Datus want deal for military pullout of IP villages
LUMAD leaders demanded a signed manifesto, to be witnessed by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte himself, for the military to pull out of their communities and to disband the paramilitary group Alamara.
The Lumad leaders also stressed that the Armed Forces of the
Philippines
The Commission on Human Rights, led by commissioners Leah
Tanodra-Armamento and Roberto Eugenio Cadiz, is holding a two-day public
inquiry ending today, over the alleged hamletting of indigenous communities in
Talaingod, Bukidnon and Surigao.
The inquiry was ordered by CHR chairman Jose Luis Martin
Gascon on Sept. 14, to understand the causes of the recent incidents and shed
light on the real situation of the lumads in their communities.
Yesterday, Lumad leaders reiterated their accusation of the
military allowing paramilitary forces like the Alamara to run rampant in the
communities in support to the government’s counter-insurgency campaign.
They claimed that the Alamara was behind the series of
killings in their area, as the military looked the other way.
Aside from militarization, the inquiry also tackled the
“rescue” operation in Haran
Rev. Sarly Templado of UCCP, who was present during the
operation, told CHR execs yesterday that as early as 6 a.m. on July 23 their
compound was already surrounded by the police.
He said that he met with representatives of the National
Commission on Indigenous Peoples and Department of Social Welfare and
Development and agreed on the services for the lumads, giving time for the
lumad leaders to conduct a brief consultation among themselves, as well.
However, with no warning, at 10 a.m. the police stormed the
fence of the compound.
When Pastor Templado asked Supt. Marvin Pepino, the ground
commander of the operation, who gave them the order to open the gate, the
police officer could not give the exact answer.
Among those holed up at the Haran
Today, the CHR will invite Sr. Supt. Vicente D. Danao,
Congresswoman Nancy Catamco, vice mayor Paolo Duterte and military officials to
the inquiry.
Previously, Capt. Alberto Caber, chief of the Eastern
Mindanao Command’s Public Information Office (PIO), said the accusations of
military abuses are not true.
He called this was just “black propaganda” initiated by
leftists that hype human rights violations as their “way of life.”
“There is no problem with the entry of the Army to the
communities. The problem is when these are infiltrated by the New People’s Army
(NPA),” he said.
The presence of the rebel forces in the communities, Caber
claimed, hamper government services from reaching the indigenous people.
He said that before the army enters lumad communities, they
hold consultations and get the approval of the local government units (LGUs),
including the mayors.
Sheena Duazo, secretary general of Bayan Southern Mindanao
Region, said that the military’s denial of the human violations is a move to
evade from the issue.
“The militant support groups are in the forefront of
exposing human rights violations perpetrated by the military and its
paramilitary groups, that is why the AFP is trying to silence and discredit
militants in order to confuse and deceive the public. It is a desperate attempt
to hide the truth,” she added.
http://mindanaotimes.net/leave-us-now/
The commie propaganda Kabuki dance continues. CPP front groups have been able to gain some traction with the media, government officials, and international human rights groups, through the repeated articulation of unfounded accusations that the Philippine military is behind the recent incidents of violence that have been inflicted against members of lumad communities.
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