THE human-rights group Karapatan said on Monday that, on top of extrajudicial killings, a total of 833 cases of torture and illegal arrest allegedly took place under President Aquino’s incumbency.
The group is calling on the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (UN SPT) to look into the reports as it visits the country from May 25 to June 3 to monitor the implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), an international agreement ratified by the Philippines in 2012.
Aside from 110 torture cases, Karapatan also documented 723 instances of illegal arrests and detention.
“We enjoin the UN SPT to hear the voices of victims of torture and illegal arrests, for in hearing and analyzing their testimonies can they have a comprehensive grasp and analysis on what is keeping the Philippine government from preventing torture,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary-general.
Karapatan is pointing an accusing finger at members of the Armed Forces for the alleged torture and illegal arrests, such as the alleged ongoing harassment of B’laan tribesmen in Malapatan, Sarangani.
“The torture and degrading treatment were experienced by three B’laan in Malapatan, Sarangani, in the hands of the 73rd Infantry Battalion [IB] of the Army to force them to admit they are NPA [New People’s Army] supporters, while aerial bombings, economic blockade, encampment in residential areas, indiscriminate firing and other rights abuses were conducted in their communities,” Palabay stated.
Almost 150 men from the 73rd IB conducted military operations on March 27 until April 10, 2015, affecting some 358 families or 1,800 individuals, who became victims of abuses and human-rights violations, she added.
The military operations allegedly forced 246 B’laan tribesmen to leave their villages.
As of Monday the Karapatan chapter in Central Mindanao reported that the same military unit continues to harass the residents in the evacuation center, Palabay said.
Karapatan also called on the UN SPT to look into the alleged collusion of the National Police and the Armed Forces during operations, which allegedly resulted in torture and illegal arrests and detention of civilians, including political activists.
(With Marvyn Benaning)