Soldiers implicated in the death and serious injuries of three persons in Basilan torture incident
A minor died while another young boy and an adult farmer were seriously injured reportedly as a result of unlawful violence they suffered in the hands of soldiers in the municipality of Tipo-Tipo in Basilan. The incident happened on April 12, 2016 in the midst of the military combat operations against the Abu Sayyaf group that were involved in the recent kidnappings and killings of civilian hostages in southern Philippines.
Information gathered by Balay and the Regional Human Rights Commission which conducted a joint inquiry in Basilan indicate that the three victims were evacuees who were on their way back to their respective homes in Sitio Paruh in Barangay Baguindan when the soldiers took them on suspicion that they are members of the Abu Sayyaf.
Nurwin “Pawang” Idno, died allegedly due to the injuries he sustained from being tortured. Records obtained by Balay showed that he suffered from cracked ribs and broken teeth due to repeated hitting of a rifle butt. His toenail appeared to have been forcibly removed as well. His relatives buried him on the same day that he died in accordance with Muslim practice.
Meanwhile, Marwan Hakim, 15, suffered from a broken jaw and pains in different parts of the body apparently due to repeated beating as well. He also sustained a wound on his head as result of being hit by a rifle butt. His neck, hands, and feet also bore bruises and cuts which he said was caused by being tightly bound by a rope.
Marwan, who was treated by doctors in the Zamboanga City Medical Center, was sent home after 9 days to recover from his injuries. However, his traumatic ordeal was so severe that it may take some time before his psychological injuries will be healed, the Balay psychosocial manager said.
The third victim, Girizal Aujaal, 48, said that his captors tied his hands behind his back and covered his eyes. He also said that the military punched him on his face and injured his left eye. He suffered from blows on his stomach and other parts of his body as well. He added that a soldier also hit hard his right foot with a rifle butt and wounded his toe. He obtained medical treatment at the Basilan Hospital.
Major Felimon Tan, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said that the military will conduct its own investigation over the incident. He told media reporters that excessive use of force by soldiers, if proven to be true, could have been due to their frustration and anger over the deaths of their comrades during their armed encounter with the Abu Sayyaf members.
The Regional Human Rights Commission is assisting the victims and their relatives to build the case against the alleged military torturers.
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