International

Organization for
Self-Determination
and Equality (IOSDE)
!

Sweden
www.iosde.org
info@iosde.org !
!

URGENT'APPEAL'FOR'LUMAD'COMMUNITIES!'
!
!

Our!friends!and!family!who!are!the!Indigenous!Peoples!in!Mindanao,!Philippines,!have!long!been!experiencing!
attacks! that! put! them! into! severe! and! critical! crisis,! and! in! recent! months! and! weeks! the! situation! has!
worsened!and!needs!even!more!immediate!attention.!
!!
Militarization!of!these!Indigenous!regions!has!lead!to!an!increase!in!massacres!of!innocent!Indigenous!persons!
and!advocates,!false!criminalizations!(including!but!not!limited!to!false!accusations!of!participation!in!the!NPA,!
New! Peoples'! Army)! in! the! form! of! illegal! military! and! paramilitary! arrests,! torture,! extrajudicial! killings! and!
detainment! of! innocent! persons,! and! civilians! experiencing! heavy! military! operations! that! are! causing!
documented! massive! human! rights! violations! and! displacement.! This! is! all! happening! for! the! disguised!
purpose!of!landGgrabbing!for!State,!businesses!and!other!national!and!international!interests!and!at!the!heavy!
cost! of! lives! and! a! cultural! genocide! happening! right! before! our! eyes,! and! with! no! end! to! the! torture! in!
immediate!sight.!!
!
These!are!not!acceptable!living!(or!dying)!standards!for!any!peoples!or!persons!in!this!world!today,!and!the!
situation! needs! immediate! attention,! halting! and! remedy.! These! are! criminal! acts.! All! States! in! the! world!
contributing! to! or! turning! a! blind! eye/benefiting! from! the! torture! and! murder! of! Indigenous! Peoples! rather!
than!condemning!it!and!taking!action!against!it,!near!or!far,!are!part!and!parcel!to!the!industrial!complex!of!
genocide!of!Indigenous!Peoples!and!neglecting!their!human!rights!duties!and!responsibilities!both!specifically!
and!in!general.!
!
Attached! are! several! urgent! appeals! and! statements.! Please! make! special! note! of! both! the! factual!
documentation!provided!in!all!statements!as!well!as!the!Urgent'Appeal'of'Lingkod'Katribu!regarding!requests!
for!material!support!in!the!form!of!donations!for!survival!and!relief!for!Lumad!refugees.!!
!
In'Solidarity'
!
IOSDE!Founder!&!Director,!
India!Reed!Bowers!
!
17!September!2015!

IOSDE: an equal future starts with an equal now

!

!
!
!

