Lumads dared the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) last Friday to call for the immediate pullout of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and paramilitary troops from their ancentral lands.
In a dialogue with CHR commissioners and regional directors held at their office in Quezon City, lumad leaders, relatives of slain victims, and witnesses recounted the atrocities perpetrated by the military.
No tribal war
Bai Josephine Pagalan, spokesperson of the Kahugpungan sa mga Lumadnong Organisasyon sa Caraga (Kasalo Caraga or “Organization of Indigenous Peoples Organizations in Caraga”), said that there is no tribal war in Mindanao, despite the Army’s claim.
“Sinusuhulan ng mga militar ang ilang mga lumad para magpatupad ng krimen. Inaarmasan ng AFP ang mga bandidong paramilitar. Kapag napatay ang lumad, hugas-kamay ang gobyerno,” she said.
Early this month, Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel said the Magahat-Bagani paramilitary force that killed community leaders in Lianga town was a “monster created by the military.”
“Napakasakit pong isipin na noong September 1, 2015, walang awang pinatay ‘yung Executive Director ng ALCADEV na si Sir Emerito Samarca, ‘yung aking ama na si Dionel, at si Datu Juvello Sinzo. Sa harapan po [ng mga lumad] pinatay ang ama ko,” related Michelle Campos.
Michelle is the daughter of slain chairperson of Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (MAPASU or “Persevering Struggle for the Next Generation”) Dionel Campos.
She said that the lumad community understands why these atrocities, under the government-instigated program Oplan Bayanihan, happen in Mindanao.
“Napasailalim sa kanila sa programang ito ang proyektong maipasok ang mina doon sa aming areas dahil ang Caraga po ang pinakamalaking mapagkukunan ng gold sa buong Pilipinas, pinakamalaking mapagkukunan ng nikel sa buong Asya, at pinakamalaking mapagkukunan ng coal sa buong mundo,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Aida Seisa, lumad leader and secretary general of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas – Southern Mindanao Region, pointed at a divide-and-rule tactic by the military.
“[Ang ginagawa po ng mga militar] pagsabung-sabungin, pag-away-awayin ang mga katutubong lumad na kasalukuyang nagkakaisa at naninindigan. Ayaw namin sa malalaking dambuhalang kumpanya, lalong-lalo na sa Paquibato district na gustong-gusto ng Malaysian government na pagtaniman ng palm oil, at saka ‘yung mining ng Alberto Mining at saka MRC Allied Company,” she said.
Right to education
Because of the death of Samarca, lumad schools like ALCADEV (Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, Inc.) was brought into the spotlight.
According to the ALCADEV site, “Children walk under the scorching heat of the sun or even brave storms to reach the town centers where the schools are. Often times, these schools are some 20 kilometers away from their homes. Their parents could not keep up the high cost of transportation, food and lodging and other expenses necessary to finish even a year in high school. The indigenous youth also endure — and are most of the time discouraged by — derogatory remarks and treatment from the lowlanders who consider them as second class citizens.”
This state of education in lumad communities was brought to the CHR by Seisa.
“Gusto naming ipaglaban ang aming karapatan upang makapag-aral kasi hindi kami makapag-aral sa matataas na paaralan. Nagtayo po kami ng paaralan upang hindi matulad sa amin ‘yung mga anak namin. Ni makapagsalita pa ng Tagalog ay inaaral pa namin. Ayaw naming matulad sa amin ‘yung mga anak namin. Kaya nga may inisyatiba kaming mga magsasaka at katutubong lumad na makapagtayo ng paaralan,” she related in tears.
She also bewailed the harassment they received from the military.
“Hindi pa rin nairi-release ‘yung documents ng paaralan namin dahil pinaggigiit ng Armed Forces of the Philippines na ang mga guro namin ay mga NPA, ang paaralan namin ay paaaralan ng NPA. Napakasakit! Kaming mga katutubong lumad, wala ba kaming karapatan na magtayo ng sariling paaralan para makapag-aral at ma-educate ang mga anak namin?” she said.
Among those who participated in the dialogue was Gideon Galicia, a volunteer teacher of ALCADEV. He was the last person who saw Samarca alive. Also present was the 15-year-old lone survivor of Pangantucan massacre.
“Pinagsasabihan kaming sa NPA kami pabor. Pero hindi iyon totoo. Gusto lang naming mamuhay nang tahimik, nang walang gulo, at wala kaming kinatatakutan,” Seisa said.
Genuine Lumad leaders
Datu Doloman Dawsay, spokesperson of the Talaingod Manobo organization Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanugon in Davao del Norte, unmasked the datus who were in cohorts with the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command.
“Kami ang mga totoong lider katutubo. Hindi sina Nestor Apas, Ruben Lubawan, at Lumansad [Sibugan]. Wala silang teritoryo. At wala silang sakop na mga miyembro ng komunidad at organisasyon,” he said.
He asked the CHR heads to investigate the three datus, saying that they are employed by the military.
“Ako at si Datu Guibang [Apoga] ang mga totoong chief ng Talaingod. Kami ang totoong naninindigan at dumedepensa sa mga lumad. Walang ginawa ang tatlo kundi magpagamit sa mga militar. Gusto nilang ipagbili ang Talaingod. Pati ang aming lupang ninuno ay gusto nilang ibenta sa mga dayuhang korporasyon,” he said.
‘Toothless’ CHR?
The lumads resounded their call to immediately pull out AFP and paramilitary troops in Mindanao. They also sought justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings.
According to them, military operations must not target civilians and lumad communities. Amidst these atrocities, “wala pa ring napapabalitang napatay na talagang NPA.”
CHR Chair Chito Gascon, however, begged the lumads to go easy on the commission since they have just marked their 100 days in office.
He explained that CHR does not have the mandate to pull out the military troops in Mindanao.
“Mananawagan kami na ang pagtutugis ay dapat nasa rules of combat at International Humanitarian Law. Maaari rin naming i-offer ang aming programa para sa witness protection,” he explained.
But according to the lumads and human rights advocates, they cannot help but be cynical .
“Prove us wrong,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of human rights group Karapatan.
For the past 5 years, her group has been inviting special rapporteurs, appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, to the country. The government has been giving them a cold shoulder.
“This is not just a case on lumads. The cases are political killings. In fact, the AFP has a clear program and a target list. It has been proven in the recent budget hearings,” she said, breaking down in tears.
Palabay reminded the CHR of Malacañang’s track record on human rights. She said that in the first 5 days of Noynoy, Bayan Muna Aklan coordinator and Councilor Fernando Baldomero was brutally murdered.
