At least 28 children have been killed under the Aquino administration’s counterinsurgency program, a human rights group said on Saturday as victims and relatives gathered to press for justice ahead of International Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.
Among the child-victims documented by Karapatan was seven-year-old Sunshine Jabinez who was hit by a stray bullet fired by a drunken soldier in Pantukan, Compostela Valley, in 2011.
Soldiers claiming that they were after members of the New People’s Army (NPA) also opened fire at children walking in Mabini, Compostela Valley.
“Mga bata lang mi (We are just children),” John Earl Antivo had shouted. But his eight-year-old brother, Roque Antivo, was hit and died shortly.
The daughter of Dionel Campos, a lumad leader killed on Sept. 1 in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, yesterday lamented that the suspects remained free despite a warrant of arrest.
“He was killed in front of the community and my three siblings,” Michelle Campos said.
The attack on Alcadev alternative school in Lianga was among the 15 massacres documented by Karapatan since President Aquino took office.
As of Nov. 30, paramilitary groups have been involved in the killing of 94 out of 304 victims of extrajudicial killings under Aquino’s term, Karapatan said.
Kerlan Fanagel, spokesperson of Kalumaran Mindanao, reiterated calls for the military to pull out its troops and disband paramilitary groups. He said some 6,000 persons had fled their homes due to the conflict.
“Forced evacuation due to intensified military and paramilitary counterinsurgency operations has brought so much damage to the lives of Filipinos, especially among children,” Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general, said.
Palabay said Karapatan would continue supporting the victims’ call to end impunity and make the perpetrators accountable.
Victims, relatives and rights advocates carried mock handcuffs with the words “#Jail Noynoy” to symbolize their call for justice since Mr. Aquino is Commander in Chief of the military.
They will join the protest on Mendiola, Manila, on Dec. 10 to mark International Human Rights Day.