BACKGROUND!!
Thousands"of"indigenous"people"from"different"villages"of"Bukidnon"and"North"Cotabato"are"affected"of"the"
onAgoing"heavy"military"operations"of"the"Armed"Forces"of"the"Philippines"under"the"8th"and"23rd"Infantry"
Battalion."The"recent"ransacked"of"57"houses"in"Brgy."White"Culaman,"Kitaotao,"Bukidnon"which"led"to"the"
illegal"arrest"and"detention"of"17"civilians"including"children"and"pregnant"woman,"all"peasants"and"lumads,"
who" belong" to" the" Matigsalug" tribe" cause" trauma" to" the" community." Most" of" the" arrested" civilians" were"
leaders"and"participants"of"the"protest"held"last"June"8A10"to"assert"the"distribution"of"the"relief"from"the"8"
Million" calamity" fund" intended" for" drought" or" hulaw." The" protest" was" led" by" their" local" organizations:"
Kahugpongan" sa" mga" MagAuuma" " sa" Kitaotao" or" " Unity" of" Farmers/Peasants" in" KitaoAtao" (KMK),"
Nagkahiusang" MagAuuma" sa" sa" Barangay" White" Culaman" Unity" of" local" Farmers" in" Barangay" White"
Culaman" (NAMABAW)" and" Tinananon," Kulamanon" Lumadnong" Panaghiusa" sa" Arakan" or" Unity" of"
Indigenous"Peoples"group"in"Culaman"Tribe"and"Tinananon"Tribe"in"Arakan"(TIKULPA)."
The" elements" of" the" AFP" under" the" aforementioned" Infantry" Battalions" are" constantly" conducting" zoning"
operations,"subjecting"the"people"to"a"hamlet"controlled"by"the"military,"forcing"people"to"surrender"as"if"
they"were"NPAs"and"several"human"rights"violations."
Economic"activities"of"the"people"from"the"affected"villages"are"greatly"affected"by"the"military"ham"letting.""
The" incessant" attacks" ofmilitary" personnel" on" schools" located" in" the" area" are" very" alarming" and" a" gross"
violation"of"the"right"of"the"children"for"education."Aside"from"encamping"the"school"premises,"the"military"
are" persistent" on" threatening" the" parents," teachers" and" students" that" they" will" burn" the" schools." The"
military" burned" their" stocks" of" pad" papers" and" notebooks." The" military" forcibly" closed" the" cooperative"
being" managed" by" the" community," their" clinics" and" resolutely" attempted" to" close" daycare" centers" in" the"
area."
Here!are!some!of!the!documented!incidents!in!the!area!from!June!until!August!2015:!
"June"8A10,"2015"a"rally"was"conducted"concerning"the"announced"calamity"fund"for"2,000"people"affected"
by"the"drought"covering"11"barangays"under"the"Municipalities"of"KitaoAtao"and"Kibawe,"Bukidnon."
"
"After"three"days"of"protests,"the"local"government"units"released"the"calamity"fund"and"1,000"sacks"of"rice"
to"respond"to"the"complaints"that"there"is"no"food"availablefor"the"people."
"
"Days"after"the"protest,"the"KitaoAtao"Mayor"called"for"a"meeting"with"the"officials"of"barangays,"Indigenous"
People" Mandatory" Representative" (IPMR)" and" military" intelligence" group" to" identify" the" leaders" of" the"
protests."
"
"It"is"confirmed"that"barangay"officials"requested"the"military"and"police"to"occupy"Brgy."White"Culaman."
"
" On" August" 22" the" soldiers" arrived" in" White" Culaman." The" military" claims" that" they" possess" arrest"
warrants" and" search" warrants" of" around" 64" persons." But" residents" expressed" that" its" just" a" mere" list" of"
names"and"not"a"legal"document."They"have"stayed"for"nine"days."They"comprised"of"around"50"
1"|"HELP!"
"

individuals" from" the" combined" troops" of" the" 8th" IB" and" 23rd" IB" of" the" AFP." Some" of" them" are" in" civilian"
clothes" and" wore" bonnets" and" no" any" identification" patches," claimed" they" are" elements" of" the" Philippine"
National"Police"and"the"AFP."They"stayed"at"two"buildings"in"the"center"of"White"Culaman,"the"church"of"the"
Seventh"Day"Adventist,"the"barangay"hall,"and"houses"particularly"at"Sitio"Malinaw."
"
" On" August" 25," 2015" soldiers" arrived" at" the" center" of" White" Culaman" and" went" into" houses" to" serve" the"
warrants," they" forcibly" took" ten" persons" and" tied" them" with" rattan" and" twine" and" took" them" to" the"
barangay"stage"and"called"for"an"assembly"with"the"cooperation"of"the"barangay"captain"and"officials."
"
"On"August"26,"2015"four"other"persons"were"detained,"adding"the"count"to"14,which"included"a"17Ayear"
old"minor"and"abreastAfeeding"child."They"were"also"bound"and"brought"to"the"stage."
"
" On" August" 27," 2015," a" helicopter" brought" the" detained" persons" to" a" place" located" somewhere" between"
Maramag" and" " Cagayan" de" Oro." The" spokesperson" of" the" 8th" IB" confirmed" they" had" 12" people" in" their"
custody."They"claimed"they"released"four"people,"three"of"them"were"sent"homebut"did"not"arrived"there,"
and"one"was""forced"to"be"a"cook"serving"the"military"staying"in"White"Culaman."
"
"The"14"civilians"were"bound"and"detainedfor"one"day"and"one"night."Four"were"released,"as"three"of"them"
were"sent"away"but"one"was"made"to"cook"for"them."But"the"three"persons"did"not"return"to"their"families,"
and"the"12"are"now"in"Maramag,"based"in"a"battalion"headquarters"as"of"this"writing."
"
" Houses" were" forcibly" entered" to" serve" thesearch" warrants." The" house" surroundings" were" dug" for"
alleged"explosives"as"listed"items"in"the"warrants"and"also"on"other"things"not"listed"in"the"warrants"as"well."
"
" Children" and" minors" were" harassed" through"questioning" on" where" fire" arms" are" buried," and" they" were"
threatened"or"offered"100"pesos"to"reveal"what"they"are"finding."
"
"Investigations"and"psyAwar"against"men,women"and"children"in"Sitio"Malinaw,White"Culaman."
"
" Barangay" officials," soldiers" and" PNP" troops" organized" the" people" to" rise" against" the" NPA" particularly"
those"living"inSagasaan"and"Palkata"in"White"Culaman."
"
"Suspected"members"of"NPAs"were"made"to"surrender"and"threats"to"add"more"in"their"list"as"identified"by"
their"intelligence."
"
"Forced"recruitment"of"Cafgu"in"sitios."
"
"On"August"25,"2015,"students"and"teachers"of"the"Father"Fausto"Tentorio"Memorial"School"run"by"MISFI"
Academy"in"Sitio"Dao,"White"Culaman"were"victimized"by"indiscriminate"firing"by"military"elements"around"
their"community."The"guns"were"pointed"towards"the"school."
"
" This" resulted" to" trauma" of" students" and" teachers" and" the" group" learned" there" werethreats" of" burning"
down" or" closing" theschool" and" health" center" of" MISFI" regardless" of" its" legality," this" was" based" from" the"
statement"of"the"barangay"captain"during"the"said"meeting"with"the"military."
"
" Ham" letting" civilians" from" sitios" and" the" center" of" White" Culaman" to" make" them" act" as" shields" for"
barangay"officials"and"the"military"for"three"days."
"

