COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC) went to Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat on Wednesday, Dec. 7, to reach out to the bereaved families of the three teenagers allegedly slain by police officers on Dec. 2.
BHRC Chairperson Atty. Abdul Rashid Kalim assured the families that the Bangsamoro Government is committed to support them in pursuit of justice even though they are not residents of the region.
“Ang involved kasi dito ay Bangsamoro. Hindi po nating pwedeng pabayaan ang ating kababayang Bangsamoro,” Kalim said.
“Hindi ibig sabihin na naninirahan sila sa outside of BARMM core territories ay hindi na natin sila tutulungan. Ito na po ang isa sa adbokasiya ng BHRC, kasama ang Bangsamoro Government, na basta ang involved ay Bangsamoro ay pwede natin pasukin at imonitor,” he stressed.
According to reports, the young victims — Samanudin Ali, Horton Ansa, Jr. and Arsad Ansa — were riding a motorbike around midnight of Dec. 2 when they were flagged down for inspection at a checkpoint. The three refused to stop and sped away, which forced the police to chase them. The chase resulted into a shootout which killed the three young men.
Nasser Ansa, 53, father of Arsad, is calling for a fair and in-depth investigation on the tragic incident for justice to prevail.
“Ang gusto lang talaga namin ay makuha ang hustisya at patas na imbistigasyon sa nangyaring pamamaslang,” Ansa said in vernacular.
Chairperson Kalim said the Commission will monitor the development of ongoing filed cases, and will look at to what extent can it help the bereaved families.
“Kasama po ng pamilya ng mga biktima ang BHRC at ang Bangsamoro Government sa paghahanap ng hustisya sa mga biktima ng human rights… Hindi po natin hahayaan na magkakaroon or magiging biktima pa ng human rights ang mga kamag-anak nating Bangsamoro na naninirahan sa outside core territory nito,” said Kalim.
On the same day, the victims’ families, friends, relatives, and supporters held a rally to demand justice.(Myrna Tepadan/BIO)
