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In 2012, William Bugatti was in the list of "target persons" of the 86th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army under the 5th Infantry Division where he was described as a human rights officer and "utak ng NPA" (brains of the NPA).
“I know that we [activists] are targets since this is a desperate act of the government to silence its critics and to paralyze the legal movement.” – Christian Tuayon
“If he died in an encounter, they would not hear anything from us. Our family would just claim his body. But when we learned that he was still alive when he was taken by the soldiers and the police and ended up dead while in their custody, we are determined to fight for justice.” ˆGene Campaner, brother of slain NPA guerrilla
“Legal proceedings are expensive and inaccessible to the poor while constitutional rights have remained ‘paper rights’ and international treaties on human rights as ‘lip service.’ – National Union of People’s Lawyers
The petitioners maintained that public prosecutor Rosulo Vivero committed “prosecutorial misconduct when he knowingly used recycled and falsified evidence as basis to file multiple murder charges.”
Freddie Ligiw was supposed to meet with human rights groups to narrate how he was forcibly used as a guide by soldiers from the 41st IBPA of the AFP when he went missing. The bodies of Freddie, his brother and father were later found in a shallow grave.
“The human rights situation under the Aquino administration is as worrisome as the situation during the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. Perpetrators from state security forces are not being held accountable for their crimes, and much worse, they get juicy promotions, thereby keeping and perpetuating themselves in power." – Ecumenical Voice
The NUPL vowed to file countercharges against the police “to teach them a lesson that they are supposed to be law enforcers and should respect the rights of citizens.”
“It is image building. The US government is trying to soften its image among Filipinos and also in the international community as it prepares for an increased and permanent presence in the Philippines for its vaunted Asian pivot.”
Randy Vegas and Raul Camposano are organizers of government employees under Courage and yet they are to be charged in court because of accusations that they participated in two ambuscades of the New People’s Army – one in Camarines Norte, in southern part of Luzon island and another in Ifugao at the far north – which allegedly occurred just days apart.
“The appointment of a PC [Philippine Constabulary] relic to head the claims board is not only a grievous insult to the struggle against martial law but is also a shameless denial of the ideals of asserting freedom and democracy that was highlighted during the first Edsa People Power uprising in 1986.” – SELDA
“To address impunity, it’s not enough to pass laws. Laws have to be enforced. They have to work in a way that the rights of the people who do not have economic power are protected.”
“The victims have been pointing to state security forces as the perpetrators of the human rights violations during the Marcos dictatorship. Why did Aquino appoint someone from the ranks of violators? It would be even better for President BS Aquino to appoint Gen. Palparan to complete the cruelty of his insensitivity.” -- SELDA
Progressive groups in Northern Mindanao noted the manner of attack is “a typical strategy of the riding-in-tandem death squads that haunted social justice activists in the Philippines.”
“The use of schools for military purposes puts children at risk of attack and hampers children’s right to education.” – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
RELATED STORY | ‘Military presence in schools results in rights violations’
Last year, soldiers from the 25th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army occupied the Salugpongan Ta’ Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center, Inc. (STTICLCI) in Purok 4-B, Mangayon village, Compostela Valley. The soldiers reportedly arrested four students, interrogated, and used them as guides in military operations.
They allowed the people, even kids, to hold their guns and pose for the cameras. Placed in front of the tent that has camouflaged sacks on top of one another is a machine gun. Two mortar launchers- short and long range, were also in display.
“There is hope that other perpetrators would be identified.” -- Mrs. Edita Burgos
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