WTF - A village reading center occupied by military!

Children Right’s group slams AFP’s encampment in communities
By 105.9 Balita FM
April 20, 2015
ABDavao

DAVAO CITY – Children Rehabilitation Center (CRC) in Southern Mindanao slams the Armed Forces of the Philippines assigned in Compostela Valley province for occupying public structures like a reading center, schools, barangay hall and civilian houses as their military quarters.

CRC has documented last year, 38 schools utilized by military as camp or barracks in various areas in Southern Mindanao.

The AFP officials have repeatedly denied this but videos and pictures documenting actual encampments are no lies or undeniable, according to CRC.

A Humanitarian Peace Mission was recently conducted in Maco and Mabini, Compostela province to investigate the reports from the organizations and residents about military personnel occupying their houses and other public facilities.

Rius Valle, CRC advocacy officer said , “the result of the mission validates our claim that the military illegally installs camps in communities and schools and sleep in civilian houses.”

The mission was conducted in Brgy. Golden Valley and Special Brgy. Candinuyan of Mabini municipality; Brgys. Malamodao, Elizalde, New Leyte, Panoraon, and Tagbaros, in Maco municipality where there is heavy presence of 71st Infantry Battalion Philippine Army of 7th Infantry Division and 25th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army of 10th Infantry Division.

The said mission cited different types of human rights and international humanitarian law violations including violations of domicile affecting 7,501 households and 32,261 individuals.

Valle said that the Commission on Human Rights and other agencies like the Regional Peace and order Council must look unto this issue.

He added, “Militarization indeed breeds human rights violations and this violation is committed by agents of the state, the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Children are common victims of community encampment.”

Valle challenged the Aquino administration to push for the resumption of the peace talks between the NDFP and the government instead of victimizing the civilians especially children of its all-out-war policies. | PR