DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner /19 Apr) – Political activists on Thursday urged the Commission on Human Rights to expedite the investigation on the murder of a nine-year old school girl shot dead by government soldiers in the southern Philippines.
Grecil Buya was killed on March 31 during a military offensive against New People’s Army rebels in Compostela Valley’s New Bataan town. The military initially reported that the girl was fighting alongside with rebels.
The Gabriela Women’s Party List group also picketed Thursday in front of the CHR regional office in Davao City.
“As mothers, we are very dismayed over the escalating number of child-victims by these atrocious killings of the military and the nonchalance of the Arroyo government that coddles these perpetrators,” Prof. Luz Ilagan, of the Gabriela Women’s Party List said.
“We urge the CHR to fast track its investigation regarding this case as it highlights the prevalence of a policy within the organization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines against the basic rights of the children, especially those in highly militarized areas,” Ilagan said.
Buya is the latest victim of children casualties in the hands of the military while in the course of counter-insurgency campaign. She is the 59th children killed by the military the past years, Gabriela said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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