Retract remark to bomb lumad schools, Rody urged

MANILA, Philippines -  International organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) yesterday demanded that President Duterte retract his statement about ordering the military to bomb lumad schools allegedly being run by communist rebels.

In a statement, HRW Asia Division’s Philippine researcher Carlos Conde said Duterte is exposing himself to a possible war crime case before the international court.

“By calling for an attack on schools, Duterte is directing the military to commit war crimes. International humanitarian law – the laws of war – prohibits attacks on schools and other civilian structures unless they are being used for military purposes,” Conde said.

“Deliberately attacking civilians, including students and teachers, is also a war crime,” he added.

The group demanded that Duterte retract his statement, as it would supposedly embolden the military to commit further abuses on lumads or indigenous peoples in Mindanao.

“Indigenous-run peoples’ schools have long been targets of the military and paramilitary forces, which accuse them of being ‘training grounds’ for the (New People’s Army). Government security forces in Mindanao have largely escaped accountability for such abuses,” the group said.?“Duterte should publicly retract his threat of violence against tribal schools before the military acts on them,” it added.

Left-wing Rep. Emmi de Jesus of the Gabriela Women’s Party also asked Duterte to retract his threat, saying government troops may use it as a pretext to attack indigenous schools and communities in the country’s south which have come under threat from militias in recent years.

In a press conference following his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Duterte said he would use the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Philippine Air Force, to bomb the lumad schools, as they were supposedly being controlled by the NPA to teach subversion and communism to the students.

Duterte further said the NPA are operating the lumad schools without being duly accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd).

The HRW said that instead of threatening to bomb the lumad schools, Duterte should instead sign an internal commitment for the protection of the youth in times of war.

“And although the Philippines has legislation and the (DepEd) guidelines prohibiting military use of schools, they are often ignored. Instead of denying Filipino children their right to safe education, Duterte should sign the Safe Schools Declaration, an inter-governmental political commitment for the protection of students, teachers, schools and universities from attack during times of war,” the group said.

“Sixty-seven countries have now signed the declaration. It’s clearer than ever that the Philippines should do likewise,” it added.?

DepEd mum

Despite earlier calls by Education Secretary Leonor Briones to respect schools as zones of peace, the DepEd has so far remained tight-lipped on Duterte’s threat to bomb lumad schools.

Citing sensitivity of the issue, the DepEd communication office said it would defer issuance of a statement pending clarification from Malacañang, which addressed the matter on Tuesday afternoon.

In his statement, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte warned the indigenous schools against continuing such actions or else the government will have to take action.

“(He) highlights the need to protect our youth and doing so entails ensuring they get the correct education that reinforces the right values that instill love of country and respect for our laws among others, and not rebellion,” Abella added.

Despite the Palace statement, the DepEd declined to comment on the matter. It likewise did not respond to inquiries on the information about the information cited by the President on schools operating without DepEd permit.

Regional offices in Mindanao also declined to release data on the list of schools that supposedly operate without a permit.

‘Frightening’

Mindanao Interfaith Foundation Inc. administrative officer Junance Fritzi Magbanua said Duterte’s threats have heightened fear among the lumads who are already feeling the brunt of attacks allegedly perpetrated by the military and security forces of big mining companies because of their resistance to mining. – With Janvic Mateo, Edu Punay, AP