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Karapatan outraged by killing of Lumad school exec and leaders in Surigao del Sur

ICHRP Secretariat
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Karapatan outraged by killing of Lumad school exec and leaders in Surigao del Sur

“This is reminiscent of the Arroyo’s war against the Filipino people, at a time when it was reeling from its isolation from the people and at the same time in a scurry to beat the deadline of its counterinsurgency program. Killings continue to go up,” Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said upon receiving initial report on the killing of three persons in Surigao del Sur this morning, September 1.

“And, just like the Arroyo administration, BS Aquino is expected to cover up these crimes and avoid this issue like it has not happened at all,” Palabay said.

“We call on all peace-loving Filipinos and the international community to press for the immediate dismantling of paramilitary groups involved in this dirty war against the Filipino people. We also demand the immediate pull out of the 36th Infantry Battalion in Lumad communities in Lianga, Surigao del Sur,” Palabay said.

Emerito Samarca, executive director of Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV), a self-initiated school for the Lumad, was found dead on September 1 with a stab wound inside one of the classrooms in the school compound in Han-ayan, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.

Also killed in Km. 16, some three kilometres from Han-ayan, were Dionel Campos, chairperson of Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (MAPASU) and his cousin, Bello Sinzo.  The two were shot by members of the Magahat/Bagani force in the presence of their community members in Km. 16.

Two days prior to the killing, the Magahat/Bagani Force and elements of the 36th IB encamped at the Alcadev school compound and occupied the function hall and parts of the school grounds. During the encampment, the Magahat group threatened the school’s faculty members, staffs and community members that they will massacre the community if the people will not leave in two days.

August 31, the MAGAHAT group burned down the community cooperative store of MAPASU while indiscriminately firing around the community. Samarca, according to initial report was held and detained by some armed members of Magahat before he was killed.  He was last seen tied around the neck, his hands and feet were also tied. He was brought to one of the classrooms.

On the evening of August 31, the Alcadev faculty and most of the residents in Han-ayan went to Km. 16 for safety.  At around 4 a.m., Magahat Forces went from house to house in Km. 16 and ordered the residents to get out of their houses and go to the center of the community. That was when Campos and Sinzo were met by a volley of gunfire from brothers Loloy and Bobby Tejero of the Magahat/Bagani Force.

Magahat members also confiscated all cellphones and cameras from the residents and ALCADEV staff and remaining visitors in the community.

As of this writing, the residents of Han-ayan, with the remains of Samarca, Campos and Sinzo are on their way to Tandag, Surigao del Sur.

“The Bagani paramilitary and the 36th IB has long been accusing self-help Lumad school ALCADEV as NPA school, killings the teachers and organizers in the community, consequently depriving the Lumad of their education,” Palabay said.

Magahat group was also involved in the killing of brothers Crisanto and Ely Tagobol on August 28 on Brgy. Siagao, San Miguel, Agusan del Sur.

“With so much blood in the hands of BS Aquino, the regime cannot simply wash away its stench. The mounting call for justice for those killed will not be silenced,” Palabay said. “BS Aquino and the AFP’s attempt to cover up does not work. More Filipinos will hold them accountable for their blood debts,” Palabay said.

Reference:
Cristina “Tinay” Palabay
Secretary General
+63917-3162831

Angge Santos
Media Liaison
+63918-9790580

http://www.karapatan.org/Karapatan+outraged+by+the+killing+of+Lumad+school+exec+and+leaders+in+Surigao+del+Sur

———————————————————————
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
———————————————————————

Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Building
#1 Maaralin corner Matatag Streets
Central District, Diliman
Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties.  It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.

Militiamen kill tribal school head, indigenous leader; residents evacuate

ICHRP Secretariat
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Militiamen kill tribal school head, indigenous leader; residents evacuate

Barug Katungod Mindanao

Worst in a series of recent attacks on indigenous people in Mindanao, militiamen reportedly murdered the head of a tribal school, the chairman of a Lumad organization and one other person in Lianga town, Surigao del Sur early Tuesday morning – September 1, 2015.

