Complaints of abuses hound Task Force Abra

Bangued, Abra — Complaints of abuses by policemen of the Task Force Abra is hounding the government’s move to thwart violence in the conflict-stricken province.

Local residents as well as visitors are complaining about how members of the Police Regional Mobile Group (RMG) and the Special Action Forces (SAF) are questioning everyone at checkpoints.

One of the complainants was China based-International Network on Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) Philippine representative Carmelita Bersalona, who said her basic rights to mobility and privacy were violated "because of the insistent and unreasonable interrogations done by the officers and men of the Task Force".

She specifically cited questions like "Where did you come from? What did you do there? Where are you going? What will you do there? Where are you going home?" as intrusive.

On the other hand, tourists and visitors claimed they were asked the questions like who are they visiting in town, what they will do there and how they are related to their hosts.

All those coming in and out of the province were also required to present their drivers’ licenses and other proof of identities. The license plate of their vehicles were also recorded in the Task Force logbook.