Press Statement
Reference: Maricel Delen
Coordinator, Karapatan-Camarines Norte
Cellphone Number: 09217917851
February 25, 2013
The year 2012 left a bloody record of human
rights violations which placed the province of Camarines Norte with the most
number of cases in the region. Most striking of these is the massacre of the Mancera family –
father Benjamin, along with his two sons Richard and Michael. The lone survivor
was Benjamin’s daughter Leonisa. The grim murders were committed a year ago in
Malaya Village, Labo town, in the province of Camarines Norte. Immediately after the crime, a Fact-Finding
Mission was conducted by Karapatan-Camarines Norte, Karapatan-Bicol, and
Camarines Norte People’s Organization. Evidences and testimonies clearly charge
the 49th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army as the butchers.
But it is detestable that justice remains elusive because of the culture of
impunity which continues to prevail in the country, most especially with
regards to cases of human rights violations.
At
present, conditions still allow for the worsening of human rights violations in
the province as well as the whole region under Oplan Bayanihan. Peace and
Development Teams continue to occupy barangays and have never brought peace nor
development in the communities. Instead, their presence have resulted to 248
individuals from 19 villages in 3 towns falling direct victims to violations,
as recorded by Fact Finding Missions of Karapatan.
And
regardless of the Mancera Massacre’s recollection still distinct in the
memories of the villagers, the 49th IB’s PDT insolently occupies the
Barangay Hall of Malaya village up to the present. Troops that prowl Malaya and
nearby Pag-asa belong to the 49th IB’s Charlie Company based in
neighboring Barangay Dumagmang. Its commanding officer, 2nd Lt.
Dominic Olayvar, is responsible for the unlawful raid on Karapatan-Camarines
Norte and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas’ provincial offices on November 22,
2010.
Likewise,
Governor Edgardo Tallado and the local government’s lackluster behavior on demanding
justice for human rights violations in the province disappoints the victims and
their families. Worse, Tallado endorses Oplan Bayanihan, being the chairperson
of the Regional Peace and Order Council. The 49th IB serves as his
security force.
On the other hand, Karapatan-Camarines
Norte salutes Leonisa Mancera’s courage and resolve to carry on with the demand
for justice to her family. Likewise, we are inspired by the martyrdom of the
late Brgy Malaya village chief Merlyn Bermas, whose magnanimity in giving
protection to the Mancera survivors, led to her extra-judicial murder.
Karapatan and the rest of the people’s organizations will draw inspiration from
these sacrifices until justice is claimed for the state’s throngs of victims.###
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