Josephine Pagalan, spokesperson of the Kahugpungan sa mga Lumad-Caraga or KASALO, a regional federation of indigenous people’s organizations, said that Jionel Campos, chairman of the Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang Sa Sumusunod or MAPASU, and his cousin Aurelio Sinzo, were executed at KM16, Han-ayan, Barangay Diatagon in front of hundreds of residents of at least six sitios who had been ordered out of their homes by gunmen of the Magahat/BAGANI Force militia around 4 a.m.

The executions were also witnessed by teachers and students of the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development or ALCADEV, who had been roused from their dormitories at the school and ordered to join the residents at KM16.

When the militia withdrew after killing the two, the teachers and students returned to the ALCADEV compound to find the school’s executive director, Emerito Samarca, who had been ordered to stay behind, dead in a room, his throat slit and stabbed in the stomach, his hands and feet bound with rope.

The school had just celebrated its 11th founding anniversary. Samarca had also attended the International People’s Conference on Mining held in Metro Manila from July 30 to August 1.

Pagalan, who made to report the incident at the Lianga police station said that troops of the Army’s 36th Infantry Battalion and Special Forces Regiment had arrived in Diatagon on August 30, occupying their villages and the school. The Magahat, she said, followed early Tuesday morning and immediately “kicked the doors of houses, ordering the people out and telling them to gather at KM16.” Pagalan said she herself had been staying with a daughter at KM16 who had just given birth.

When the residents had gathered there, she said, the militiamen “ordered us to stop supporting the NPA (New People’s Army) if we did not want to die.”

Campos was then ordered to sit down outside her daughter’s store where “he was shot in the head,” followed by Sinzo. “Silang tanan nagpaputok (They all fired their guns),” Pagalan said.

She said the Magahat then “warned us to leave our place within two days or we would be killed when they returned” before withdrawing.

Pagalan said the residents of Diatagon have agreed to flee and head to the provincial capital, Tandag City, to seek help from the government.

This would be the second mass evacuation of residents from the lumad communities of Diatagon since last October when some 1,800 indigenous Manobo fled their homes after the murder of MAPASU council member Henry Sarsona Alameda, who was executed in front of his family by soldiers and militiamen, and Aldren Dumaguit, also MAPASU member. Interaksyon.com

DEMAND JUSTICE NOW!

EXPRESS YOUR CONCERN to the Philippine Government by writing to:

H.E. Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace
JP Laurel Sr., San Miguel, Manila
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph

Hon. Leila M. de Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
DOJ Main Building, Padre Faura Street, Manila
Tel: 523-8481 (loc. 211/214 ), 521-1908
Fax: 524-5936
Email: info@doj.gov.ph

Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-6193, Fax:+63(2) 911-6213

Hon. Jose Luis Martin Gascon
Chairperson, Commission On Human Rights
SAAC Building, Commonwealth Avenue
UP Complex, Diliman, Quezon City
928-5655, 926-6188
Telefax: 929-0102

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III
Chair, Justice and Human Rights Committee
Philippine Senate
Rm. 512 GSIS Bldg., Financial Center
Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 70 loc. 5548
Direct Lines: (632) 822-9758
Fax No.: (632) 822-9759
Email: kokopimenteloffice@yahoo.com

Rep. Guillermo Romarate Jr.
Chair, Human Rights Committee
House of Representatives
Quezon City
Rm. RVM-426
Phone: (632) 931-5001; local 7051, 9518974

Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo
Chair, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
2/F N. dela Merced Bldg.
Corner West & Quezon Ave., Quezon City
Tel.: 373-9942

EXPRESS YOUR SOLIDARITY!

Write support letters to
MAPASU
KASALO Caraga
kasalo_caraga@yahoo.com

Copy furnish your letters to barugkatungod.mindanao@gmail.com

BARUG KATUNGOD MINDANAO (Mindanao, Stand for Human Rights!) is a broad island-wide human rights network of lawyers, churchpeople, academics, artists, youth and students, women, child rights advocates, Lumad rights workers, Moro human rights workers, health professionals, journalists, and other human rights workers and defenders. It aims to serve as a human rights campaign center in Mindanao by drawing up island-wide statistics and analysis of human rights trends and issues; provide capacity-building trainings to human rights workers and human rights defenders in the regions; and strengthen human rights advocacy and mobilizations at Mindanao, national, and international levels.

