Continuing human rights violations in North Cotabato*
Macario Dilaab
Mt. Alip Operations Command,
NPA FarSouth Mindanao Region
09 June 2011
The Mt. Alip Operations Command of the New People's Army condemns the continuing harassment and illegal detention of innocent civilians in the "Peace Zone" areas of Tulunan, North Cotabato by the 68th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (IB-AFP).
Most recent victim is Andres Amualla, 27 years old, a long-time surenderee who has been peacefully farming his lot in Sitio Alimodian, Brgy. Banayal, Tulunan, North Cotabato. Andres is the younger brother of Dodoy Amualla who was abducted by the 57th Infantry Battalion in 2009 and has never been heard of up to this day.
While it has almost been a decade since Andres Amualla resigned from the revolutionary movement and even “surrendered” to the mayor of Tulunan last year, the enemy’s harassment and persecution on the Amualla family continues.
The Mt. Alip Command categorically denies having any connection with farmer Andres Amualla. He is an innocent civilian trying to eke out an existence in the "peace zone". The military’s accusation that they found ammunition and other explosive material in his farm is patently absurd and is an obvious frame-up. Barrio folks affirm and insist that Andres is a peace-loving ordinary farmer and must be freed unconditionally.
