Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary-General Renato Reyes condemns the soldiers who posed in front of slain Jevilyn Cullamat, the daughter of Bayan Muna Representative Eufemia Cullamat.
“To pose in front of the dead as if the person is an object, a war trophy for the fascists, is a desecration of the dead and a violation of International Humanitarian Law,” Reyes said in a statement.
Reyes said the soldiers disrespected the dead.
“Anuman ang paniniwala ng isang tao, may kasalanan man sila sa batas, hindi dapat binababoy ng ganyan ang kanilang mga labi. Sobrang kahayupan. Magtataka pa ba kayo kung bakit hindi natatapos ang armadong tunggalian sa bansa?” the militant leader said.
Nine former rebels identified and confirmed that Cullamat died during a 45-minute encounter in Barangay San Isidro in Marihatag, Surigao Del Sur, special forces’ data said.
Reports said Jevilyn served as NPA’s medic and allegedly belonged to the Communist NPA Terrorist’s Sandatahang Yuniy Pampropaganda Platoon of the Guerilla Front 19, Northeastern Regional Committee (NEMRC).
Soldiers posing with Jevilyn Cullamat’s body disrespectful – Renato Reyes
A photo of special forces holding seized communist and NPA flags, standing behind the body of Jevilyn Cullamat, was released by the military. The photo also showed five high-powered firearms in the clash, including one M653 5.56 caliber rifle, three AK-47 rifles, and one M14 rifle. The military also seized Five backpacks with “war material and subversive documents” inside.
“We should start calling it for what it is – a war crime. The picture says it all,” Reyes said.
“Soldiers posing with the dead, as if she was a war trophy, her body laid out along with seized weapons and other items. Why? They want to dehumanize the revolutionaries so that killing them will be more acceptable,” he added.
On Monday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the inclusion of Jevilyn Cullamat’s lifeless body in a photo of the military troops after the encounter is “normal.”
“Normal naman ‘yung ginagawa ng military eh, ever since eh pinapakita natin ‘yung mga namamatay,” he said, adding the troops did the same with fatalities from the Abu Sayyaf, the Moro National Liberation Front, and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
“I have directed the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to look into how we can treat this, ‘yung mga namamatay sa encounter, better,” Lorenzana added.