Lead Convenors:

Initiatives for Peace in Mindanao (INPEACE Mindanao) • Kusog sa Katawhang Lumad sa Mindanao (KALUMARAN Alliance of Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao) • Kawagib Alliance for the Advancement of Moro Human Rights • Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) • Sisters’ Association in Mindanao (SAMIN) • Community-Based Health Services Association-Mindanao (CBHSA) • Resource Center for People’s Advocacies in Southern Mindanao • Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights

End state repression in the Philippines! Surface the disappeared!

ICHRP Secretariat
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End state repression in the Philippines! Surface the disappeared!

Bayan USA Statement on the International Day of the Disappeared

Today marks the anniversary of the International Day of the Disappeared, initiated over three decades ago in order to shed light on state-sponsored violence and enforced disappearances around the world.  Enforced disappearances are defined as the deprivation of liberty for political reasons committed by or with the authorization, support, or acquiescence of the state.  BAYAN USA joins the international community calling for the immediate surfacing of the disappeared and justice for all victims of human rights violations.

The human rights crisis in the Philippines under Aquino is a direct consequence of U.S. counterinsurgency strategy, which as an integral part of U.S. foreign policy is applied in countries where the US has strategic interests. In the case of the Philippines, and many other poor countries, neoliberal economic policies are imposed at the expense of the lives and livelihood of the Filipino people. These policies have restructured the Philippine economic and political system to serve big foreign monopoly capital rather than provide for the people. This spurs strong peoples’ resistance and mass movement seeking sovereignty and liberation. In order to quell this movement and maintain the for-profit, neocolonial system, the Aquino government, as a neoliberal ruling system, must unleash state repression against those most critical of its policies.

State repression against activists in the Philippines is escalating as Aquino prepares to exit the presidency. Over the past 5 years, Aquino developed long track record of human rights violations, including over 27 cases of enforced disappearances, 238 cases of extrajudicial killings, 110 cases of torture, and 723 cases of illegal arrests and detention.  The Aquino government has failed to resolve the 2006 case of enforced disappearances of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno, students of the University of the Philippines, and Jonas Burgos, agriculturalist and activist, despite last year’s arrest of General Jovito Palparan, widely known to be responsible for these abductions. Although Palparan has been in custody for nearly a year, justice and accountability for Cadapan, Empeno, Burgos and hundreds more of “The Butcher” Palparan’s victims is yet to be achieved in the Philippine courts.

 

This past May also marked the 6th year anniversary of the disappearance of Melissa Roxas, a Filipina American human rights activist and poet, who was abducted and tortured by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for six days and released only after waves of protests led by BAYAN in the Philippines and the U.S. garnered international attention.

 

BAYAN USA calls for the end of Oplan Bayanihan, a counter-insurgency plan modeled after the U.S. counter-insurgency guide of 2009 to quell rebellion and the ongoing civil war in the Philippines.  Oplan Bayanihan has not led to peace in the Philippines, but rather a growing number of militarized communities, displaced indigenous people, and the massacre of unarmed civilians.  According to human rights organization Karapatan, there were 11 victims of extrajudicial killings this month alone.  Oplan Bayanihan has been used to criminalize activism and target human rights advocates, faith leaders, civilians, and critics of the Aquino regime.

 

“Under Oplan Bayanihan, the Armed Forces of the Philippines are escalating their repression against activists with complete impunity as Aquino prepares to exit Malacanang. Human rights abusers are promoted and awarded for their crimes instead of being prosecuted and investigated.” said Rhonda Ramiro, Vice-Chair of BAYAN USA.

 

“Both the Aquino government and Obama government should be held accountable for these gross human rights violations because Oplan Bayanihan is modeled after the U.S. counterinsurgency manual and funded with U.S. tax dollars,” Ramiro continued.

