Military denies Aetas were abused, forced to eat human waste in Zambales

"After po ng engkuwentro, mayroon po tayong na-intercept o naaresto na mga individuals na lumalabas mula doon sa encounter site. Siyam po sila. And then later on na-find out po natin na out of nine, lima po doon ay mga NPA. Tatlong lalaki at dalawang babae. 'Yung isang babae po ay menor de edad... 'Yun pong remaining na apat, tatlo po doon ay minor, aged five, ten and 12, at saka po 'yung tumatayo nilang nanay, ito ring supporter ng NPA," Gutierrez said.

The firefight also resulted in the killing of one soldier, Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez underscored that the arrested individuals were not abused and were not forced to eat human waste, contrary to the claim of some leftist groups.

He said the military even brought the suspected NPAs to a doctor.

"Ito pong mga naaresto natin at na-rescue malapit sa encounter site, atin po silang inalagaan. At nang ibinababa po natin sila sa sentro ng San Marcelino, atin po silang ipinatingin sa doktor," Gutierrez said.

"Actually nagko-conduct po kami ng investigation ngayon, at base sa result ng initial investigation, wala pong katotohanan 'yung mga ibinibintang nila," he added.

In a separate statement, group Sandugo claimed that on that day, a total of 659 families evacuated due to repeated bombings of Aeta communities in Sitio Lumibao by the military.

"Reports reveal that the 7th ID’s bombardment of the IP community is meant to drive away the Aetas and pave way for mining explorations of Dizon Copper-Silver Mines, Inc. The Aeta residents oppose this project because they know it will destroy the environment, as well as their ancestral lands," Sandugo said.

Gutierrez said the Philippine Army never tolerates maltreatment within and outside the organization, noting that soldiers have respect for human rights, even for the communist rebels.

He vowed that if it is proven that soldiers abused Aetas, they will be held liable for their actions.

Meanwhile, Sandugo is urging the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the incident as it also called for the 7th ID, especially its commanding officer, to be held criminally liable for their supposed abusive actions. —KG, GMA News