Human Rights Advocate Negros (HRAN) strongly condemns the severe restrictions of liberties and freedom of movement of the people in the hinterland communities of Himamaylan and Binalbagan calling it grave abuses and violations of constitutional rights.

HRAN also challenges General Inocencio Pasaporte to allow human rights organizations to conduct independent investigations and document abuses and allow them without reprisal so truth may come out as to the veracity of such reports.

Since October 6, after an armed confrontation between the combatants of New People’s Army and Philippine Army in Sitio Sig-ang, Barangay Carabalan, the military said to have imposed one-week lockdown with residents subjecting them to illegal interrogations and restricting entrance and exits into communities. Latest reports show more or less 15,000 individuals are staying in 14 evacuations centers, excluding those staying in homes of relatives or families.

Photo courtesy of Aksyon Radyo Bacolod

“The indiscriminate bombardments using 105 howitzers and indiscriminate firing by helicopters may have harmed people or destroyed homes and properties while creating fear among the people, bringing back memories of the huge evacuations during the late 1980s. There are reports of theft and forced entry into houses and illegal searches that would be verified if human rights organizations can enter the communities. Human rights violations and abuses mostly occurs before and after the displacement of people”.

The Philippine Army imposes the lockdown to mask and hides the human rights abuses committed by soldiers and other security forces in its pursuit of alleged New People’s Army (NPA).

Human Rights Advocates Negros reiterates that civilians population as such as well as individual civilians shall not be the object of attack.

Human Rights Advocates Negros calls on the AFP to put an end to the lockdown and immediately allow the people to return to their homes and communities and the local government to ensure safe return.

It also calls on the Commission on Human Rights Sub Regional Office to conduct moto propio investigations on abuses and human rights violations committed.

Human Rights Advocates Negros appeals also to good-hearted people and organizations to extend relief assistance to the internally displaced families and communities such as food, water, medicines and clothing.