that the CHR has already dismissed 15 of the 84 human rights complaints filed against soldiers.
Related reports:
Human rights abuses in focus at Manila march
Activists launch impunity campaign
Members of Karapatan, a human rights organization, gathered in front of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City with a mock coffin to symbolize alleged victims of abuses.
According to radio reports, some of the protestors threw red paint and soldiers retaliated with water cannons.
The group then went to the offices of the Department of Interior and Local Government, the National Housing Authority, the Philippine Coconut Authority and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), all in Quezon City.
Karapatan has also been campaigning against continuing military operations in Mindanao, which have allegedly displaced more than 80 families in Agusan del Sur province.
"Bombings of communities by the military and the consequent displacement of people ... have become frequent and widespread since the start of 2012. Thousands, including women and children, have now become victims of forced evacuation," said Karapatan spokeswoman Cristina Palabay.
The armed forces has denied the accusations, saying there was no evidence to substantiate violations by government soldiers since President Benigno Aquino took office in June 2010.
Armed forces spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos said last week the military has created a board of inquiry to look into the complaints received earlier by the CHR.
"The findings of the [board] revealed that all of the referred cases tagging military personnel were only accusations and did not produce sufficient evidence against AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] soldiers," said Burgos, citing the initial result of the probe.
He added that the CHR has already dismissed 15 of the 84 human rights complaints filed against soldiers.
Related reports:
Human rights abuses in focus at Manila march
Activists launch impunity campaign
