“BS Aquino’s ‘business as usual’ and calloused attitude reared its ugly head once again. This time, on his own men killed in Mamasapano. He has shown the same insensitivity to the victims of human rights violations under his rule; and, the same indifference to the victims of typhoon Yolanda,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general.
“BS Aquino’s ‘business as usual’ and calloused attitude reared its ugly head once again. This time, on his own men killed in Mamasapano. He has shown the same insensitivity to the victims of human rights violations under his rule; and, the same indifference to the victims of typhoon Yolanda,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general.
“In a way, we find similarities between the plight of the families of the victims of human rights violations and those of the members of the Special Action Forces (SAF) who were used as pawns in the US-Aquino’s ‘war on terror’. They, too, are victims of Aquino’s puppetry to the interests of the United States government,” added Palabay, citing reports on the role of the US in initiating the operations with Aquino and suspended PNP Chief Alan Purisima, and by dangling the US$5-million reward.
At the same time, Karapatan demanded that an independent investigation on the incident should also include the reported cases of civilians killed in the Mamasapano incident. “The US-Aquino regime is accountable for these violations, too. Ang daming dapat sagutin ni Pres. Aquino. It is not enough to dish out a string of words, however kilometric they are. The problem is, he spoke too much but said nothing,” said Palabay.
Initial reports sent by Kawagib-Moro Human Rights Alliance based in Cotabato City cited several victims of extrajudicial killing, death due to indiscriminate firing, and more than 1,500 victims of forced evacuation, among them:
- In the morning of January 25, while residents of Bgy. Tukalanipa, Mamasapano were preparing for their morning prayer, and some to tend their farm, PNP-SAF entered the community and started firing at the house of Tots Panangulon, probably on suspicion that that members Jamaah Islamiyah were hiding there. A child, Sarah Panangulon, died while her father Tots and mother Samrah were injured.
- A farmer, Badrudin Langalan, was found hogtied and dead at a bridge at Bgy Tukanalipao. His body was riddled with bullets, his eyes gouged. Sarah Lawani Langalan, Badrudin’s wife, said her husband passed through the bridge to go to Bgy. Tukanalipao crossing to have his cellphone charged. The wife believed he met members of SAF.
- The local government of Mamasapano also reported five persons who died inside the Islamic Center in the village of Inubog, Bgy. Tukanalipao. They were praying when members of the SAF fired at them. Witnesses believed that the SAF suspected there were JI terrorists among them. Three other still unnamed civilians were wounded in the incident. ###