Catamco, army sued

From the Mindanao Times (Sep 9): Catamco, army sued

Karapatan asks Ombudsman’s help vs. solon, army officers

KARAPATAN filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) Mindanao on Tuesday against North Cotabato Rep. Nancy Catamco and military officers for reported human rights violations.

The OMB-Mindanao is now conducting an evaluation on the complaints filed by the group to determine if there’s probable cause to file administrative charges against the respondents.

According to Rius Valle, spokesperson of Save Our Schools, the complaint was based on the related human rights violation in Talaingod, Kapalong, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, the attacks on Lumad schools, the alleged Paquibato massacre and the incident in Haran.

On Aug. 13, Karapatan also filed charges before the City Prosecution Office against Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año, commanding general of the Philippine Army, and two military officials for their alleged involvement in the death of three people in Purok 7, Barangay Paradise Embac in Paquibato District.

Año, former commander of the 10th Infantry Division, Lt. Col. Rodney Intal, commander of 69th Infantry Battalion and 1st Lt. Christopher Santos, operations officer of the 69th Infantry Battalion, are facing charges for three counts of murder, six counts of frustrated murder, robbery, serious physical injury, grave threats and grave coercion.

The complaints were lodged by Aida Seisa, Rosita P. Sanduanan and Nestor Flores, all residents of Paradise Embac, Paquibato District.

Almost 3,000 Lumad students were affected after Salugpongan Ta’Tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center and MISFI Academy schools, indigenous people for schools, in Davao del Norte were closed down by the Department of Education (DepEd) in Davao Region earlier this year.

The progressive groups claimed that DepEd Davao del Norte superintendent Josephine Fadul, in a letter dated May 12 to DepEd Region-XI director Alberto Escobarte, endorsed the closure of Lumad schools and requested for permission to install a public school which will have military personnel as teachers.

Prior to this, schools and communities have allegedly been harassed by soldiers under the 60th and 68th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. About 700 Lumads also were affected due to alleged hamletting by the military.

On July 16, Catamco visited Haran compound along Fr. Selga Street in Davao City and tried to convince the Lumads, some of whom have been in the area for seven months, to return to their home.

Apparently, the IP families being housed in the area were turned off when the lawmaker reportedly scolded them when they refused to go home.

On July 23, an inter-agency organized by Catamco went to the Haran and a “rescue” operation was launched but it ended with 12 injuries as violence erupted between the anti-riot police, Lumads and activists.

http://mindanaotimes.net/catamco-army-sued/