UNCEASING VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW IN NEGROS AND BOHOL CONTINUE TO MAKE PHILIPPINE COUNTRYSIDE AS HOWLERING WILDERNESS
The Asia-Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (APCHRP) condemns the continued violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) among rural communities done by state forces of the Philippines. In particular, violations against IHL have intensified in the islands of Negros and Bohol during the last weeks of February.
On February 22, aerial strikes were carried out by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Escalante, Negros Occidental a day after a said encounter was done between the forces of the Philippine Army and the New People’s Army. At least five rockets were fired by a helicopter in Brgy. Pinapugasan. A video posted on social media showed tracer bullets flying over a house at night, showing instances of random firing amidst civilian communities. More than 300 families forcibly evacuated the area as a result.
The next day, five members of the New People’s Army, namely Atty. Hannah Cesista, Parlio Historia, Marlon Omusura, Alberto Sancho, and Domingo Compoc were captured in Bilar, Bohol. They were collectively called the “Bilar 5”. Despite having been arrested, they were reported to have died in an encounter with the Philippine Army instead. Initial evidence pinpoints to violations of rules of war, revealing that the Bilar 5 were summarily executed instead. A picture of Compoc, still alive, surfaced, showing him under the custody of a soldier and showing him allegedly captured. Witnesses from the area have said that Compoc was hacked at his neck and torso, while Cesista was ordered to crawl on mud before her execution–such acts show the continuous scheme of the Philippine Army to orchestrate the looks of an encounter.
“Unceasing violations of IHL in Negros and Bohol continue to make the Philippine countryside as howlering wilderness,” said Sr. Patricia Fox, APCHRP Spokesperson. “Instead of addressing the roots of poverty and armed conflict, state forces under the Marcos administration are ramping up militarization, worsening human rights violations especially in the countryside, making rural folk scatter through forced evacuation” she added.
APCHRP continues to speak against violations of IHL. Armed combatants who have been captured and/or surrendered should still be protected by rules of war. They must not be subjected to torture, or worse, killings, like those experienced by the Bilar 5. IHL also ensures that unarmed citizens would not be subjected to red-tagging, harassments, hamletting, and other human rights violations. Lack of accountability from state forces normalizes violations of IHL and must not be tolerated.
These instances of heightened militarization underscore the worsening human rights situation in the Philippines, “Fox said. During President Marcos Jr.’s speech at the Australian Parliament on February 29, 2024, Australian Senator Janet Rice raised a placard saying “Stop the Human Rights Abuse” emphasizing that abuses continue under Marcos Jr. regime.
Western countries, especially the United States, must stop military support and funding to the Philippine military for these human rights abuses. Moreover, “we deeply urge the freedom-loving peoples of the whole world to be in solidarity with the Filipino people against militarization of the countryside and violations of International Human Rights Law,” Fox ended.
For Reference: Sr. Patricia Fox APCHRP Spokesperson
