THE government failed to curb cases of state-sponsored violence against the people, especially children, said Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC) as BS Aquino III mark his four years as head of the state on June 30, 2014. Further adding that president coddles elements of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) responsible in numerous human rights violations.
“Unlike the government’s rhetoric claim of improving human rights situation, human rights violations and abuses continue with impunity in the Philippines. It’s been four years since Aquino laid down his promise of ‘daang matuwid’ (righteous path) but no substantial change has been realized and not a single military element implicated in cases of extrajudicial killing or torture and other human rights violations against children has been put to the scale of justice,” said Jacquiline Ruiz, executive director of CRC.
Ruiz said that in the four years of the Aquino administration, CRC has documented 18 cases of extra-judicial killings, 30 frustrated killings, 19 illegal arrests and detention, 19 cases of torture and 4 rape and sexual harassment. She also expressed alarm over the escalating cases of military attacks on schools and false branding of children victims of human rights violations as child soldiers.
“In rural areas, military troops occupy schools, daycare centers or barangay halls to serve as their barracks and/or posts resulting to school disruption and/or children dropping out of school due to fear. Incidents of encampment have been recently documented in different schools of Salugpongan Ta’tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center, a church-initiated school that provide literacy and numeracy for indigenous peoples in Mindanao last March. These troops also spread terror in these communities by continually harassing teachers, students and community members,” added Ruiz.
She stressed that it is very disquieting as children become witness and even direct targets of military atrocities. On the other hand, the government remains futile in addressing this issue of human rights violations despite pressures and concerns raised by various local and international human rights groups.
“As child rights advocates, we believe that Aquino, since his assumption of duty, failed to ensure the full promotion and protection of children’s rights and welfare. By further implementing the deceptive and violent Oplan Bayanihan, Aquino is equally responsible as the perpetrators for the cases of state-sponsored terror against children,” Ruiz ended.
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