Press statement | Four-month old child hit by soldiers’ bullets, 14-year old boy abducted with father at a military checkpoint in Maguindanao

publicinfo: Aug 28 10:41AM +0800  Press Statement August 28, 2014 Reference: Cristina “Tinay” Palabay, Secretary General, +63917-3162831 Angge Santos, Media Liaison, +63918-9790580                                                   Four-month old child hit by soldiers’ bullets, 14-year old boy abducted with father at a military checkpoint in Maguindanao <http://www.karapatan.org/Four-month+old+child+hit+by+soldiers%E2%80%99+bullets%2C+14-year+old+boy+abducted+with+father+at+a+military+checkpoint+in+Maguindanao>*   “BS Aquino’s Oplan Bayanihan spares no one. Through the program, the military kills, injures and abducts even children,” Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general, said on the recent report of human rights violations received by Karapatan.   Based on initial reports, a four-month old baby was hit by soldiers’ bullets while a 14-year old boy was abducted with his father. Both father and son’s whereabouts are still unknown.   On the evening of June 7, 2014, in Barangay Dapiawan, Datu Saudi, Maguindanao province, Mohammad Panigas and his family was preparing to go to bed when they heard several gunshots fired. Mohammad’s wife hurried to pick up their baby, Ali, from the cradle when she saw her baby wounded in his left thigh. Ali’s mother immediately called Mohammad for help. Both cried out to their neighbors for help and rushed Ali to the nearest hospital. Mohammad said the soldiers who fired at his house belonged to the 22nd Mechanized Brigade, Philippine Army. Its detachment is located near Panigas’ house.   A month after, on July 3, 2014 Mohammad Abdulkarim and his son Mehad Mohammad were stopped by members of the 45th Infantry Battalion at a checkpoint in Brgy. Meta, Datu Unsay, Maguindanao. Witnesses reported that the two were taken into military custody soon after they were stopped at the checkpoint. Abdulkarim's relative went to the Army's detachment and inquired about the father and son. But the military claimed they already released the two. The whereabouts of Mohammad Abdulkarim and Mehad Mohammad are still unknown as of writing.   A few days after the abduction, soldiers of the 45th IB were seen near the home of Mohammad. The family believes that the military may be conducting surveillance activities in their community.   “In both incidents, the affected families hesitated to elaborate on the killing and abduction for fear of retaliation from the military. The military’s presence in their communities has intimidated the victims to speak up,” said Palabay.   Karapatan has documented 18 children who were killed because of military operations conducted by the Aquino regime especially in remote barangays. Palabay cited that on July 20, children from Sitios Mangkay and Kapatagan in Kapalong, Davao del Norte were forced to serve as guides and shields during the military operations conducted by the 60th Infantry Battalion. The military also occupied schools, disrupting the classes and various school activities.   Karapatan calls on the Aquino government and the AFP to pull out the troops from the communities of Mindanao. ###   --------------------------------------------------------------------- PUBLIC INFORMATION DESKpublicinfo@karapatan.org <publicinfo@karapatan.org> --------------------------------------------------------------------- Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146Web: http://www.karapatan.org KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.