CPP/Ang Bayan: Militarization victimizes Lumads in Sultan Kudarat and Bukidnon

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (May 21): Militarization victimizes Lumads in Sultan Kudarat and Bukidnon

Elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-2 and police personnel terrorized groups delivering relief goods to Dulangan Manobo evacuees in Sitio Blanga, Brgy. Nalilidan, Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat last May 18. The military, police and the local government headed by Mayor Ronan Garcia connived in denying the evacuees much needed help and support.

Around 1,000 Dulangan Manobos have evacuated since last May 12 due to the continuing militarization of their communities. This came after an encounter last May 10 between the New People’s Army (NPA) and soldiers who were assisted by the security force of David M. Consunji Incorporated (DMCI), the biggest plunderer in the area.

 The National Democratic Front-Far South Mindanao strongly condemned the collusion of the local government with the military and their servility to the interests of DMCI. Intensified military operations in Sultan Kudarat have been ongoing since March. These have resulted in the hamletting and food blockade of 11 communities in three of Kalamansig’s villages. Alongside these are gross violations of the residents’ human rights such as illegal detention, coercion and destruction of properties.

 In Bukidnon, up to 50 Lumad families were evicted from their communities as a result of the militarization by the AFP and the paramilitary group Alamara in the last week of April until the start of May.

In San Fernando, 24 Tigwahanon families were forced to leave their homes in Sitio Salumpikit, Brgy. Bunacao last April 23, when the 60th IB launched operations following an encounter with an NPA unit nearby. According to the residents, soldiers ransacked their homes purportedly in search of Red fighters. Ugsalay Lagundong’s house was also fired at with M203 grenade.

This forced around 99 residents to evacuate to the barangay center taking with them only a few of their belongings. It took two days since their evacuation before officials from the local government visited them, but only to prod them to return to their communities despite the dangers.

 Fearing the 60th IB’s retaliation, the Tigwahanons again evacuated, this time from the barangay to the provincial capitol in Malaybalay City last May 1. There, they set up a protest camp to demand assistance from the local government.

Meanwhile, 25 Umayamnon families evacuated last May 4 from the sitios of San Vicente, Saloringan, Mahinaga and Tagbacan in Brgy. Cananga-an in Cabanglasan. They too, went to the capitol in Bukidnon because of threats from the Alamara, the paramilitary group controlled by the AFP.

 Headed by Sammy Diwangan, the Alamara accused the Umayamnon datus as the ones behind the recent NPA attacks against the Alamara. The group threatened the datus that they will be killed along with their families.

The Umayamnons asked the mayor of Cabanglasan to mediate on the Alamara’s harassment. But on the designated day of dialogue last April 20, only the armed men of the Alamara led by Diwangan and the Delamance brothers arrived. Because of this, around 100 Umayamnons were forced to flee to safety.

Meanwhile, seven more Umayamnon families who were to join the evacuees were blocked by Diwangan’s group at the marketplace of Centro Iba, Cabanglasan. The Alamara terrorized the evacuees and confiscated their belongings. Despite this, and the standing warrant of arrest against Diwangan, the police and the local government unit of Cabanglasan took no action.

In connection with this, the group Katribu filed a formal complaint with the NDFP-GRP Joint Monitoring Committee against the AFP. The filing of charges was done at the same time that the United Nations is conducting its Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights in the Philippines. According to Katribu, the AFP brazenly violates the CARHRIHL most especially with its continuing counterinsurgency operations which targets indigenous people’s communities all over the country.

[Ang Bayan is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray and English. Download Ang Bayan from the Philippine Revolution Web Central at www.philippinerevolution.info.  Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.]
https://www.philippinerevolution.info/ang_bayan/2017may21-militarization-victimizes-lumads-in-sultan-kudarat-and-bukidnon/