On this photograph taken on Could 16, 2024, Philippine fishermen aboard their picket boat catch fish in South China Sea. (Photograph by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)
MASINLOC, Zambales – An official of the Fee on Human Rights (CHR) has confirmed that the company will examine the federal government troops’ alleged harassment of fishermen right here.
In a telephone interview on Friday, Jason Carmona, particular investigator of CHR Regional Workplace 3, mentioned he despatched an electronic mail to Pamalakaya Nationwide Chairperson Fernando Hicap in order that the company “can provoke probing [the] allegations of red-tagging.”
On June 22, Hicap filed a criticism addressed to CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc for a direct investigation into the sequence of alleged intimidation perpetrated by the Philippine Military’s 69th Infantry Battalion (IB) in opposition to members of Panatag.
Panatag is a gaggle of native fishermen and a Pamalakaya-affiliated group on this city that joined the collective fishing expedition to claim the nation’s sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“We hope that the progress of the investigation may also be swift, resulting in competent motion in opposition to the confirmed parts of the 69th IB concerned within the violation,” Hicap mentioned in a separate telephone interview.
Pamalakaya mentioned on June 1, a workers sergeant from the 69th IB visited Julius Ecijan, the president of Panatag, and requested him in regards to the collective fishing expedition and different details about their group, Pamalakaya, and their whereabouts.
On June 12, the workers sergeant returned to the neighborhood however failed to speak to the native chief as a result of the latter was out at sea. The military official spoke with different members of the native affiliation and requested them the identical questions on their group and Pamalakaya. The members additionally reported that the military was exhibiting them pictures of a few of Pamalakaya organizers, whom the military accused of being recruiters for the New Individuals’s Military (NPA), Pamalakaya mentioned.
The following day, the military officer went to the homes of those that joined the fishing expedition to ask them the identical questions, the group added.
Hicap mentioned the grounds for holding these chargeable for red-tagging are actually even stronger due to the Supreme Courtroom’s latest determination in opposition to it.
“We additionally encourage human rights advocates to sentence the AFP for turning their braveness to Filipino fishermen whereas colluding with the overseas usurpers of our territory,” he added in Filipino.
On June 18, Lt. Col. Sonny Dungca, commander of the 69th IB, mentioned they might conduct additional investigation to verify if the incidents have been true, including that there could also be different entities “which are simply utilizing this case to take advantage of these locals and even dragging our unit.”
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Dungca additionally mentioned the 69th IB and the fishermen have the identical goal: to protect the integrity of the nation’s territory and to guard the Filipino individuals.
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