Commission on Human Rights (CHR) against security forces who raided their convent in Butuan City last week.
Representatives of the Good Shepherd Sisters order appeared before CHR Monday, November 6, saying the Philippine National Police intelligence chief was involved in "gross human rights violations," when they raided the convent November 1, reportedly in search of a rebel leader who allegedly was seeking refuge inside.
Sr. Maureen Catabian, who led the filing of a 14-page complaint against PNP-Intelligence and Investigation chief Wilfredo Reyes and other Butuan police officials recalled that "seven armed men barged into the convent in Butuan City (southern Philippines) looking for a certain Jorge Madlos" who allegedly leads the New People’s Army group.
"These men did not present any search warrant and did not respond to the query of the sisters. They forced themselves into the rooms of the sisters and all over the convent. This is a clear violation of human rights," the nun said. PNP team officials reportedly admitted they had wrong information on the whereabouts of the alleged suspect.
RELIGIOUS HOUSE
Several human rights groups, including Members of the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Commission of the Association of Major Religious Superiors condemned what they called "the blatant disregard of the PNP operatives for privacy and integrity of a religious house."
Another group, the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) said in a statement monitored by BosNewsLife in Manila that the raid shows "the ruthlessness of state security forces in violating the rights of people even in the sacred places of church institutions."
Jerry Sabado, Carmelite priest and PCPR spokesperson said the raid seems part of a trend of violence against other religious institutions as part of the battle against armed rebel groups fighting for a variety of causes including independence in some areas.
Earlier, the bishop of Butuan, Juan de Dios Pueblos, said the military, which is linked to the police forces involved in the raid, "should take the consequences for what they did. I intend to ask the Melo Commission, which is tasked to probe political killings and other human rights violations in the country, to make an investigation into the incident."
The sisters said: "The soldiers were seeking rebels, but we were the only victims of the raid. We condemn this intimidation perpetrated by instruments of the government, which is clearly deliberate."
