HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. The dispositive portion of the investigation findings released by the Commission on Human Rights in Caraga Region dated Dec. 28, 2020 showed that human rights violations were committed by the communist New People’s Army in an ambush-slaying of Datu Hawudon Jumar Bucales, the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Lianga, Surigao del Sur. Bucales and two of his companions were killed when waylaid on Oct. 4, 2020 in Barangay Banahao, Lianga town. (Photo courtesy of 3SFBn)
BUTUAN CITY – The Commission on Human Rights in Caraga Region has found violations of human rights perpetrated by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) after the group killed last year the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Lianga town in Surigao del Sur.
Rebels admitted killing Datu Hawudon Jumar Bucales, the IPMR of Lianga town, in an ambush on Oct. 4, 2020.
In a December 28, 2020 report, CHR-Caraga said the attack on Bucales violated the "principles of distinction and precaution".
“In gist, the principle of distinction requires that parties to an armed conflict must distinguish between civilians and combatants. Attacks must not be directed against any civilians. On the other hand, the principle of precaution directs the parties to undertake constant care to spare civilians,” the CHR-Caraga report said.
It also noted that the attack also killed two other civilians and wounded others.
The military welcomed the CHR's findings, signed by the agency's director for Caraga Region, Atty. Jerefe D. Tubigon-Bacang.
“We thank the CHR for their prompt response and resolution on the human rights violations committed by the NPA terrorists,” said Lt. Col. Joey B. Baybayan, commander of the Army's 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn), in a statement Monday.
With the CHR's help, Baybayan said the killings and other forms of human rights violations committed by the NPA would finally be given justice.
NPA harassments continue
In the same statement, 3SFBn also condemned the NPA rebels for the "continuing harassments" against civilians in Caraga Region.
1Lt. Krisjuper Andreo J. Punsalan, 3SFBn civil-military operations officer, said that civilians from Barangay Mabuhay in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur executed affidavit-complaints Sunday (Feb. 7) against the rebels responsible for the harassment of a patrol base in the area on Jan. 29 this year. The attacks wounded a civilian.
Punsalan said the complaint named Rizaldy Sumonod as the leader of the seven NPA rebels who harassed the patrol base in the area.
The wounded farmer, identified as 26-year-old Braeil Salinas, sustained a gunshot wound in the stomach, he added.
“The CNTs’ (Communist NPA Terrorists’) attacks on civilians and unarmed individuals only proved that they are desperate and violating the CARHRIHL to terrify the people,” Baybayan said.
CARHRIHL stands for Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law
Punsalan said the NPA rebels are losing their mass base due to the full implementation of the whole-of-nation approach of the government to end the local communist armed conflict. (PNA)
