It is with utmost concern that the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has launched a motu proprio investigation into the deaths of nine (9) indigenous peoples (IPs) from the remote villages of Panay Island.

The said IP members allegedly fought back when search warrants were being served at the dawn of 30 December 2020. Several other IP community members were also arrested over same allegations of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives.

Those who were killed and arrested were reportedly members of Tumanduk nga Mangunguma nga Nagapangapin sang Duta kag Kabuhi (Tumanduk), an alliance of 17 indigenous communities in Tapaz and Jamindan towns in Capiz and Calinog in Iloilo.

The said group was said to have long campaigned against the construction of the Jalaur Dam in Panay Island, which would have an effect on their ancestral lands. Prior to this incident, the group was also being tagged to be supporters and members of the local communist rebel group, Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army.

The Commission at this point is equally interested to pursue the truth behind these deaths and arrests as there have been opposing narratives on how those who died resisted and some asserting that the evidence found were said to have been planted.

At the same time, we equally stress and remind law enforcers to strictly observe set protocols for serving warrants. All officers of the law are expected to respect the human rights and dignity of suspect/s during police operations. The same stern reminder is echoed in the Philippine National Police operational guidelines and handbook.

However, this is not to say that lives of law enforcers should be put at risk. But rather a reminder that the use of force should always be limited to what is reasonable and necessary only to subdue imminent danger and overcome resistance—not result in deaths.

To this end, the Commission, through CHR Region VI, is already moving to gather documents and affidavits to resolve if human rights violations were committed and ultimately call for accountability for all those found to have caused such an affront to human rights and dignity. ###