HELP!!
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2"|"HELP!"
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In" the" midst" of" the" worsening" human" rights" situation" in" the" lumad" communities" in" Bukidnon" victimizing"
our"peasants"and"lumad"people,"we"are"heeding"to"conduct"a"mercy"mission"in"the"areas"affected."The"said"
mercy"mission"dubbed"as:"HELP!"(Humanitarian"Engagement"for"Lumads"and"Peasants)."HELP!!Convenes"
for" the" immediate" regional" or" national" factAfinding" mission" in" the" affected" areas." This" mission" aims" to"
document"cases"of"human"rights"violations"in"the"area."The"mission"will"also"give"relief"assistance"for"the"
victims."
"
HELP!!Further!aims!to!undertake!the!following:!
"
a. Provide"legal"assistance"for"victims"of"the"human"rights"violations""
b. Facilitate"sanctuary"for"the"affected"civilians""
c. Explore"and"facilitate"dialogues"for"LGUs"that"can"support"the"plight"of"the"peasants"and"lumads."
d. Drumbeat"the"issues"through"various"fora"like"media,"government"and"private"agencies"
e. Gather"sustainable"support"or"assistance"for"the"peasants"and"lumads"affected"by"the"militarization."
!
The"mercy"mission"will"be"attended"by"different"causeAoriented"organizations"like"IP"and"peasant"groups,"
human" rights" advocates," academe," churchAbased" organization," lawyers," media," youth" and" other"
organizations."About"500"individuals"are"expected"to"attend"the"mercy"mission."
Tentative"date"of"the"3Aday"mision"will"be"on"Sept"17A19,"2015."
"
The"site"of"the"mission"includes"villages"in"Brgy."White"Culaman,"Kitaotao,"Bukidnon"that"are"affected"by"the"
onAgoing"militarization:"
"
a. Midsayap"
f. Dao""
b. Dibisyon"
g. Poblacion"
c. Hindangan"
h. Some"others"that"will"be"identified"by"the"
d. Sagasaan"
mission"partners"
e. Malinao"
"

