Bulatlat.com

61 Persons Summarily Executed Under Arroyo Administration

Government soldiers have summarily executed at least 61 persons since Jan. 22 this year, the day President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed power. Thirty-five persons were killed in seven incidents of massacre, while another 26, including a five-year old boy, died in various cases of summary execution.

BY BULATLAT.COM
Bulatlat.com

The report does not include other cases of summary execution and other atrocities involving military and police forces in other operations against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in southern Philippines. Similar cases of human rights violations have also been mounting in Basilan and other southern Mindanao provinces where operations are ongoing in government’s futile bid to flush out the Abu Sayyaf extremists. All these have remained largely unreported.

One of the most recent cases of massacre was that of five fishermen in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, some three hours drive north of Manila last Oct. 8.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported that they were New People’s Army (NPA) guerillas killed in an encounter. Investigations by human rights groups however showed they were actually killed by soldiers of the 54^th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

Uncovering the Truth: EMJP Sec. Gen. Danilo Beltran (right) headed the fact-finding mission that investigated the killing of five fishermen in Pantabangan. Photo courtesy of EMJP

According to the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (EMJP), there was no armed encounter that day between the AFP and NPA in Sitio Tuli, Barangay Conversion, Pantabangan, site of the killing. Several residents, including the barangay captain, testified that they knew all five victims and that they were not NPA members.

EMJP secretary general Danilo Beltran, dubbing the incident “Pantabangan 5 Massacre,” also cited the victims of other massacre cases the human rights group documented:

four farmers in Antipolo City, killed on Oct. 21;
five farmers and one fisherman in Barangay Burgos, Talibon, Bohol, killed on June 23;
a United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP) pastor, a teacher, three peasants and five unidentified persons in Sitio Baag, Barangay Iba, San Jose Tarlac, reporteldy killed on May 28 by elements of the 69^th IB PA and CAFGU;
three persons in Barangay Villa Padua, Gumaca, Quezon, allegedly killed on February 18 by elements of the 76^th IB PA;
three undientified persons from Barangay Tabiac, Igbaras, Iloilo, reportedly killed on Feb. 12 by members of the Philippine National Police Provincial Mobile Group;
a civilian and four suspected NPA members in Sitio Tipunan, Barangay Magsaysay, Siniloan, Laguna, reporteldy killed on January 27 by elements of the 2^nd Scout Ranger Coy.

EMJP reported documenting a total of 205 cases of human rights violations under the Arroyo government. A total of 326 individuals and 50 communities were reportedly victimized by AFP troops’ disregard for human rights.

The remains of one of the victims, Jay-Ar Alvendia, 15 years old. Photo courtesy of EMJP

In the Pantabangan massacre, the bodies of the five fishermen bore signs of severe torture, according to EMJP. Their exhumation of the bodies reportedly showed the following “unusual wounds and injuries”:

16-year old Martin Cosep’s eyes were both shot, the back of his head shattered
15-year old Jay-Ar Alvendia’s shoulder bones collapsed, most likely inflicted by repeated beating
Gertrude Curamen had cuts all over his body, his middle and ring fingers cut off, while the index and small fingers barely connected
18-year old Leo Gallardo had a broken neck and gunshot wounds in various parts of the body
Jose Martin had a large gaping slash wound in the neck, his right arm fractured and had gunshot wounds as well

Bulatlat.com

We want to know what you think of this article.