Justice for Rebelyn Pitao - Gabriela Solon

“Justice for the slain and raped Rebelyn Pitao should rank as top priority of the Arroyo government. Mrs. Arroyo should prove her sincerity in solving the case not only by merely initiating a probe but also by penalizing the perpetrators of this grave crime,” Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Luz Ilagan said during a tribute to the 20-year-old teacher at the Iglesia Filipina Independiente in Davao City.

“Not only does the general public point to the AFP as perpetrators, but evidence, such as the van used to abduct Rebelyn being seen parked in a military compound implicate officials and elements of the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army as the killers and rapists of Rebelyn.”

“As Commander in Chief, Mrs. Arroyo is responsible for the actions of her subordinates. Her failure to punish the erring soldiers will only strengthen allegations of her tolerating their acts and even colluding with the military suspects,” said Ilagan.

To help speed up the process and to push for an independent investigation on Rebelyn's case, the lawmaker filed House Resolution No. 1050 in the House of Representatives, “Directing the House Committee on Human Rights to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the abduction, rape, torture and summary execution of Rebelyn Pitao allegedly perpetrated by the 10th Infantry Division of the AFP and recommend measures to immediately hold the perpetrators accountable for the crimes against Pitao.”

In the resolution, Ilagan said that if Mrs. Arroyo will not prosecute the army officers and soldiers, she will be defying United Nations Resolution No. 1325 to which the Philippines is a signatory.

Adopted by the Security Council in 2000, UN Resolution No. 1325 “calls on all parties to armed conflict to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, and all other forms of violence in situations of armed conflict.”

It also “emphasizes the responsibility of all States to put an end to impunity and to prosecute those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes including those relating to sexual violence against women and girls, and in this regard, stresses the need to exclude these crimes, where feasible from amnesty provisions.”

In a message delivered during the tribute, Ilagan said that Rebelyn's case is “a clear manifestation of the fascist Arroyo regime's cruelty towards the innocent, most especially women and children.”
 
The progressive solon will join the Pitao family and militant groups in a march demanding justice for Rebelyn and other victims the Arroyo administration's human rights violations in Mindanao.