KARAPATAN’S POOR BODY COUNT ON POLITICAL KILLINGS

On April 01, 2009, the human rights group Karapatan once again became the harbinger of death as it claimed that they have already counted a total of 17 political killings from January to date of this year. Their current count included Rebelyn Pitao who was abducted and killed by unidentified armed men in Davao Del Norte in the early part of March 2009. Surprisingly, Karapatan has once again failed to update its yearly count and the published update figure of such a list so that scores of victims of the infamous New People’s Army or NPA purging that has hounded the underground movement in the 80s and is said to be still practiced by the rebels during our current generation were not included. The families of these victims, some of whom are still buried and are yet to be discovered by authorities, has long been appealing to the human rights group to echo their clamor for a long overdue and much delayed justice for their loved ones since they too were victims of human rights violations and were robbed of their rights to live.

The families of the so-called Leyte mass grave victims, in particular, have been feeling the perversity of our justice system as one of those accused in the mass killing was able to post a P100,000.00 bail to a non-bailable offense and with no corresponding explanation from the Supreme Court as to why he was granted provisional release. Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo was arrested on March 16, 2007 by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by a regional trial court for multiple murder and subsequently detained for 18 days at the Manila Police District headquarters on United Nations Avenue in Ermita. However, on April 03, 2007 Mr Ocampo virtually walked away from his criminal charges when the Supreme Court granted his request to annul the RTC decision.

And because of this, some quarters have already questioned Karapatan’s leaning, preference in choosing victims to be championed and was also charged of being biased in the dispense of its assistance. A member of a local human rights group argued that “Karapatan should be impartial in reporting the number of political killings in the country as the government is not the only existing entity or group in our nation that is capable of carrying out such a crime against human rights”. The advocate also pointed out that in order for Karapatan to be effective in its crusade against human rights violation it must “report without partiality the summary executions implemented both by the government and that of the New People’s Army since both groups have abused its power and authority and are guilty of mercenary deaths”.

It would help Karapatan if it is reminded every now and then that the fight against human rights violations knows no race, age, gender, political leanings, religion nor social status in life. Karapatan’s fight against human rights violations should not only be geared towards pinning down the Armed Forces of the Philippines but should also be targeted towards putting down the New People’s Army. It is the right way to uphold human rights.