Philippine Human Rights Body Investigates Killing Of Innocent Civilians

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 8, 2008) – The Philippines Commission on Human Rights has began an investigation into the bloody shootout between policemen and members of a criminal gang that left 16 people dead, including innocent civilians caught in the cross-fire.

Commissioner Lilia de Lima said there is an investigation going and that they have asked the police to provide them detailed reports of what transpired that led to the firefight.

The weekend clash killed five civilians, including a father and his seven-year old daughter. The rest were alleged members of gang blamed for the spate of bank robberies in the metropolis.

Witnesses said members of the Police Special Action Force opened fire on a car Alfonso de Vera, 53, and his daughter, Alyanna, was driving inside the United Parañaque Subdivision 4.

Police said it is also investigating the shootout.

The Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns and its member-organizations led by the Children’s Rehabilitation Center expressed outrage over the killings.

“We extend our condolences with Alyanna’s mother and join her in her call for justice for the death of her loved ones,” said Alphonse Rivera, spokesperson of Salinlahi.

Rivera said the news of the killings of innocent civilians was particularly distressing especially since the human rights community will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights on December 10.

“It is indeed alarming to note that our children are not safe from human rights violations. Whether they are in the countryside’s or in the cities, State forces should always keep in mind the respect for human life, especially children,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)

US military projects up in Lanao del Norte

Philippine Army Brigadier Benito de Leon briefs Gov. Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte on proposed development projects in the province.

LANAO DEL NORTE (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 22, 2008) - Local military and American counterparts met with officials of Lanao del Norte and briefed them on the development projects being undertaken in the province.

Col. Benito de Leon, commander of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade, US Army Capt. Christian Knutzen, of the US Army, met with Gov. Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte and presented a list of projects being considered in Lanao del Norte.

Knutzen reported that a 27-kilometer road had been approved by his government to be built passing through three towns - starting from Kauswagan by the coast through Matunggao and leading farther inland to Poona Piagapo.

“The survey, prior to actual implementation of the road project, is to take place within a few days,” De Leon said.

Both military officers also presented to the governor the consolidated list of plans mostly infrastructure projects as proposed by the different municipal mayors in the province. The proposed projects, however, will still be subject to scrutiny before its nomination for approval of the US government.

Knutzen is a part of the US military stationed in the area in line with the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement. His group undertakes civil-military activities in support of the local military particularly in development projects to hasten stability in conflict areas. They have also been noted to carry out medical missions mostly in the depressed areas.

At the same time, De Leon also disclosed to the governor that plans on are underway, on instructions of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to build a military camp in the hinterland municipality of Poona Piagapo. This town was the site of Camp Bilal which Abdullah Macapaar, a notorious commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation, had previously controlled.

The rebel camp was earlier allowed as an area of temporary stay for Macapaar’s group with the ongoing peace negotiations between Manila and the MILF, but was eventually denied him after his pillage of Kolambugan and Kauswagan towns on August 18.

“We are optimistic that the planned development of the area will address the security issues associated with its inaccessibility, and will eventually usher in economic activity to benefit the locals,” De Leon said.

Dimaporo also ordered the establishment of an Area Coordinating Center (ACC) in Lanao del Norte.

The ACC is a mechanism borne out of Executive Order No. 21 creating a "coordinative" and integrated system on internal security. It also serves as a point of contact of the Peace and Order Council, Disaster Coordinating Council, Development Council, Non-Government Organizations, People’s Organizations, and other entities at the sub-national and local levels.

The operational concerns include developmental operations,counterinsurgency, anti-organized crime, maintenance of peace and order, disaster relief and rehabilitation, environmental enhancement and protection, and other special events that need concerted efforts or actions of cognizant government agencies and NGOs. (Mindanao Examiner)