In consonance with the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Month celebration this month of August, the Palawan Provincial Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) slammed the members of Bienvenido Vallever Command (BVC) for violating the provisions of the IHL.
According to LtCol. Charlie Domingo Jr., commanding officer of the Third Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-3) and head of the Peace, Law Enforcement and Development Support (PLEDS) Cluster North Palawan of the PTF-ELCAC, targeting civilians and medical frontliners are clear violations of International Humanitarian Law that gives full protection to non-combatant individuals.
“Ang tinutukoy ko po roon na violation nila (mga NPA) sa International Humanitarian Law is ‘yong pag-target ng mga civilian dito—specific po doon ‘yong nangyari nga previously sa nurse ng Rescue 165…and then ‘yong previous months na may inatake silang water system projects doon sa Bunog, Rizal na may civilian worker po roon [na binawian ng buhay],” he said.
LtCol. Domingo is referring to the recent ambush incident transpired in Dumarao, Roxas, Palawan last August 1 that resulted to the death of Nurse Aljerome Bernardo and wounding of the three medical responders and the harassment in Bunog Water System Project that killed a civilian worker on May 28, 2020.
“Sa [ilalim ng] Geneva Convention po is bawal na bawal po target-in ang ganon. At isa pa, sa kasalukuyan, may kinakaharap tayong pandemic, mga frontliners po ‘yon eh, ang nasa Rescue 165. Although may nagsasabi na baka napagkamalan [lang ang mga biktima] pero sa hood ng sasakyan, ang laki-laki ng nakalagay na ‘Palawan rescue 165’ at sa lahat ng side ng sasakyan, may ‘ambulance’ pa nga pong nakalagay,” he added. “Hindi naman po siguro ‘yon pagkakamali dahil siyempre kitang-kita naman po ‘yon at nangyari po ‘yon in a broad day light.”
The PLEDS Cluster- North Palawan head also castigates the New People’s Army in recruiting the children and use them in warfare.
“Yong pagre-recruit nila ng mga minor na based nga do’n sa statement ng mga former rebel na sumuko sa atin na marami talagang nare-recruit na below 18 years old, sinasama nila sa grupo nila,” Domingo said.
Domingo said, with the clear violations of International Humanitarian Law, he reiterated that BVC members should be held liable under the said international law and they should also be prosecuted under the local laws of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, with this year’s theme, “Preserving Human Dignity in times of Armed Conflict: A Shared Responsibility,” on August 10, different units and task forces of the Western Command (Wescom) participated the exclusive online teaching session regarding the IHL and its domestic implementation, conducted by the CHR-MIMAROPA, in cooperation of the CHR-Palawan Provincial Office.