 

BAYAN USA calls on the Philippine government to surface all victims of enforced disappearances and seek justice for their families and loved ones.  We call on the people of the U.S. to stand with the people of the Philippines by demanding our U.S. tax dollars not be funneled towards the Philippine military, which is culpable for the human rights crisis in the country.

 

Surface the Disappeared!

Justice for All Desaparecidos and All Victims of Human Rights Violations!

End State Repression! End Oplan Bayanihan!

No U.S. Military Aid to the Philippines!

End U.S. Counter-Insurgency! End Impunity!

 

Contact:  Nikole Cababa, Deputy Secretary-General, BAYAN USA, depsec@bayanusa.org

 

BAYAN-USA is an alliance of 20 progressive Filipino organizations in the U.S. representing students, scholars, women, workers, artists, and youth. As the first and largest international chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-Philippines), BAYAN-USA serves as an information bureau for the national democratic movement of the Philippines and as a center for educating, organizing, and mobilizing anti-imperialist and progressive Filipinos in the U.S.  For more information, visit www.bayanusa.org.

Five Manobo massacred by 1st Special Forces Battalion

ICHRP Secretariat
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Five Manobo massacred by 1st Special Forces Battalion

Appeal for Action

UA Date                          : August 30, 2015
UA Case                         : Massacre/Extrajudicial Killing, Frustrated Killing, Use of Civilian in Police and/or Military Operations as Guides and/or Shield, Use of Schools, Medical, Religious and other Public Places for Military Purpose, Endangerment of Civilians
Victim/s                       : Massacre:

Emer Somina
–          Male, 17years old
–          Manobo

Welmer Somina
–          Male, 19 years old
–          Manobo farmer

Norman Samia
–          Male, 14 years old
–          Manobo

Herminio Samia
–          Male, 70 years old
–          Manobo farmer

Jobert Samia
–          Male, 70 years old
–          Manobo farmer
–          blind

Frustrated Killing:
(Name withheld)
–          15 years old
–          Manobo farmer
Place of Incident           : Sitio Mandum, Brgy. Mendis, Pangantucan, Bukidnon
Date of Incident           : August 18, 3015
Alleged Perpetrator(s)           : 3rd Company of the1st Special Forces Battalion under the ground commander Capt. Balatbat ; Col. Nasser Lidasan as Battalion Commander

Account of the Incident:

On August 18, 2015, Herminio Samia, 70, his son Jobert, 20, his grandson Norman, 13 and his nephews Emer and Welmer Somina had lunch at his house at Sitio Mandum, Brgy. Mendis, Pangantucan, Bukidnon. A 15 year-old relative whose name is withheld was also with them.

At around 3p.m., they heard a series of gun fire from the forest. Jobert immediately suggested to go to a safer place but Herminio advised otherwise. Herminio can no longer take long walks for he is old and blind. He said they were civilians and they have nothing to do with the fight. The gun fire lasted for more than one hour.

At 5p.m., when the gun firehad subsided, they heard someone from outside the house shouted, “Kayong mga NPA na nandyan sa itaas ng bahay, lumabas kayo diyan at bumaba dito!” (You NPA inside the house get out and get down here!) The boys were forced to come down and immediately saw the soldiers who ordered them to raise their hands. Herminio, on the other hand, explained it is difficult for him to go down because he is blind but a soldier retorted while cursing, “Litse, bakit hindi makababa ay meron namang hagdan!? (How can you not come down when there is a stair”). Herminio obliged and struggled to come down the house. Being blind, Herminio did not know where to go and started to stray until he reached a coffee tree. The soldiers shot Herminio. Then they shot his nephew Emer. The eye witness was the next target but he was able to run. He hid behind big rocks, which became his cover until he could reach the house of Orenio Samia, his uncle.

The next day, 27 residents, including barangay councilor Isabero Sulda checked Herminio’s place. When they arrived they saw about 22 soldiers who ordered them to line up. The soldiers took pictures of the 27 villagers and listed down their names. They were also warned not to look at the soldiers as they collected the dead bodies.

