Probe reveals torture, slays, harassment by army troops

BANGUED, Abra -- The regional police based in Camp Dangwa, Benguet has sent additional troops in this province to address rising violence, the latest of which was the Wednesday killing of Jack Turqueza, an official of the Department of Justice and former newsman by still unknown assassins.

This, as Kabataan Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon headed a “National Solidarity Mission” to the said province last week to investigate effects of widespread militarization in the area, particularly in Lacub town.

The three-day National Solidarity Mission was organized together with human rights alliance Karapatan, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Center for Trade Union and Human Rights, Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, Gabriela Women’s Party, Children’s Rehabilitation Center, Salinlahi, Task Force for Indigenous People’s Rights, Health Alliance for Democracy, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines, National Union of Students in the Philippines, League of Filipino Students, and Anakbayan.

Ridon and members of the NSM were in Lacub, since Sept. 29. Upon returning to Manila Tuesday, the lawmaker said the 41st Infantry Battalion and the 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army have been operating in Lacub since August this year.

“I have seen for myself what the continuing military operations have done to the indigenous communities in Lacub, Abra. Farmers and workers are hindered by fear from continuing with their economic activities. Agricultural production has ground to a halt, as well as small-scale mining activities. The people of Lacub are going hungry because of the heavy military presence in the area,” said Ridon.

“Worse, there are reports from locals that the military is using civilians as human shields in counterinsurgency operations in remotest barrios of Lacub,” the lawmaker added.

Interviews conducted by the NSM among Lacub residents revealed that the military has forced several residents to serve as civilian guides in exploring the undulating mountain ranges. Worse, 24 civilians were also reportedly used by the AFP as “human shields” during military offensives against the New People’s Army (NPA).

Locals also recounted how the AFP grossly violated international humanitarian laws in conducting their counterinsurgency operations.

“No less than the official autopsy reports of the National Bureau of Investigation in the Cordillera Administrative Region revealed that the casualties on the part of the NPA during consecutive clashes with the military were killed brutally,” Ridon said, referring to the case of Arnold “AJ” Jaramillo and Recca Noelle Monte, the latter of whom was found to have been killed through torture.

“We remember with rage that we are talking about the same military battalions that were involved in the massacre of the Ligiw family of Abra, which has already been subjected to congressional investigation,” Ridon said.

Last March, Ridon asked the House Committee on Human Rights on Monday to probe the killing of Anakbayan member Freddie “Fermin” Ligiw, along with his father and brother, in the hands of the 41st Infantry Battalion in Sitio Sukaw, Domenglay, Licuan-Baay, Abra.

In House Resolution No. 934 filed, Ridon related that last March 2, 29-year old Fermin, a member of youth activist group Anakbayan, along with his father LicubenLigiw and brother Edie Ligiw were reportedly abducted and killed by members of the 41st IB.

“The people of Abra have long suffered in the hands of the brutal 41st Infantry Battalion and other elements of the military. We urgently call on the AFP and Defense Secretary Gazmin to pull out these troops, and let the people of Abra live in peace,” Ridon said.