Gov’t rights record seen in new light

A POLICEMAN takes a call on his mobile phone in the village of Tukanalipao, Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province, where 44 policemen were killed by Moro guerrillas. JEOFFREY MAITEM/INQUIRER MINDANAO

DAVAO CITY—With reports coming out that Special Action Force (SAF) commandos killed at least seven civilians, including a 5-year-old girl, during the Mamasapano raid, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the government should take “decisive action against torture and extrajudicial killings by the police and other state security forces” in its World Report 2015.

HRW said although the administration of President Aquino took some “important steps in 2014 to improve rule of law,” its overall record of addressing cases of human rights violations has remained poor with reports of police officers involved in the torture and abuse of suspects in the terror attack by followers of Moro leader Nur Misuari on Zamboanga City in September 2013.

The abuses, HRW said, include suffocation and the stapling of nipples and genitals.

Phelim Kine, HRW Asia deputy director, said it should be the top priority of the Aquino administration in its remaining years in office to ensure the investigation and prosecution of policemen involved in rights abuses.

In the HRW report, the government was recognized for the creation of “justice zones” where “criminal cases, warrants, and subpoenas are filed electronically to accelerate court proceedings that have stranded thousands of suspects in prolonged pretrial detention.”

The international human rights organization, however, noted that the efforts were overshadowed by failure to prosecute officials behind rights abuses.

A Moro group, in a fact-finding mission report, claimed that at least seven civilians were killed while three others were wounded in the mission to kill international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province.

Jerome Succor Aba, national spokesperson of Suara Bangsamoro, said residents of Barangay Tukanalipao were preparing for their daily activities when SAF commandos entered the community and opened fire at the house of the Panangulon family.

As a result, 5-year-old Sarah Panangulon was killed while her parents, Tots and Samrah were wounded, Aba said.

A farmer, identified as Badrudin Langalan, was also killed. His body was found near the wooden bridge in the village.

“His eyes were gouged out,” Aba said.

Aba said five other people were killed as they were leaving a mosque in Sitio Inugog.

“Civilians bore the brunt of the operations. They were made to suffer on suspicion that they are harboring terrorists. Suara calls for justice and recognition of the true victims and accountability for the police and Aquino administration,” Aba said. Karlos Manlupig, Inquirer Mindanao