!
The!initiators!of!the!HELP!!Are!as!follows:!
!
Lead!initiators:!
Promotion"of"Church"Peoples"Response(PCPR)"North"Cotabato"
Promotion"of"Church"Peoples"Response"ASouthern"Mindanao"
Solidarity"Action"Group"for"Indigenous"Peoples"and"Peasant"(SAGIPP)"
PASAKA"Confederation"of"Lumad"Organizations"in"Southern"Mindanao"Region"
"
Partners:!
Apo" Sandawa" Lumadnong" Panaghiusa" sa" Cotabato" (Unity" of" Indigenous" Peoples" group" from" the" foot" of"
Mount"Apo)"(ASLPC)"
Kahugpungan"sa"mga"MagAuuma"sa"Kitaotao"(Unity"of"Peasants"Farmers"in"KitaoAtao)"(KMK)"
Tinananon," Kulamanon" Lumadnong" Panaghiusa" sa" Arakan" (Unity" of" Indigenous" Peoples" group" in"
Tinananon"and"Culaman"Tribe"in"Arakan)"(TIKULPA)"
Nagkahiuasang"MagAuuma"sa"Brgy."White"Culaman("Unity"of"local"famers"and"peasants"in"White"Culaman")"
(NAMABAW)"
"

Budget!Proposal!
Help!"Strives"to"raise"funds"for"the"mercy"mission"
"
3"|"HELP!"
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A. Logistics!and!Technical!Needs!
"
Item!
Quantity!

Amount!

Transportation!

500"participants""

Php"150,000.00"

Food!!

500"x"9"meals"xPhp40/meal"

Php180,000.00"

Relief!goods!!
!

1000"relief"packs"containing"
the"following"items:"
"
5"kg"rice"="P200"
5"canned"goods"="P"75"
5"noodles"="P"30"
Dried"fish"P"100"
"
Php"405"x"1000"packs"

Php405,000"
"

"

"

Total:!Php735,000.00!

"
"
B. Contingency!budget!!
An"amount"of"Php10,000"will"be"allocated"as"contingency"budget"for"the"use"of"the"following:"
a. Communication"allowance"
b. Local"fares"like"rental"of"habalAhabal""or"single"motor"
!
BUDGET!Couterpart!of!the!initiators!and!partners:!
Total"budget"needed:"P"745,000.00"
Amount"counterpart"of"the"initiators"and"partners:"P"372,500.00"
!
Amount!to!be!solicited/!requested:!P!372,500.00!
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
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4"|"HELP!"
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!
The!Indigenous!Peoples!Movement!for!Self7Determination!and!Liberation!(IPMSDL)!condemns!the!
escalating!attacks!on!Lumads!!the!Indigenous!Peoples!of!Mindanao,!Philippines,!their!schools!and!
communities.!We!join!the!growing!clamor!to!demand!the!pullout!of!military!and!State7backed!
paramilitary!forces!in!indigenous!communities!and!territories;!disband!and!disarm!State7backed!
paramilitary!forces;!and!for!an!immediate,!fair,!and!impartial!investigation!on!the!cases!of!extra7judicial!
killings!of!Lumad!leaders!and!activists.!!
!
On!August!30,!combined!forces!of!the!36th!and!75th!IBPA,!Special!Forces!and!their!paramilitary!
Magahat/Baganiintruded!in!the!territory!of!the!Manobo!(a!Lumad!tribe)!and!occupied!the!grounds!of!
the!Alternative!Learning!Center!for!Agricultural!and!Livelihood!Development!(ALCADEV)!in!Lianga,!
Surigaodel!Sur.!They!threatened!to!massacre!thecommunity!if!they!do!not!leave!in!two!days.!
!
The!following!day,!August!31,!elements!of!the!paramilitary!Magahat/Bagani!opened!fire!and!burned!
down!the!community!cooperative!store!of!the!MAPASU!(MalahutayongPakigbisogAlangsaSumusunod)!
forcingmajority!of!the!community!to!evacuate!in!the!same!day!to!the!nearby!villagein!!Km.!16.!As!they!
were!leaving,!they!saw!EmeritoSamarca,!ALCADEV!Executive!Directors!with!his!hands,!feet!and!neck!tied!
!forcibly!accosted!by!the!military!to!one!of!the!ALCADEV!classrooms.!!
!
At!around!4:00!in!the!morning!of!September!1,!the!soldiers!went!from!house!to!house!and!forced!the!
remaining!residents!to!assemble!at!the!center!of!the!community.!Here,!in!the!presence!of!the!
community,!the!soldiers!blew!the!head!ofDionel!Campos!killing!him!instantly,!and!shot!dead!Bello!Sinzo,!
a!leader!and!member!of!MAPASU,!respectively.!
!
A!few!hours!later,!members!of!the!community!found!the!body!of!EmeritoSamarcastill!with!his!hands,!
feet!and!neck!tied!in!one!of!the!ALCADEV!classrooms,!his!throat!slit!open!almost!from!ear!to!ear,!his!
faced!bruised!almost!unrecognizable.!
!
The!above!incidents!are!not!isolated!in!Surigao.!It!happens!almost!every!day!in!Mindanao.!
!
Earlier,!on!August!18,!elements!of!the!3rd!Company,!1st!Special!Forces!Battalion!mercilessly!killed!5!
Manobo!peasants!in!Pangantucan,!Bukidnonon!the!accusation!that!they!are!members!of!the!New!
Peoples!Army!(NPA);!two!were!minors,!one!youth!and!two!elderly!with!one!being!blind.!The!lone!
survivor!and!witness!is!also!a!minor.!
!
This!is!the!reality!of!Oplan!Bayanihan!!the!Philippine!governments!counterinsurgency!policy.!This!is!the!
reality!of!the!Lumadsand!other!Indigenous!Peoples!in!the!Philippines!as!we!assert!our!rights!to!land,!
resources,!development!and!self7determination.!The!militarization!of!Mindanao!especially!Lumad!
communities!has!resulted!to!massive!violations!of!peoples!human!rights.!Communities!and!activists!
have!reported!cases!of!extrajudicial!killings,!threats,!harassment,!intimidation,!trump7up!criminal!
charges,!torture,!arrests!and!detention,!encampment!of!communities!and!schools,!destruction!and!
divestment!of!properties,!vilification!of!organizations,!schools!and!individuals,!all!these!forcing!Lumad+
communities!to!evacuate!their!homes!for!safety!and!security.!
!
From!March!!September!2015,!KATRIBU!(a!national!alliance!of!Indigenous!Peoples!organizations!in!the!
Philippines)!has!recorded!13!extrajudicial!killings!of!Lumad!activists,!six!incidents!of!forced!evacuations!
involving!more!than!500!families,!and!25!closing!or!suspension!of!classes!of!Lumad!or!community!
schools.!

