“The willful killing of Peralta by the military, who was unarmed at the time of her arrest, is a war crime that can never be justified under any circumstance. This is a blatant violation of (the IHL),” GABRIELA secretary general Clarice Palce said in a separate statement.
“These bombings, which have been described by locals as overkill, are not only a gross violation of human rights but also a reckless display of force.”
For Medy De Jesus, 74, a martial law survivor and member of human rights group Hustisya, the impending charter change could bring back another dictatorship and more human rights violations.
Karapatan demands a stop to what they describe as “steadily growing cases of violation against the International Humanitarian Law (IHL).”
“We are asking the CHR to extend help to the bereaved family of farmer Crispin Tingal and provide them with due assistance.”
“This will endanger the lives of the civilians because of the indiscriminate and extensive damage that may cause to the communities.”
A human rights group said the military should provide the needed medical services, be afforded visitation rights from his family and chosen lawyer, and be protected from torture and harassment.
“History shows that the state’s army and police officers are plagued by a culture of machismo, fascism, corruption, and a lack of respect for international humanitarian law. We remember names like Jovito Palparan, Hermogenes Esperon, Eduardo Año, Debold Sinas, Jonel Nuezca, among others.”
The National Democratic Front in Negros (NDF-Negros) said peace consultant and poet Ericson Acosta and peasant organizer Joseph Jimenez were stabbed and hacked, belying claims of the military that the two died during gun fight in Kabankalan City last Nov. 30.
NDF-Negros spokesperson Bayani Obrero said in a statement that Acosta and a companion were captured alive at around two o’clock in the morning of November 30 but were announced as casualties in a “fake encounter” a few hours later.
“Under International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention, Raca is a prisoner of war and hors de combat, by virtue of her being under the custody of the Marines,” Karapatan-ST said in a statement. “She has rights that should be ensured by the authorities that currently have her.”