Authorities Killing Children in the Philippines

The PNP have long been caused of indiscriminately killing children in the drug war. In 2016 Duterte famously and callously called their deaths "collateral damage." However, Rappler reported 122 children have died between July 2016 and December 2019.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/children-killed-duterte-drug-war-philippines-report

President Rodrigo Duterte's violent anti-illegal drug campaign claimed the lives of at least 122 children from July 2016 to December 2019, a report by human rights groups found. 

In the report "How Could They Do This To My Child?", World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) and the Children’s Legal Rights and Development Center (CLRDC) said the killings are often deliberate and "far from being only 'collateral damage' as callously stated" by government officials. 

Over the course of the investigations, the two groups found that 47 of the killings they documented were carried out as part of police operations while 75 were executed by unidentified individuals, which witnesses claimed as "some having direct links to the police." 

The killings of children aged between 1 to 17 years old fall under 4 patterns: Direct targets, killed as proxies, killed as a result of mistaken, and the so-called "collateral damage." At least 97 were killed in Luzon, 14 in Visayas, and 11 in Mindanao. 

"This number is a minimum: with parents and relatives often too afraid of reprisals to report or testify, it is likely that the actual figures are higher," the report said.

Truly that is shocking and horrendous and it is awful that no one will likely ever be held accountable for these actions. Contrarians who want to crow about the justice system working will point to the two PNP officers found guilty of the murder of Kian de los Santos but that is only one murder. It's not just the PNP who have been killing children. Two recent stories detailed children who were killed by authorities. 

First is a young boy who was killed while being chased by tanods or neighborhood watchmen.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/19/12-year-old-boy-caught-outside-his-house-and-chased-by-tanods-dies/

Life was cut short for a 12-year-old-boy in Pasay City who was chased by village watchmen after being caught outside of his home, a belated police report said.

Pasay City Police Chief Col. Cesar Paday-os said the child was identified as John Dave Pepito. Authorities are still investigating the cause of his death.

According to the police report, the incident occurred last April 14 at 3:40 p.m. along St Peter St.,corner Mulawin St., Brgy 179, Pasay City.

Village watchmen identified as Relan Maquiling and Arturo Rontos from Barangay 184 were inside the barangay hall when they received a call from concerned citizens about a group of minors who were playing along the streets of St. Peter.

A witness, identified as Jaylord Zuniega, said in a sworn statement that he saw Maquiling and Rontos chase Pepito, who later collapsed.

The two watchmen rushed the boy to the San Pablo Health Center in Maricaban, Pasay City and was later transferred to the Protacio Hospital in Tambo, Paranaque City where he was later declared dead on arrival at 4:10 p.m.

In a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage provided by Paday-os, it can be seen that a child, said to be Pepito, was walking with a man, allegedly one of the tanods. In the video, the child suddenly ran and the man in yellow chased after him.

The circumstances of this case are bit odd. Tanods were called concerning children violating quarantine by playing in the streets. It appears they apprehend one of them and were taking him somewhere when he suddenly bolted away. The two tanods ran after him and in the ensuing chase the boy slipped and hit his head causing him to die. 

It appears there was no violence on the part of the tanods and that the entire thing was an accident. But the death would never have happened had not the draconian quarantine been in place. One could say this was "death by quarantine" just as Teddy Herbosa called the death of an elderly man waiting in line at a community pantry, "death by community pantry."

Accidents do happen so perhaps this 12-year old boy is merely part of the collateral damage in Duterte's war against COVID-19.

The next child killed on this list was also the victim of a tragic "accident."

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/374649/12-year-old-boy-shot-dead-for-stealing-scrap-meals

The minor who was shot dead by a security guard for allegedly stealing scrap metal from a construction site in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, has died. 

Police Staff Sergeant Renato Baldo, the investigator of the case, said the 12-year-old victim was shot dead by a security guard of a construction site in the South Road Properties at past 5 p.m. this afternoon. 

Baldo identified the suspect as Sergeant Marelle Belano, 29, a member of Corps Philippines Security Agency who was assigned to the MBC construction site in the SRP. 

Baldo said the minor was with a group of children when they were caught by the security guard stealing scrap metals in the construction site. When the security guard confronted the kids the latter allegedly threw stones at him. 

This prompted the security guard to fire a warning shot using his 9mm service firearm. The bullet hit the victim on the neck, Baldo said. 

(According to the security guard, he was fed up with the victim who frequents the site to steal scrap metals and would throw stones at him when reprimanded that’s why he fired a warning shot hitting the victim on the neck) 

After the incident, Baldo said the security guard voluntarily went to the Mambaling Police Station to surrender,

The suspect will face charges of homicide in relation to RA 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

A group of children would regularly come by and steal scrap metal from a constriction site. When confronted by the security guard they also there stones at him. To scare them off he fired a warning shot but ends dup shooting one of the boys in his neck. He died and the security guard is now facing homicide charges.

How did he fire this warning shot? In the air? Straight at the children? This is a good reason why you never, ever fire a warning shot. You shoot to kill or you do not shoot at all. And why did this news outfit think it proper to show this little boy's corpse? That is a very heartless thing to do.

What have here are just two of the latest cases where children have died in circumstances involving those in authority. It's a drop in the bucket compared to the many children who are routinely abused and trafficked in the Philippines. Indeed sexual exploitation of children has significantly increased since the lockdowns began last year. Just a few days ago three children were rescued from a sex den in Manila.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/afp-investigation-leads-to-three-children-rescued-from-online-sex-abuse-in-philippines/867f9b33-1a78-4b2d-abcf-7060af919016

Three children have been rescued from an online sex abuse ring in the Philippines following investigations by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). 

The children, aged between six and 17, were removed from harm after an investigation between the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila during March this year. 

Two Australian men have been arrested as part of the investigation.

Two women, both aged 27, were also arrested in the Philippines for their alleged role as facilitators of online child sexual abuse.

Foreigners cannot sexually exploit children without the help of locals. It is Filipinos who facilitate the abuse of children in the Philippines at every level.  From sexual abuse to murder children are treated like so much disposable garbage in the Philippines.