2021 National Human Rights Situation Report
73
307
In Lanao del Norte, a 13-year old boy from Barangay Ramain, Munai, surrendered
to the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) of Piagapo, Lanao del Sur and
admitted that he was recruited by the Dawla Islamiya on 22 February 2021. The boy is
now reintegrated with his guardians after he was turned over to the PSWD. Based on the
joint verification mission conducted by UNICEF and CHR X, the boy merely ran away
from home. From his hometown in Munai, he went to Tapong, then to Udalo at Piagapo
Lanao del Norte, then to Saguiaran of Piagapo Lanao del Norte, where a barangay captain
noticed him as a lost boy and brought him to the PNP of Piagapo, who then brought
him back to Munai. The initial assessment of the CHR X investigator noted that the boy
was somewhat retardate. Accordingly, whenever the boy gets rebuked or reprimanded he
would just leave the house for a day or two.278
308
The cases on GCRVs gathered in Region 10 for the first semester of 2021 were already
reported to the CHR Child Rights Center (CRC) and UN CTFRM TWG Mindanao for
the update of the monitoring and reporting mechanism (MRM).279
309
Mid-June 2021, CHR CARAGA took cognizance of a case involving the killing of three
members of the Manobo tribe by soldiers of the Philippine military. The incident happened
in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. One of the victims killed was a 12-year old girl. The narrative
being peddled by state forces is that her death was a result of an armed encounter between
the military and the New People’s Army (NPA) of which, according to the military, the
12-year old girl was a part of.280
310
Based also on the report of the Office’s IDP Monitoring, displacement of families, including
children is a recurring issue as well. At any rate, the issues raised on the Rights and Welfare
of Displaced Children apply to both. These are some of the concerns: 281
311
a
Safety – the child-participants of the discussion pointed how their lives are in danger
due to the presence of armed groups, be they the military or the rebel groups. They
lament the presence of the military in communities particularly because this would
trigger armed encounters within their communities, putting their families and
sources of livelihood at risk;
b
Access to education – as a result of evacuation, students end up skipping classes. Basic
education is constantly interrupted by the displacement and not all evacuation centers
have volunteer teachers who conduct classes in the centers; and
c
Health and sanitation – the area where the evacuees transferred to were not built
to be evacuation centers. Hence, these do not have the necessary infrastructure or
equipment that would service basic health and sanitation issues of the group. As a
consequence, families suffer from medical issues.
CHR CARAGA takes note of the following issues in relation to juvenile justice:282
a
Detention of minors in detention cells and even in BJMP-managed facilities
278
Commission on Human Rights Regional Office X. (2021, July). Regional Situation Report 1st Semester 2021 Commission
on Human Rights 10.
279
Commission on Human Rights Regional Office X. (2021, July). Regional Situation Report 1st Semester 2021 Commission
on Human Rights 10.
280
Commission on Human Rights CARAGA. (2021, July). The Situation of Human Rights in the CARAGA Region.
281
Commission on Human Rights CARAGA. (2021, July). The Situation of Human Rights in the CARAGA Region.
282
Commission on Human Rights CARAGA. (2021, July). The Situation of Human Rights in the CARAGA Region.