A 15-year-old peasant girl, Belle*, from Quezon province, filed multiple charges of kidnapping, serious illegal detention with rape, violence against women and children, and child abuse against Leoven Julita, a Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) soldier.
In a press conference held by Gabriela Southern Tagalog on January 21, Friday, Belle said that she was abducted last July 27, 2020 by elements of the 59th Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army (IBPA) at Barangay Binahaan, Pagbilao, Quezon, and was taken in a white van.
Belle reported Julita, 19 at the time of abduction, was with a certain Arnil Abrinillo. Aside from “paulit-ulit na panggagahasa,” Belle shared that she was also illegally detained in a police officer’s house and subjected to interrogation about alleged “rebel activities” in her community, red-tagging, and threats by soldiers and CAFGU members.
She and her family were also reported to have been coerced by seven armed soldiers into confessing as rebel insurgents. Belle also experienced beating with the use of scissors before she was turned over to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“Nagmakaawa ako sa DSWD pero pinilit po nila akong pumirma ng salaysay na kusang-loob akong pumunta at huwag ako ibigay sa aking ina. Labag po ito sa aking kalooban,” Belle said.
The family also filed charges of torture against former Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) Chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, 2nd Infantry Division Maj. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, Jr., 59th Infantry Batallion Philippine ArmyPA commander Lt. Col. Edward Canlas, Arnil Abrinillo, and other CAFGU members.
Additionally, “Belle’s” family filed charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention against Abrinillo, Desiree Salamat from DSWD Lopez, and Julita’s parents, Leonito and Vilma Julita.
Even after the incident, she shared that the military has continued harassing her by surveilling her whenever she goes to school to get her modules; while her family has reportedly received death threats from anonymous Facebook accounts.
As a response, women’s rights group GABRIELA denounced the crimes committed by the military. “Dapat managot ang lahat ng sangkot sa krimeng ito. Ang kaso ni Belle ay nagpapatunay lang na napakarami pang paglabag sa karapatang-pantao ang dulot ng militarisasyon sa Quezon na higit pang pinaigting ng NTF-ELCAC ,” Gabriela ST spokesperson Shirley Songalia said.
On the other hand, in an interview with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Army Col. Ramon Zagala, he said it would be good to get more details when it comes to the allegation: “Let’s get facts on this first,” he said.
This wasn’t the first time the 59th IBPA had harassed Quezon farmers. Tanggol Magsasaka Timog Katagalugan (TK) reported last November 19 that two coconut farmers from Sampaloc, Quezon, George Coronacion and Arnold Buri, were killed by the military, who claimed the two local farmers were “terrorists”.
Reports from the communities also revealed the continued militarization, strafing, aerial bombing, mortar shelling, and forced displacement in various barrios and towns in Quezon province.
The first hearing on the preliminary investigations of Belle’s case was conducted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) last January 20, Thursday.
Women peasant group Amihan calls for justice to what happened to Belle. “Dapat panagutin ang mga pasistang kriminal, AFP, NTF-ELCAC at rehimeng Duterte. Palayasin ang mga militar sa kanayunan at labanan ang mga atake nito sa mamamayan,” Amihan said in a statement.
*Belle is a pseudonym
Featured image courtesy of Joshua Eastin.
