Davao police to bring human rights case vs NPA in international court

THE REGIONAL Police Office (RPO) in Davao is bringing cases against the communist New People’s Army (NPA) before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for alleged human rights violations against indigenous people (IP) in the region, particularly in the town of Talaingod in Davao del Norte. The ECHR is an international court established through the European Convention on Human Rights. Chief Supt. Marcelo C. Morales, RPO chief, said last week that the cases will be filed through the police National Task Force. “The evidence that we will be sending to the National Task Force will be submitted to the EU (European Union) so we can expose the human rights violations committed by the NPA (against the community),” said Mr. Morales. He added that key witnesses to the cases will be relatives of the victims whose rights were violated. At present, he added, police investigators are busy collating pieces of evidence, including conducting forensic examinations on bodies of the supposed victims of the armed group. Also last week, members of the police and military exhumed the remains of tribal leader Datu Salangan, who was buried beneath his house after NPA members reportedly stabbed and shot him to death. — Carmelito Q. Francisco