Months of fighting between the Philippine military and the rebel group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have displaced scores of residents in Maguindanao, North Cotabato and other provinces in the South. Aside from constantly fleeing from bombardments and seeking safe shelter, some residents experience military abuse, on the pretext that they are aiding the rebel group.
Last March 1, 2009, three children and an adult were hurt by men in uniform as the former were about to board their dingy. In his statement to Mindanao Tulong Bakwet (MTB), a local organisation that assists civilians who have evacuated their homes and documents human rights violations, Norhad Datukan, 14, said that the one soldier slapped his face twice while being blind-folded and handcuffed with a packaging tape. The soldiers insisted that Norhad and three other companions, Mamandok Edza, 10, Mohamidin Edza, 13 and Ebspangga Edza, 25 were members of MILF’s 105 Base Command.
As the children had not yet returned, Mamandok’s father began searching and eventually saw his son and nephews along the riverbank. “Good thing my father followed us since we had not yet returned,” Mamandok said.
However Ebspangga was taken by the soldiers, along with eight other civilians whom he identified as carpenters working at the Lumupog Elementary School. He claimed that the eight men were handcuffed and blindfolded and later, mauled and exposed to the rain.
Ebspangga and the others were held by the military for one night. As soon as he was released, Ebspangga headed to the health centre where it was confirmed that he suffered multiple abrasions on both wrists, soft tissue contusions on the left shoulder and other injuries which made it difficult for him to move around.
With this incident, the families of the four victims decided to return to the evacuation centre. The incident was not isolated though. The continuous aerial bombardment has also forced more than 50 other families from different villages to return to these centres. NS
Source:
Mindanao Tulong Bakwet. (3 March 2009). IDPs Update. E-mail correspondence.
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