Human rights alliance KARAPATAN today demanded the immediate release of youth cultural worker Charlize Garzon, who remains illegally detained in Occidental Mindoro, and called for justice for the killing of worker James Quiñones in Donsol, Sorsogon.
“We demand that Garzon be released unconditionally. It has been more than 48 hours since she was held in detention without clear charges, while police and military personnel have prevented full access to her by her family and paralegals. We raise the alarm on the possibility that Charlize is being subjected to torture and other forms of cruel and inhumane treatment to force her to admit to crimes she did not commit,” said Cristina Palabay, Secretary General of KARAPATAN.
According to reports, Garzon, 23, was arrested by elements of the 68th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) under the 203rd Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in what they claimed was an encounter with the New People’s Army on March 29.
State security forces later posted photographs online allegedly showing Garzon seated on the ground with an armalite rifle beside her.
“They have violated Garzon’s rights since day one of her supposed arrest, portraying her as an armed individual through a staged photograph and building the narrative that she is a terrorist. The AFP and PNP have long acted as proud violators of human rights, going to great lengths to push these claims. What is clear is that they have no basis to keep Garzon in their custody, and she should be released unconditionally at the soonest possible time,” Palabay said.
More than 48 hours since her arrest, her family and paralegals on the ground report that Garzon continues to be denied full and unhampered access to her family and paralegals, raising serious concerns over her safety and violations of her right to due process.
Meanwhile, KARAPATAN labeled the Armed Forces of the Philippines as “proud murderers” in the killing of James Quiñones, 23, a worker from Sorsogon, who was killed in what the AFP claimed as an armed encounter with the New People’s Army on March 25.
Contrary to claims that he was hit by a stray bullet, his family maintains that Quiñones sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was unarmed. He was reportedly on his way to attend his child’s moving-up ceremony.
The 31st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, however, reported that they had an encounter with the NPA on that day.
“The AFP was quick to claim an encounter so they could wash their hands like Pilate and evade accountability for the killing of Quiñones. Had the family not immediately spoken out, revealing that he was wearing a plain shirt and jersey shorts and clearly unarmed at that time, the military would have continued pushing its narrative and blaming the victim. In truth, they already carry a long record of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law,” Palabay said.
KARAPATAN called for an independent investigation into the killing of Quiñones and joined his family in demanding justice.
“We call for the immediate release of Charlize Garzon and demand justice for the killing of James Quiñones. The AFP have long acted as proud violators of human rights and must be held accountable. These cases reflect the continuing pattern of human rights violations under the current counter-insurgency program, which targets civilians while evading accountability,” Palabay ended.
