Makabayan bloc wants probe on police ‘rescue’ of minors in Cebu

The House Makabayan bloc on Wednesday filed a resolution condemning and seeking to look into the police operation in Cebu City that supposedly rescued minors, belonging to the Manobo tribe, from communist rebels.

In filing House Resolution 1590, members of the progressive group urged the House Committee on Human Rights to condemn and look into the incident.

"The violent raid and arrest conducted by the police against indigenous people merely seeking sanctuary amid the pandemic is highly condemnable," the resolution stated.

"It is imperative for members of Congress, as representatives of our people, to defend the rights of our people and check on excesses and violations committed against them, especially in this time of crisis," it added.

The group emphasized that laws and rules should serve the interest of the people and should not be weaponized to suppress their rights and oppress them.

Philippine National Police chief Police General Debold Sinas earlier said the operation was conducted to rescue minors from communist rebels at the University of San Carlos' retreat house.

The PNP said some of the minors told investigators that they underwent a warfare training while in the custody of their handlers.

However, the University said the minors were part of the 42-person delegation that participated in a modular schooling activity in March 2020.

They were supposed to return to their respective indigenous communities but the COVID-19 lockdowns prevented them from doing so.

In a joint statement, the USC and the Societas Verbi Divini Philippines said the students whom police claimed they rescued on Monday were being "nurtured, cared for and treated with their best interest in mind" at the retreat house.

Aside from the minors, police officers and officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also reportedly took two teachers and two elders from the retreat house. — RSJ, GMA News