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Philippines

Last Updated: 06 October 2011

Casualties and Victim Assistance

Casualties Overview

All known casualties by end 2010

462

Casualties in 2010

1 (2009: 16)

2010 casualties by outcome

1 injured (2009: 5 killed; 11 injured)

2010 casualties by device type

1 ERW

In 2010, the Monitor identified one explosive remnants of war (ERW) casualty. In December, a 16-year-old boy was wounded by an ERW while farming in Pikit, North Cotabato.[1] The 2010 data represented a significant decrease from the 16 casualties identified in 2009.[2]

The decrease in the number of recorded casualties from 2009 can be attributed in part to clearer reporting of device types and improved efforts to separate incidents caused by command-activated devices in 2010. It also confirms a decreased use of victim-activated devices by non-state armed groups identified in 2010.[3]

In addition to this ERW casualty, the Monitor identified 164 casualties in 26 incidents involving suspected command-detonated devices. Most of these incidents resulted in casualties among security forces, either from the explosion itself or subsequent small arms fire, giving a strong indication that these were ambushes targeting soldiers and police forces. The remaining incidents resulting in civilian casualties were attributed to political rivalry or criminal gangs using explosive devices detonated by remote control.[4]

Since 1999, 462 casualties have been identified from mines, ERW, and victim-activated improvised explosive devices (177 killed; 284 injured; one of unknown status).[5]

Victim Assistance

At least 284 mine/ERW survivors have been identified through media monitoring.[6]

Victim assistance coordination[7]

Government coordinating body/focal point

None. The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) formulates policy, coordinates activities related to disability, and serves as the focal point for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Coordinating mechanism(s)

None. The NCDA’s governing board coordinates disability affairs and includes representatives of disabled persons’ organizations and other NGOs

Plan

None. Although there is no victim assistance plan, there is a “national plan for the prevention, rehabilitation, full participation and equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities”

The Philippines has no specific coordination or plans for mine/ERW victim assistance.  According to the government’s NCDA, there was “no specific program or even database for mine casualties, victims or survivors, because mine warfare is not common in the Philippines.”[8]

Survivor inclusion

While there were no survivors directly involved in the coordination and implementation of disability services, the president of the Veterans Foundation of the Philippines, a body that includes military survivors, was a member of the NCDA’s governing board.[9]

Service accessibility and effectiveness

There were no significant changes to the overall availability or quality of services and assistance to mine/ERW survivors in 2010. The distance that survivors had to travel from remote conflict areas to access services was the greatest obstacle to receiving care.[10]

The existing legal framework outlined the rights of persons with disabilities but, due to weak implementation of legislation and lack of sufficient government funding, these remained largely ineffective.[11]

The Philippines ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 15 April 2008.

 



[1] “Farm boy wounded by unexploded ordnance,” Minda News, 22 December 2010, mindanews.com.

[2] ICBL, Landmine Monitor 2010 (Ottawa: Mines Action Canada, October 2010), www.the-monitor.org.

[3] Telephone interview, Chief Superintendent Irene Rigunan, Bomb Data Center, Philippine National Police, National Headquarters, Camp Crame, 3 February 2010; and Armed Forces of the Philippines, “Landmining Incidents for 2009,” “Landmining Incidents from 01 Jan to 28 Feb 2010,” and, “Recapitulation of Recovered/Neutralized Terrorist/Insurgent Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in 2009,” provided by Capt. Renan Suarez, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations J3, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Quezon City, 4 March 2010.

[4] Monitor analysis of media reports, 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2010, and of casualty data provided by the National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines.

[5] See previous Landmine Monitor reports on the Philippines, www.the-monitor.org.

[6] Ibid.

[7] NCDA, “Disability Laws: Executive Order 709,” 26 February 2008, www.ncda.gov.ph; and NCDA, “Organizational Structure,” undated, www.ncda.gov.ph.

[8] Telephone interview with Mateo A. Lee Jr., Officer-in-Charge, NCDA, 3 March 2010; and email from Mateo A. Lee Jr., NCDA, 15 February 2011.

[9] NCDA, “Historical Background,” undated, www.ncda.gov.ph.

[10] ICRC, “Annual Report 2009,” Geneva, May 2010, p. 224.

[11] US Department of State, “2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Philippines,” Washington, DC, 8 April 2011.