Advocates of children’s rights led by SALINLAHI Alliance for Children’s Concerns scored the military for the continued detention of Fatima Gumanoy, 17 years old, daughter of slain peasant leader Eddie Gumanoy. SALINLAHI demanded the Armed Forces of the Philippines to immediately release Fatima, a minor, and respect the right of Nanay Maria Gumanoy to take custody of her child especially at a time when her daughter needed her most. “We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Fatima from the custody of the AFP, as we know, Fatima has not been charged with any case and should therefore not be held by the military,“said Alphonse Rivera, spokesman of SALINLAHI.
‘If it is true that Fatima contracted German measles or any disease for that matter, the more she needs the care of her biological mother,” Rivera added. He also said that the anxiety and desperation of Nanay Maria on Fatima’s condition is fueled by her fear that the military will use Fatima against her will.
Citing Article 10 section 22-26 of RA 7610, Rivera said that the abduction and continuing detention of Fatima is a clear violation of existing national and international laws. “, The military has no right to deny Nanay Maria her maternity right over her daughter because Fatima did not commit any crime“.
For its part, the Children’s Rehabilitation Center, a Non-Government Organization working with children affected by armed conflict and a member of Salinlahi Alliance, expressed doubt over the intention of the AFP in ‘taking care’ of the Gumanoy sisters. “The wound inflicted by the AFP on the Gumanoy family when Tatay Eddie was killed had not been completely healed. The family has been constantly on the run due to threat and harassment by the military. So on what moral ground can they claim that they are after the welfare of the sisters?” said Eilek Manano, a registered Social Worker of the CRC.
Manano further added that the AFP as an institution has long list of cases of children being used as bait against their parents citing the case of “Nena”, an 8 year old from Cebu who was abducted by the military and Mary Jane Opo, 14 years old who remains missing to this day.
Salinlahi and CRC appeal to the international organizations especially the UNICEF and UN Special Representative to the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict, Ms. Raadhika Coomaraswamy who is set to visit the Philippines later this year, to look into the case of Fatima’s abduction. “Fatima’s case and other child rights violation perpetrated by the state’s Armed forces should be investigated by national and international bodies, these violations are widespread and committed with impunity by the Armed Forces who are supposedly protector of the children” ended Rivera. #
