MANILA (UCAN): The Catholic Church in the Philippines and the New York based Human Rights Watch voiced alarm over reported civilian killings and rights abuses brought about by government anti-insurgency operations on Negros Island in the central Philippines.
The New People’s Army [NPA] “has admitted to have extra-judicially killed at least eight people who they accused of being spies,” Carlos Conde, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, said on May 14.
“These executions, carried out after sham trials, violate international law and may constitute war crimes,” Conde said.
The Philippine military also needs to ensure that its counter-insurgency operations “do not violate the human rights of residents, even suspected rebels. Both parties need to abide by the rules of war,” he added.
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos, in a May 12 pastoral letter, called for the tolling of church bells across Negros Island every evening at 8.00pm “as a prayer for the end of violence” on the island.
The diocese is one of four on Negros Island that covers some towns and cities of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental provinces, including San Carlos City.
Alminaza’s pastoral letter, titled, Embracing Our Christian Duty to Work for Integral Peace, to be read during Sunday Masses, came amid a series of civilian deaths and the alleged May 6 clash between government forces and rebels in an area of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, which reportedly displaced some 580 residents.
These executions, carried out after sham trials, violate international law and may constitute war crimes
Bishop Alminaza
The NPA has been waging a guerrilla war since the late 1960s, the longest-running insurgency in the world.
It has been designated a terrorist group by the Philippine government, the United States, the European Union, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada.
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Vincent Parra, head of the Commission on Human Rights on Negros Island, said that a probe has been launched into the killings of civilians who were allegedly identified as “military agents” by rebel forces in April and May in various remote villages in Negros Occidental.
“Executing people is a violation of the right to life… Even our courts cannot order the death penalty. Killing cannot be justified on the allegation that they are military informers, it is a violation of the right to life,” Parra said in a statement to the media on May 11.
“We welcome any investigation that will shed light on these incidents and help bring justice for the victims and their families,” added Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division based in Negros Oriental, in a separate statement.
Bishop Alminaza pointed out that the social teaching of the Church emphasises “the need for us to build bridges of dialogue, to embrace solidarity, and to work tirelessly for peace.”
The bishop encouraged dialogue “to control and resolve the fundamental issues driving unrest, aiming for sustainable peace.”
The more than 50-year insurgency has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 40,000 people.
