Coni Ledesma, head of the Special Office for the Protection of Children of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, called for justice for a child killed by the 4th IB in Sitio Tauga Daka, Barangay San Vicente, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro last July 3.

The child died after soldiers and police rained bullets at the hut of Mr. Inyab, a minority Mangyan-Buhid in the said sitio. It was in retaliation after soldiers accidentally stepped on wild boar traps while scouting through Mr. Inyab’s land. Soldiers claimed the child was killed in an encounter and arrested Mr. Inyab, an old woman and another child.

Ledesma asserted that soldiers must indemnify the victim’s family as payment for the damages they caused and in violation of the international humanitarian law.