Friday, September 12, 2008 Congressman blames military for death of civilians By Ben O. Tesiorna
A DABAWENYA partylist representative is holding the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) accountable for the death of several civilians in the continuing military offensive in Mindanao.
In a statement, Gabriela Women's Partylist Representative Luzviminda Ilagan condemned the "irresponsible attack" by the AFP on a civilian area in Datu Piang, Maguindanao on Monday, killing six people. Several others were reported wounded and displaced.
"What the AFP did is a violation of the International Humanitarian Law, which states that the state is responsible for the protection of the people living in conflict areas and not participating in the war. They are especially accountable for the safety of women and children who are the most vulnerable targets of war. As it turned out, it is the supposed guardians who violated this law," Ilagan said.
She urged the government to conduct an investigation on the irresponsible actions of its military, especially after reports that the "government forces hunting down the MILF used bomber aircrafts to indiscriminately fire at civilians resulting in the death of six members of the Manunggal family, including four children and an unborn child."
Ilagan said military personnel involved in this recent atrocity ought to be punished to give justice to the civilian victims.
"To stop the human rights violations against innocent people in conflict areas, Malacañang should immediately order a ceasefire and a pullout of AFP troops from Mindanao," Ilagan said.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief defended pilots who opened fire on Moro rebels who also killed civilians in Datu Piang, Maguindanao.
PAF chief Lieutenant General Pedrito Cadungog said in a report that the rocket attacks at the Liguasan marsh Monday were "justified" because the aircraft were fired at from the ground by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels.
The military said 16 MILF rebels were also killed when aircraft attacked 10 boats of what it said were MILF fighters.
Cadungog said the pilots did not violate established rules of engagement "because it was confirmed from the ground that they were fired at."
"They were shot at, so what do you do? Rules of engagement compel that you fire back," Cadungog said as he stressed that in combat, "moments of indecision can kill you also."
The government has launched an investigation into the deaths, and the International Committee of the Red Cross is conducting a parallel inquiry. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), on the other hand, said it is gathering evidence to determine whether there were violations. It had earlier warned of mounting civilian deaths in the fighting.
"We have directed our regional office (in Mindanao) to investigate. Children as collateral damage is unacceptable," commission chief Leila de Lima said.
An unconfirmed report received by Sun.Star Wednesday evening revealed that a peace volunteer working in Central Mindanao claimed that nine civilians were killed while nine others were wounded since August 21.
The figure was from the personal account of the unidentified peace volunteer and more could have been killed or wounded, the report said.
The dead and the wounded were identified as Sabaniya Dimautang, pregnant, 35 years old and a resident of Barangay Montay. Her daughter, Nor-ada, 15 years old, was also wounded. A certain lumad resident of Barangay Montay and a young boy named Buko Intil, 19, were also wounded. They were allegedly hit by 105mm mortar.
On August 23, 11-year-old Homedy Abdulrahman died. Rabiy Abdulrahman, 7, and Ula Ponak, 12, were wounded. They were also hit by 105mm howitzer. They are all residents of Barangay Butilen, Datu Piang, Maguindanao.
On August 28, military planes "keep on dropping prohibited bombs" at swampy area of Nimao, Balanaken, Liong, Patulang, Nunangan.
On September 8, two bomber planes dropped bombs targeting lower part of Barangay Nimao. Bailyn Raya, 10, grade 2 pupil, has 50-50 chance to survive. Guiamaludin Mandi, 13, was also wounded. They are all residents of Sitio Dagading, Barangay Butilen. They were both hit by a bomb.
Bailyn Mandi, 10; Zukarudin Mandi, 7; Adtayan Mandi, 5; Faidza Mandi, 2; and Aida Mandi, 23 and pregnant, all died due to serious injury caused by "bomb explosion".
"The father of dead children named Daya Manunggal and his son, Keng Mandi, is missing. It was said that they were also dead and buried at Sitio Dagading, Barangay Butilen. One child named Guiamaludin Mandi was said to be in Cotabato Regional Hospital due to the injury," the report stated.
The peace worker claimed there are approximately 1,200 soldiers deployed in their area.
"Yet until now the wounded victims are still undelivered to the hospital and still not getting any medical treatment. Their situation and suffering are worse, they are nearly dying. We have 200 evacuees here, from adults to children, boys and girls, heading to Poblacion," the peace worker said.
On September 9, more than 12 houses were allegedly burned by the Philippine Army's 54th IB at Barangay Sambulan, Datu Saudi, Maguindanao.
"Civilian na ang ginagantihan nila ng mga suundalo dito. Pati mga bahay sinusunog nila. Sana nga may mga US media dito at nang masaksihan ang mga human rights violation dito," said the peace volunteer.
The AFP had been denying any accusations of human rights violations against their men involved in the Mindanao offensives. Instead, they blame the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for taking civilians as human shields whenever the government troops confront them.
The AFP also reminded the public that the MILF rebels started the armed conflict by raiding villages in North Cotabato and Lanao last month.
