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Raps eyed vs. military over alleged torture of 2 Tagum residents


 

A man from Tagum City in Davao del Norte and his companion are set to file charges against the military over alleged human rights violation, GMA News' Raffy Tima reported on 24 Oras on Friday.

Janry Mensis said members of the Philippine Army's 71st Infantry Batallion tortured and tried to burn him and his underage companion alive last December.

He said the soldiers were accusing them of being members of the New People's Army (NPA) despite their insistence that they are farmers and small scale miners.

Earlier arrest

Before the soldiers took custody of them, they were arrested by the police over alleged robbery but were later on freed due to lack of evidence.

"Nung umalis kami sa police station, doon sa labas meron nang nakaabang na sasakyan, 'yung kulay green. Doon pinapasok kami. Doon sa loob meron nang mga sundalo, naka-uniform," Mensis said.

He said they were brought to the headquarters of the 71st IB where they were tortured for eight days. He said they were locked inside an ambulance and were not fed properly.

"Sabi nila, 'Dito na kayo matutulog para mabangungutan niyo 'yung mga kasamahan ko na pinatay niyo'," Mensis said.

Mensis also said that on December 6, they were brought to a forested area in Compostela Valley where the soldiers allegedly tried to burn them alive.

CHR, Karapatan

The Commission on Human Rights and the human rights group Karapatan are helping Mensis and his companion file a complaint against the military. Karapatan said the military violated the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights.

"Itong kaso nila ay nagpapatunay na hindi totoo na walang human rights abuses sa panahon na ipinatutupad itong martial law sa Mindanao," said Roneo Clamor, Karapatan deputy secretary general.

"Meals on our table"

The military, on the other hand, said it is ready to face the charges.

"Allegations against our troops made by some group aligned to the CPP-NPA ideology are meals [on] our table," the 10th Infantry Division said in a statement. "We expect more of these after 10ID gained grounds in its campaign against CPP-NPA terrorist group."

"As for 10ID, we will cooperate with the legal, responsive and concerned authorities," it added. "As for the complaint, our units will cooperate also on the investigation with the PNP." —KBK, GMA News

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