They saw five dead bodies in the vicinity of Herminio’s house. Herminio Samia’s body was found near the coffee tree. He was shot at the stomach, his intestines exposed and has an exit wound at the back. Emer Somina’s body was found near the house’s door. Norman Samia was found a few steps away, with his ear removed from his head and his jaw broken. Welmer’s left hand was cut off from his wrist and had a gunshot on his nose, which disfigured his face. Jobert’s body was found near Welmer’s.

The soldiers provided the residents with plastic canvass to transport the remains. They were ordered to take the bodies to the grassy part on the top of the hill where they will be loaded to a helicopter. At the hilltop, the residents were told to prepare the area where the helicopter could land. But then it rained. So they were told to move the bodies to the barangay hall at Madum, Mendis. The soldiers went with them.

The 15 year old witness, after having narrated to his uncle what he saw, was traumatized and has not spoken since then.

As of this writing, members of the the 1st Special Forces Battalion are still encamped at the barangay hall and at the day care center in the same village where the Samias and Seminos were killed.

Recommended Action:

Send letters, emails or fax messages to call on the BS Aquino government to:

  1. Immediately form an independent investigation composed of representative from human rights groups, churches, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into the massacre of Herminio, Jobert and Norman Samia and Emer and Welmer Somina.
  2. Immediately prosecute the soldiers involved in the massacre;
  3. Withdraw its counterinsurgency program Oplan Bayanihan, which victimizes innocent and unarmed civilians.
  4. Remind the Philippine Government that it is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to all the major Human Rights instruments, thus it is bound to observe all of these instruments’ provisions.

You may send your communications to:

H.E. Benigno C. Aquino III
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
E-mail: op@president.gov.ph

Sec. Teresita Quintos-Deles
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
7th Floor Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City 1605
Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Fax:+63 (2) 638 2216
stqd.papp@opapp.gov.ph

Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-6193 / 911-0488 / 982-5600
Fax:+63(2) 982-5600
Email: osnd@philonline.com, dnd.opla@gmail.com

Atty. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-1908
Trunkline  523-84-81 loc.211/214
Fax: (+632) 523-9548
Email:  lmdelima@doj.gov.ph,
lmdelima.doj@gmail.com,lmdelima.doj@gmail.com

Hon. Jose Luis Martin Gascon
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 928-5655, (+632) 926-6188
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
E-mail: comsec@chr.gov.ph

Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the above-named government officials, to our address below.

URGENT ACTION Prepared by:

KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
National Office
2/F Erythrina Building
#1 Maaralin cor Matatag Streets
Brgy. Central, Diliman,
Quezon City 1100 PHILIPPINES
Voice/Fax: (+632) 435 4146
Email: urgentaction@karapatan.org
Website: www.karapatan.org

Victims of human rights violations, human rights workers and advocates charged with criminal offenses

ICHRP Secretariat
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Victims of human rights violations, human rights workers and advocates charged with criminal offenses

APPEAL FOR ACTION

Please join us in our call to stop criminalizing human rights work and advocacy; and withdraw false criminal charges against human rights victims, human rights workers and other leaders of people’s organizations assisting victims of military atrocities in Davao and Sarangani provinces in Mindanao. We also call on the military to pull-out troops from hinterland communities as their mere presence in these communities already endangers the civilian population.

22 leaders of Church groups and people’s organization and human rights workers and victims of human rights violations in Socsksargen (South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani and Gen. Santos City); falsely charged with criminal offenses

On June 17, 2015, a certain PO2 Jegz Bryan L. Salutan of the Philippine National Police-Alabel and Pfc. Charlito B. Tunggak of the 73rd Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (IBPA) filed charges against leaders of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), progressive people’s organizations and human rights groups for attempted murder, violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and violation of Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and other Crimes Against Humanity.

Those charged were Ryan Lariba, Secretary General of Bayan-Socsksargen; Rev. Allen Bill Veloso, Chairperson of Karapatan-Socsksargen; Pastor Sadrach Sabella, Secretary General of Karapatan Socsksargen; Pastor Roger Rafalez of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines-Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR); Bert Padayao, Chairperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Socsksargen; Anelfa Gemilo, Chairperson of Kaluhhamin (a Lumad organization), Lorna Mora, Secretary General of Kaluhhamin and 15 others, including victims of human rights violations, two staff members of CLANS (Center for Lumad Advocacy and Services) and members of Lumad community organization.

