CPP/Ang Bayan: Intensified militarization and terrorism in Mindanao

From the English language edition of Ang Bayan (May 21): Intensified militarization and terrorism in Mindanao

There are five divisions currently stationed in Mindanao, comprising 60% of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). These forces are under the AFP Southern Command.

The Southern Command which covers the whole of Mindanao is divided into the Eastmincom and the Westmincom. The Eastmincom is composed of the 4th ID and 10th ID. The 4th ID is mainly trained against the regions of Northeast Mindanao (NEMR) and Northcentral Mindanao (NCMR). The 10th ID, on the other hand, covers the Southern Mindanao Region (SMR) and has a brigade in Far South Mindanao (FSMR). The Westmincom comprises the 1st ID and 6th ID. The 1st ID is in turn divided among the Moro areas and West Mindanao (WMR) while the 6th ID is focused on the Moro areas and FSMR.

There are up to 30 battalions under the Eastmincom. Currently, there are 15 battalions under the 10th ID; and 13 battalions under the 4th ID. On top of this is the 76th IB which is now Eastmincom’s strike force. Also added to the Eastmincom is the 5th Special Force Battalion.

Aside from this are the naval and air forces, including the 3rd Tactical Operations Wing, the 5th Civil Relations Group, the 5th and 7th Air Reserve Center, the 52nd Engineering Brigade, the 10th and 11th Tactical Operations Group, the 10th, 11th, 12th and 15th Regional Community Defense Group and the Naval Reserve Center in Eastern Mindanao. This is aside from two battalions under the two divisions that are focused on intelligence work.

Apart from the AFP’s regular forces, there are various paramilitary groups organized and trained by the 72nd IBPA-Cadre Battalion, including the CAFGU, SCAA, CAA, Investment Defense Force (IDF), Bagani Force in Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur, and the ALAMARA group in Paquibato-Talaingod. The process of pulling out a brigade (701st) from Central Luzon began in 2009-2010. In 2013, the 76th IB was deployed from the Bondoc Peninsila. In March, the 9th IB and the 68th IB were transferred from Bicol to Compostela Valley. Just this May, a battalion under the 6th ID in Maguindanao was transferred to the 10th ID and deployed to Compostela Valley.

The seven newly added battalions are concentrated in five provinces: Agusan del Sur, North Cotabato, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte and Bukidnon. They have been positioned at the SMR-NEMR-NCMR tri-boundary.

Of all the regions, SMR is the most militarized. Fourteen full battlions are deployed here, while nine other battalions are positioned along its borders with NEMR, NCMR and FSMR.

The AFP’s intensified suppression operations are focused on areas where there are ongoing mining, logging and plantation operations (such as oil palm, banana and pineapple) or that are being targeted for entry by these companies. The goal is to suppress the people’s opposition to these companies’ operations which are destructive to the environment and cause the seizure of the Lumad’s ancestral lands.

Military abuses are widespread, including the militarization of entire communities and the use of schools, barangay halls and other civilian structures as military barracks. Soldiers also routinely violate domiciles and steal personal belongings, farm animals and food.

Farms and their environs are increasingly being bombed from the air or targeted by artillery fire, traumatizing residents, especially children. The targeted residents are accused of being NPA supporters, with some forcibly used as guides in AFP operations.

A striking case is the militarization of Talaingod, Davao del Norte. For a month, more than 1,300 residents of Barangay Palma Gil evacuated to Davao City to protest the repression, terrorism and brutality of AFP forces. Like them, the Manobo-Matigsalog tribespeople who fled Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro City in September 2013 did so to protest the military terrorism of the 8th IB. In August 2013, up to 325 residents of Loreto, Agusan del Sur evacuated to protest the abuses of the 26th IB.

Extrajudicial killings are also mounting. The latest cases are the killing by the 29th IB of Ricardo “Polon” Tuazon in the upland areas of Butuan City on April 28 and the abduction, torture and slaying on March 24 by 9th IB personnel of Wilmar Bargas, a small miner from Maco, Compostela Valley.

Violations of children’s rights are likewise widespread, such as the occupation of schools. In a striking case, soldiers harassed a community school in Side 4, Mangayon, Compostela, Compostela Valley last year. In March, 57th IB elements arrested “Balong,” a 14-year old boy from Magpet, North Cotabato, falsely accusing him of being an NPA member.

 

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/publications/ang_bayan/20140521/intensified-militarization-and-terrorism-in-mindanao