Wednesday, April 23, 2008 Army: Baby death report a propaganda By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE reported death of a nine-month-old baby in an evacuation center in New Bataan, Compostela Valley was dismissed by the Philippine Army as nothing but propaganda by the New People's Army (NPA) and its militant group supporters.
In a text message, Army 10th Infantry Division spokesman Coloenl Rolando Bautista said there is no massive evacuation in New Bataan as a result of the ongoing military operations there. He also denied receiving any report about the death of a child in an evacuation center.
"At present there is no evacuation in New Bataan. It has now become a pattern of the CPP-NPA to capitalize on the issue of evacuation to put pressure on the military to stop its military offensive. If you will revisit the previous statements of the legal fronts of (Communist Party of the Philippines) CPP-NPA, whenever there is military operation, they often use the issue that 'a child has died because of the evacuation' when in fact it is not true. Our troops follow a stringent rule of engagement of respecting the culture and sensitivities of the populace in the area. Moreover, the safety and protection of non-combatants are out paramount concern during operations," Bautista said.
Major Medel Aguilar of the 5th Civil Military Group also denied accusations of human rights violations made by the government soldiers in the conduct of their operation. He said the accusations made by militant groups like Karapatan and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) are but part of the enemies' efforts to pressure the government to stop their offensive actions against the rebels.
In a text message Monday, the KMP said the 50 families came from Barangay Manurigao, New Bataan and are now staying at three evacuation centers, namely the Mandaya Village, Ganggangan and Taytayan.
"Naa nay namatay na nine-month-old but until now wala pa gyud ayuda gikan sa LGU (A nine-year-old baby has already died and yet they have not received help from the local government)," KMP said. The baby was identified as Romilyn Cayan.
Cayan reportedly got sick during the evacuation and died on April 17.
KMP blamed the evacuation on the massive military operations conducted in towns of New Bataan and Compostela.
The militant group said the operation caused various human rights violations such as forcible evacuation, intimidation and harassments, food blockade, military encampment within civilian populace, destruction and divestment of properties of peasant and lumad families.
They identified the barangays of Taytayan, Manurigao, Mapao, Sarmiento, Andap, Bongloy, Bantakan, Kalamukan, Pagsabangan in New Bataan and barangays Panansalan, Nursery Mambusao, Spurdos, Putingbato in Compostela as the most affected by the military operations.
According to the KMP, farm animals were divested and slaughtered. Trees, plants, and abaca were cut down during the clearing of the area for the military helicopter to land. The local residents in Compostela allegedly protested as well since military soldiers in full battle gear and high-powered weapons were sleeping and staying in their houses and schools and they were being prevented to buy supplies of food especially rice.
