The spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command challenged the people of the Save our Schools (SOS) Network to file a complaint against the army after the alleged abduction of a still unidentified 17-year-old student .
Major Ezra Balagtey, Eastmincom spokesperson said the Philippine Army does not have the student in its custody.
“We do not do that. Now, I challenge them to file a complaint in a proper forum. Yung legal remedies para mailabas kung kami ay nagkasala at talagang nag abduct ng isang tao,” he said on Wednesday.
During the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday, Ruis Valle of SOS Network said that they have received information that a 17-year-old former student of Salugpongan Ta’ Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center, Inc. has been abducted in Bagangga, Davao Oriental and is presently in the custody of the Eastmincom Headquarters in Panacan.
Valle did not identify the name of the student who he claimed was abducted.
Valle claimed that the declaration of Martial Law is fatal to the Lumads since it gave license to the soldiers to strengthen their attacks in Lumad areas particularly in their schools for the reason that they have been associated with the rebel group New People’s Army.
Balagtey added that this scheme is propaganda against the army. He added that if the organization was really certain of their allegations, they should file a formal complaint.
The Eastmincom spokesperson also reacted to the claim of SOS Network that they have recorded a number of military abuses since Martial Law was declared by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
“They should substantiate it. Meron naman tayong legal remedies. Open naman ating kasundaluhan. We have help desks in Ateneo, yung legal QRT nila that receives complaint. Even Commission on Human Rights, meron yan. May mga mechanisms na pwede sundin kung nagkasala ba talaga yung sundalo.”
