By Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz— Provincial officials of Capiz were urged to investigate the deaths of nine persons in the remote villages of Tapaz, Capiz during joint police and military operations on Dec 30, 2020.
Lawyer Remia Fuentes-Bartolome, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Capiz Chapter, said that “it’s time and proper for the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Capiz to conduct an investigation in order to determine what really happened during the serving of search warrants by the authorities that resulted to a bloody incident.”
Bartolome said IBP-Capiz is ready to give free legal assistance should the victims of Tapaz raids seek their help. “We are saddened by the incident because it brought fears to the residents more particularly the old and children,” she said.
A former Chairman of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Capiz, Bartolome said the group condoled with the families of the victims.
Some of them were traumatized, especially the children.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has also launched an investigation into the incident. In a statement on Tuesday, CHR Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana said it is “with utmost concern” that the CHR launched a motu proprio investigation on the incident.
“To this end, the Commission, through CHR Region VI, is already moving to gather documents and affidavits to resolve if human rights violations were committed and ultimately call for accountability for all those found to have caused such an affront to human rights and dignity,” she said.
Police earlier alleged that those killed were New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who fought back as operatives served search warrants for illegal possession of firearms and explosives. But some relatives said the fatalities did not resist arrest and that the firearms and explosives found in their residences were allegedly planted.
The CHR noted that several other IP community members were also arrested over same allegations of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives. Those killed and arrested were reportedly members of Tumanduk nga Mangunguma nga Nagapangapin sang Duta kag Kabuhi (Tumanduk), an alliance of 17 indigenous peoples communities in Tapaz and Jamindan towns in Capiz and Calinog in Iloilo province.
According to Pimentel-Gana, the group was said to have long campaigned against the construction of the Jalaur Dam in Panay Island, which she said would adversely affect their ancestral lands. Prior to the Dec. 30 police and military operation, the group was also being tagged as supporters and members of the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
“The Commission at this point is equally interested to pursue the truth behind these deaths and arrests as there have been opposing narratives on how those who died resisted and some asserting that the evidence found were said to have been planted,” Pimentel-Gana said.
“At the same time, we equally stress and remind law enforcers to strictly observe set protocols for serving warrants. All officers of the law are expected to respect the human rights and dignity of suspect/s during police operations. The same stern reminder is echoed in the Philippine National Police operational guidelines and handbook,” she added.
However, she clarified that this does not provide that the lives of law enforcers should be put at risk, but rather “a reminder that the use of force should always be limited to what is reasonable and necessary only to subdue imminent danger and overcome resistance — not result in deaths.”