The 22 individuals were charged with attempted murder in relation to an encounter between members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and 73rd IBPA in Brgy. Upper Suyan, Malapatan, Sarangani. They were also charged with violation of Republic Act 7610 in relation to the evacuation of more than 400 Blaan who fled their homes when the military conducted combat operations in their communities and human rights violations were committed against them.

Almost the same individuals were also charged with the same case at the Malapatan Municipal police station on May 28, 2015 with a certain pastor Mendoza Masalon as complainant.

Two other criminal charges were earlier filed against the evacuees and other victims of human rights violations, including Brgy. Upper Suyan resident and torture victim Ruben Wating.

 

These trumped up criminal cases stemmed from the assistance of human rights groups and progressive organizations to victims of human rights violations. The individuals who were criminally charged were those who assisted the evacuees and those who participated in a fact-finding mission in Sitio Akbual, Brgy. Upper Suyan, Malapatan, Sarangani province on April 27-29, 2015. The mission was held to investigate the human rights abuses committed by elements of the 73rd IBPA against the Blaan tribe.

Almost 150 elements of the 73rd IBPA conducted military operations on March 27 until April 10, 2015, affecting some 358 families or 1,800 individuals who became victims of abuses and human rights violations. The team documented military atrocities in the Blaan villages; among them were torture, aerial bombings, indiscriminate firing, and food blockade.

After the fact-finding team left the community, indiscriminate firing continued which prompted some 441 villagers to leave the area on May 18 and sought shelter in nearby villages but eventually decided to go to General Santos City. The evacuees were assisted by groups like Karapatan, Kaluhhamin, Clans and Bayan-Socsksargen, providing them food and medicine. The evacuees, 200 of them children, were brought to the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Compound. While at the evacuation center, elements of the 73rd IBPA frequently visited them.

From May 23 to June 10, a series of “dialogue” between the evacuees and representatives of the local government and the 73rd IBPA was held. The government and AFP representatives scolded the evacuees and urged them to go home, ignoring the evacuees’ demand for a military pull-out. In one of the dialogues, 2nd Lt. Faith Sela accused the evacuees as among those responsible for the ambush of members of the 73rd IBPA.

On June 13, the evacuees decided to return to their communities but backed out when they heard of some 300 soldiers still in the community. The following day, however, they were definite to go back home.

Evacuees and torture victims face four trumped-up criminal charges

Farmer Ruben Wating, a resident of Sitio Akboal, was tortured on April 5, 2015 by soldiers of the 73rd IBPA during their military operations in civilian communities in Brgy. Upper Suyan, Malapatan, Sarangani Province. He now faces four false criminal charges before the court.

A certain “Gober,” said to be the Commanding Officer of the Reconnaissance Company of the 73rd IBPA, two soldiers named Ricky Sotal and Toto Sukal, and one unnamed member of the PNP-Malapatan went to the house of Ruben Wating. Soldiers accused Wating to be among the NPA members they encountered three days before. When Wating disputed their claim, the soldiers forced him to drink two gallons of “tuba” or coconut wine with them.  At 9 p.m., after they finished the wine, they brought Wating to a nearby creek where he was tortured—kicked in the neck, clipped his left thumbnail with pliers while another punched the right side of Wating’s limb. Desperate, a soldier pulled a .45 cal. and aimed at Wating’s forehead. He was ordered to drop to the ground and when he did, the soldiers repeatedly stepped on Wating’s legs on to his back. Later, they instructed to stand up and run. He refused to follow for fear that soldiers would shoot him.

The soldiers then brought Wating to a neighbor’s house where he was again punched; his hands smashed with a bamboo stick. After some time, the soldiers allowed Wating to go home but even before he could leave, one of the soldiers hit his back with a belt. That night, six soldiers slept over at Wating’s house.

