A “special investigating body” of the “Compostela Valley People’s Democratic Government” has recommended “an order for the immediate arrest and commencement of the trial” of 23 respondents composed of army, police and government civilian personnel implicated in the “murder” of Roque Antivo.
The family of the slain eight-year boy reacted strongly to the decision of the government prosecutor who thrashed its murder complaint against soldiers they claimed to have been in the area at the time of the incident.
“Are authorities really that insensitive to children’s rights, that children can become collateral damage to military offensives?” asked Rius Valle, Children’s Rehabilitation Center Southern Mindanao spokesperson
