Angel Rivas takes a selfie with a friend days before she and two others were killed in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur on June 15. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives is seeking an investigation on the killing of three Lumads (indigenous peoples) who were allegedly members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Surigao del Sur.
The individuals were killed in a supposed clash with government troops in Barangay Diatagan in Lianga town last June 15, the military said.
The military alleged that the slain individuals were members of the NPA, a claim belied by rights groups.
“The brutal massacre of civilians by forces of the 3rd [Special Forces Batallion] is highly condemnable. The killing of civilians and the desecration of their remains are gross violations of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHIHL) and International Humanitarian Law,” the Makabayan lawmakers said.
The Makabayan bloc is composed of Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Eufemia Cullamat, Carlos Zarate, and Ferdinand Gaite; Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas; ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro; and Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago.
“A thorough and impartial investigation on the massacre should be conducted to hold perpetrators accountable and to prevent any more massacres and rights violations,” they added.
“It is imperative for members of Congress, as representatives of our people, to defend the rights of our people and check on excesses and violations, especially in this time of crisis. It must bring perpetrators to account to put a stop to the killings and rights violations against its people.”
Rights group Karapatan has said the three killed were lumad, or indigenous peoples, from the Manobo tribe and had only been tagged as NPA members.
Karapatan said two of the individuals killed were members of lumad group Malahutayong Pakigbisog alang sa Sumusunod while the the minor killed was a student of the lumad school Tribal Filipino Program in Surigao del Sur.