Group to file HR case vs QC police, local gov't at UN

MANILA, Philippines - Rights group Karapatan on Friday said it will bring the case of the recent demolition in Quezon City where an elderly man died and several informal settlers were hurt before the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said the group documented numerous human rights violations, with the authorities using force and violence during the January 27 demolition in Barangay San Roque in Quezon City.

Palabay said Resty Torres, 65, died of asthma attack after inhaling tear gas while a pregnant woman, Mary Rose Reyes, had a miscarriage after crawling her way out of the area filled with tear gas.

The demolition team lobbed tear gas during the forced eviction of the residents. Reyes was four months pregnant with twins, Palabay added.

She said that another resident in the area, Ricky Ho, was just listening to the program held by people’s organizations during the barricade when members of the Special Weapons and Tactics team caught and forced him to admit he was among those who threw stones at the police.

Members of SWAT hit his body and put a bucket on his head with a truncheon. The bucket was only removed when they reached the Office of the Ombudsman, and in the presence of media covering the demolition.

During his interrogation at Camp Karingal, a police officer kicked his back and hit his head with a record book, Palabay said.

Palabay said that these are only the cases of human rights violations recorded by several people's organizations, including Urban Poor Resource Center of the Philippines, Kadamay, Tanggulan Youth Network, Center for Trade Union and Human Rights and Children's Rehabilitation Center.

She alleged that these were committed by the Quezon City police, led by Superintendent Pedro Sanchez, SWAT members, other members of demolition teams including the Task Force for the Control, Prevention and Removal of Illegal Structures and Squatting of the Quezon City government.

Palabay said demolition teams also forcibly entered the houses in Sitio San Roque and  threatened, harassed and intimidated the residents.