Wating is included in the false charges instigated by the PNP and AFP and filed by Pastor Mendoza A. Masalon on May 28, 2015 against leaders of progressive people’s organization for violation of Sec. 3 (b) and 10(a) of RA7610 (Special Protection of children against abuse, exploitation and discrimination act) and, Article 142 (inciting to sedition) of the Revised Penal Code.   He is also included in the false charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention filed on May 29, 2015 at the Regional Trial Court Branch 38 of Alabel, Sarangani Province with a corresponding warrant of arrest and Information. Also charged was another victim of human rights violations, a Manobo sitio leader Dambong Dagit of Sitio Akboal.   On June 8, 2015, a subpoena for frustrated murder and violation of RA 9851 was again issued against Ruben Wating and his neighbors in Sitio Akboal, Malapatan such as Borning Manganyong and Alfredo Manganyong, and village chairman, Arman Teo, and Makasdalu-Sitio Akboal Chairperson Lorencio Teo. The complainant was a certain Pfc. Anthony Detablan.   Another attempted murder case and violation of RA 7610 and RA 9851 was filed against Wating at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Alabel, Sarangani Province.

Some other evacuees Borning Manganyong, Alfredo Manganyong, Bulahing Masalon, Nestor Masalon, Armand Teo, and Lorencio Teo and leaders of people’s organizations such as Ryan Lariba of Bayan, Pastor Sadrach Sabella of Karapatan et al were again included in the complaint filed by P02 Jegz Bryan Laure Salutan and Pfc. Charlito Busan Tunggak on June 17, 2015.

In Davao City, similar trumped up charges were filed against leaders of people’s organizations and human rights workers who assisted evacuees from the provinces of Davao del Norte and Bukidnon who sought shelter at the UCCP Compound in Davao City also because of military operations in the tribal villages. (See: “AFP files trumped-up criminal case vs. Karapatan-SMR Sec.Gen, leaders of people’s orgs” http://www.karapatan.org/AFP+files+trumped-up+criminal+case+vs.+Karapatan-SMR+Sec.Gen%2C+leaders+of+people%E2%80%99s+orgs)

Recommended Action:

Send letters, emails or fax messages to call on the BS Aquino government to:

  1. Withdraw all trumped-up criminal charges against leaders of people’s organizations and human rights groups assisting victims of human rights violations;
  2. Immediately pull-out military troops from Blaan communities;
  3. Create an independent body to investigate cases of human rights violations committed by members of the 73rd IBPA against the Blaan tribe;
  4. Respect and observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as it is a signatory and party to all the major Human Rights instruments;
  5. Junk Oplan Bayanihan, the government’s counterinsurgency program, that has victimized countless Filipinos.

You may send your communications to:

  1. E. Benigno C. Aquino III
    President of the Republic of the Philippines
    Malacañang Palace, JP Laurel St., San Miguel
    Manila Philippines
    Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
    Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
    E-mail: op@president.gov.ph
  1. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
    Secretary, Department of National Defense
    Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
    Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
    Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
    Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
    Email: osnd@philonline.com
  1. Leila De Lima
    Secretary, Department of Justice
    Padre Faura St., Manila, Philippines
    Direct Line 521-1908
    Trunkline  523-84-81 loc.211/214
    Fax: (+632) 523-9548
    Email:  lmdelima@doj.gov.ph,
    lmdelima.doj@gmail.com,
    lmdelima.doj2@gmail.com
  1. Jose Luis Martin Gascon
    Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
    SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
    Commonwealth Avenue
    Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
    Voice: (+632) 928-5655, (+632) 926-6188
    Fax: (+632) 929 0102
    E-mail: comsec@chr.gov.ph

Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the above-named government officials, to our address below.

URGENT ACTION Prepared by:
KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
National Office
2/F Erythrina Building
#1 Maaralin cor Matatag Streets
Brgy. Central, Diliman,
Quezon City 1100 PHILIPPINES
Voice/Fax: (+632) 435 4146
Email: urgentaction@karapatan.org; karapatan@karapatan.org
Website: www.karapatan.org

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