Rights group KARAPATAN called for greater vigilance in 2025, as the past year ended with a series of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) which belied the posturing of the Marcos Jr. government that his administration has a “better” record of human rights.
“All of these incidents reveal violations of international humanitarian law, and show how the AFP and PNP blatantly disregard and attack the rights of civilians, the kin of victims, and communities that are reeling from military presence and attacks,” said KARAPATAN secretary general Cristina Palabay.
On December 27, 2024, two male teenagers were killed in Masbate by soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) stationed at Brgy. Paguihaman, Uson town. According to reports, the victims, identified as “Redyan,” 18, a resident of Brgy. Mongahay, and “JP,” 14, of Barangay Mabini, were fired upon by soldiers on their way home from a Christmas party at three in the morning of December 27. Both sustained gunshot wounds in the head, resulting in their instant death. The soldiers reportedly admitted that they thought the two were members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
“We strongly condemn the killing of the “Redyan” and “JP,” and demand that an investigation be done soon to identify the perpetrators of this senseless killing. These elements of the AFP should be held accountable,” said Palabay.
In Southern Tagalog, a humanitarian team by Karapatan’s regional chapter reported being harassed and condemned the “dirty tactics” used by officers of the Philippine National Police in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, and the 4th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, in delaying and deceptively taking credit for the “release” of the remains of Marife Gayadan, an alleged NPA member killed in an encounter between the military and the NPA at Sitio Tinis-an, Brgy. San Vicente, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, on December 18, 2024.
The military and police prevented Gayadan’s father, Pepe, a member of the Mangyan-Iraya indigenous tribe, from claiming and bringing home her remains. They took Pepe’s wife, Delia, to claim the deceased body, despite Pepe’s positive identification that the deceased body is his daughter’s. The military eventually brought the remains to the house of Gadayan’s parents in Paluan, Occidental Mindoro, and claimed credit for facilitating the funeral and burial of the deceased.
“Pinahirapan pa ng AFP at PNP ang mga magulang ng nasawi. It has become a modus of State security forces to withhold the remains of those they have killed, whether civilians or combatants, and use the opportunity to further harass the families as well as those assisting them, and deceptively claim credit. These should be investigated and stopped,” Palabay said.
Two coconut farmers arrested in Quezon province
KARAPATAN also condemned the arbitrary arrest of two coconut farmers in Brgy. Guinhalinan, San Narciso, Quezon, after the 85th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army issued a statement about an alleged encounter between the military and the NPA on December 12.
Ronilo Villanueva, a coconut farmer, was reportedly tending to his copra kiln when soldiers opened fire at him, wounding him in the foot. He was arrested along with “Genero,” with the 85th IBPA accusing them of being NPA supporters.
Apart from the arrests, the military forced the barangay officials to go on red alert and built checkpoints to block and harass members of the fact-finding mission led by Tanggol Quezon, which was supposed to look into the reported human rights violations in the community.
Days before the arrival of the humanitarian team, the local government of San Narciso issued a memorandum declaring as persona non grata a number of organizations including KARAPATAN, Anakbayan, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, among others. The LGU even issued a document which they called a certification of a legitimate encounter.
“Despite its pretentions and deception, the Marcos Jr. regime implements the same policies as the Duterte regime in its counter-insurgency campaign, targeting both combatants and civilians without distinction. Even the nefarious practice of red-tagging progressive groups, including Karapatan, has not stopped. This year, we raise with renewed vigor our demand for accountability and a stop to these attacks,” said Palabay. #