Samarca was last seen tied around the neck and extremities, neck was slit open and with a stab wound in his left side in one of the classrooms of ALCADEV. (Photo from Karapatan sa Caraga facebook account)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Local human rights group Karapatan have documented 94 individuals killed by paramilitary troops since July 2010 to June 30, 2016.
Cristina Palabay in a statement said the killers of the said victims were members of the Civilian Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU), Special Civilian Armed Auxiliary (SCAA), Investment Defense Force (IDF), and other paramilitary groups such as the Magahat-Bagani Force and Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB).
Just recently, September 13, farmer-couple Totong Gascon and Rita Gascon, were allegedly killed by Bagani paramilitary forces in Sitio Kiatao, Barangay Lanao in Arakan Valley, North Cotabato.
Karapatan said they were not able to conduct its independent investigation in the said community “due to security considerations, in the light of the military operations of the AFP in the area.”
In Bukidnon, six-month pregnant Makenet Gayoran was killed in a shooting rampage by the New Indigenous People’s Army for Reform (NIPAR). It also left several community members, including children, injured.
The Magahat-Bagani forces were also tagged by residents in the killing of IP school executive director Emerito Samarca and community leaders Dionel Campos and Juvello Sinzo on September 1, 2015 in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.
Karapatan said there are at least 25 paramilitary groups operate in the country under the command of the AFP.
“Public funds amounting to at least P5 billion were annually allocated for the said groups through the Department of National Defense (DND) budget under the Aquino administration,” the group said.
The group also urged the government’s armed forces to comply with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to take control of paramilitary units.
On September 22, President Duterte instructed the AFP to take full control of the paramilitary groups such as the “Bagani” and other units operating in Bukidnon, Surigao and North Cotabato, “I am now ordering the Army to take full control itong mga Bagani Command and the — there is another group I forgot the name,” he said quoted in the official gazette.
Palabay said, “there should be no reason for the AFP to deny their links now.”
“Instead, the AFP should follow their Commander-in-Chief’s order and pull-out all paramilitary troops out of the communities,” she said.
Pres. Duterte said the paramilitary groups operating with firearms issued by the government would undermine the peace process.
“Mahinto na sana ito (this should be stopped) because we are really trying our best to come up with a peaceful country,” he said.
Rigoberto Sanchez, NPA-Southern Mindanao Region spokesman said “the crimes of paramilitaries have become increasingly frequent and vile, especially under the IP-centric Oplan Bayanihan tailored from the US Counterinsurgency Guide.”
Sanchez claimed the Army uses the paramilitaries “as convenient excuse for their own violations.”
“On July 27, during the GPH unilateral ceasefire, the 72IB-AFP mobilized the Alamara in an offensive operation in the hinterlands of Kapalong, Davao del Norte which resulted in a counter-offensive action by the NPA. The AFP later cried foul over the incident claiming that the Alamara were members of the CAFGU who were returning home from their combat operation,” he said.
Sanchez said the presence of paramilitary units “sow terror and disunity” among the Lumad people and peasants in the countryside. (davaotoday.com)
