CHR team to probe disappearance of 13 NDF members

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Human Rights announced yesterday the creation of a team to investigate the disappearance of 13 members of the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political arm of the communist rebels, as an apparent confidence-building measure to convince the rebels to resume peace talks with the government.

CHR chair Leila de Lima said Commissioner Jose Mamauag would head the special committee, which was activated following a request from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

“The CHR has been requested officially to conduct a thorough independent probe into the cases of 13 desaparecidos (victims of involuntary disappearance) who are members of the NDF,” De Lima said during the commemoration of the National Peace Consciousness Month yesterday in Quezon City.

De Lima said most of the cases reportedly happened in 2006 and the latest occurred in 2007.

She said a number of the victims are consultants of the NDF.

“We’d like to know the circumstances and who were behind (the abductions) since some of the cases happened several years ago,” she said.

De Lima said she considers the move as important in getting the NDF to be convinced that the government was determined to resolve these human rights concerns.

“Through this (special committee), the NDF can see that the CHR is thoroughly looking into the cases and it’s part of our confidence-building (measure) in the peace process,” she said.

De Lima said there can never be lasting and genuine peace without human rights and social justice.

“We shall continue to monitor the government’s compliance with these obligations under human rights international treaties including various peace agreements and advocacies,” she said.

Presidential adviser on the peace process Avelino Razon Jr. said the legal teams of the government and the NDF are currently meeting as a prelude to formal talks in Oslo, Norway.

“Although there were stumbling blocks that were raised recently by the NDF, we have agreed that the government legal team as well as the NDF legal team will sit down first here in Manila before the possible formal meeting in Oslo. In fact, this very day our legal teams are already meeting,” Razon said. –-Reinir Padua (The Philippine Star) with Jose Rodel Clapano, James Mananghaya