Women as victims of political killings

WOMEN are also bearing the brunt of the rampant political killings under the Arroyo administration, according to the Center for Women’s Resources (CWR), whose own count has documented 78 women victims of extra-judicial executions since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed power 2001.

CWR’s tally in April also counted 48 women victims of frustrated killings, eight who suffered torture, 27 who went missing or disappeared, 20 political prisoners, and more than 150 illegally arrested and detained.

This, though, is only one aspect of the victimization of women. Because for every killing or abduction is the less portrayed reality of the long-term suffering that they also endure as grieving widows, mothers with dead or missing children, and orphaned daughters.

At a cultural soiree-forum that CWR organized last week, four women gave face to their ordeals and the pain of losing their loved ones who, they believed, were either killed or abducted by elements of the military.

“Ano po ang gagawin namin (What should we do)?” pleaded Lolita Robinos in her tearful three-minute retelling of how Romulos Robinos, her disappeared son, was allegedly forcibly taken away by soldiers.

Leny Dizon, sister of Romulos, went on to complete the story. “Sabi ng militar, ire-release nila ang kapatid ko kung su-surrender ako sa kanila. Sinasabi nilang nagsusulong ako ng himagsikan. Himagsikan na bang maituturing ang tumulong sa mga magsasaka (They said they would release my brother if I surrender. They were accusing me of inciting rebellion. Is helping farmers considered inciting rebellion)?” Dizon is a member of the militant peasant organization Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

Linda Cadapan, mother of disappeared University of the Philippines student Sherlyn Cadapan, disclosed that some of the men who abducted her 29-year-old daughter were in complete Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) uniform.

Nujum Jandul, a native of Basilan, narrated her plight as a Moro. Two of her relatives were killed last March 15, while her husband and brother are being detained in Bicutan as alleged members of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf since 2001.

“Hindi naman komo Moro kami ay masasama na kaming tao (Being Moro does not automatically mean that we are bad people),” complained Jandul, who went on to recount how the military men dragged her tied husband from Basilan to Zamboanga via a speedboat, which is an hour ride. Jandul said her husband was a tricycle driver, and that like her, her relatives were mere vendors.

Also at the forum titled “K Kontra K: Kababaihan Kontra Karahasan, Women’s Voice against Human Right Violations in the Philippines” were lawyers Liezl Parajas of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and Neri Colmenares, spokesperson of the Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL).

Parajas confirmed the increasing cases of human rights violations in the Philippines, which she said encompass issues like Filipinos having to endure a lower standard of living due to unemployment and the continuing lack of women’s representation in political issues.

Colmenares, for his part, provided legal counsel for victims of human rights violations, enumerating the many legal tactics that victims and their families can choose from. He also stressed that human rights groups should be armed with enough resources and training for evidence gathering.

“Evidence gathering has a higher rigor than fact-finding,” said Colmenares, who also suggested that the CHR should be empowered with a witness-protection program.

He, however, expressed concern with waging legal battles in view of the scarcity of resources and human rights lawyers.

(Annalyn Ardoña is a senior journalism student at the Centro Escolar University. She is doing her internship with the PCIJ.)