Protests mark commemoration of Human Rights day in Davao region

DAVAO CITY Thousands of protesters joined the commemoration of the International Human Rights day in different parts of the regionWednesday.

An estimated 8,000 protesters joined the protest actions in Digos (4,000), Kidapawan (3, 000), and Davao City (2,000).

According to Sheena Duazo, spokesperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), human rights violations are rampant under the present administration because of the military operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the communities.

Bayan claimed that in the region alone there are already 92 cases of extra-judicial killings recorded under the present administration.

Despite the intensified protests and resistance of the people, state forces have forcibly occupied civilian homes in rural areas, barangay halls and chapels, Duazo said.

Duazo cited the cases of encampments of schools in the countrysidesincluding the ones in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, where military troop encampment affected 1,500 students.

In an interview with Radyo ni Juan, Officer-in-Charge of the Commission on Human Rights region XI Atty. Irene Montero confirmed that, supposed to be, encampment near the school including passable roads of the civilians, violate the International Humanitarian Law.

She said that encampment should not be allowed in the communities, adding that civilians might get caught in the crossfires.

According to Montero, the CHR is already investigating the recent cases of the human rights violations that resulted from military encampment in the communities.

We have already started the investigation on the recent case of military presence in Talaingod and Kapalong, Davao del Norte, but I cannot disclose the information because the investigation is still going on, she said.

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Protests mark commemoration of Human Rights day in Davao region