!
The!attacks!on!the!Lumads,!their!schools!and!communities!have!worsened!their!situation!of!poverty,!
neglect!and!discrimination.In!this!case,!theLumadsorganized!themselves!in!a!community!organization!
and!cooperativeMAPASU!to!alleviate!themselves!from!poverty!and!neglect,!and!build!their!unity!and!
collective!capacity.The!MAPASU!and!advocates!built!the!ALCADEV!to!respond!to!the!education!needs!
especially!of!the!youth!and!children.!It!demonstratesnot!only!community!unity,!but!also!viable!economic!
alternatives!from!indigenous!economic!and!sustainable!practices,!and!enhancing!indigenous!language!
and!culture.Instead!of!supporting!and!developing!these!initiatives,!the!Philippine!government!has!
declared!war!against!the!Lumadsand!tagged!their!initiatives!and!empowerment!as!acts!of!terrorism.!
!
Indigenous!Peoples!in!other!parts!of!the!country!and!the!globe!also!experience!the!same!militarization!
and!violation!of!their!human!rights!in!their!assertion!of!their!rights!to!land,!development!and!self7
determination.!In!India,!the!Indigenous!Peoples!suffer!the!same!vilification!under!the!Armed!Forces!
Special!Powers!Act.!Almost!daily,!we!receive!reports!of!the!killing!and!sexual!assault!against!women!and!
children!in!Bangladesh.!In!the!Arctic!to!the!Pacific,!from!Africa!to!Latin!America,!Indigenous!Peoples!face!
similar!threats!of!prosecution,!arrest!and!detention,!killings!as!they!confront!destructive!projects!of!
mines,!energy!and!plantations!in!their!territories.!
!
This!worsening!exploitation!and!repressionchallenges!us!Indigenous!Peoples!to!persevere!in!our!
struggles!and!to!build!further!our!organizations!in!the!grassroots,!strengthen!solidarity!among!us!and!
with!other!sectors!and!groups.!!
!
Stop!the!Killings!of!Indigenous!Peoples!!
Long!Live!International!Solidarity!!
Long!Live!the!Indigenous!Peoples!Movement!for!Self7Determination!and!Liberation!!
!
!

From MAPASU/KASALO
AFP, STOP DECEIVING THE PEOPLE!
ARREST AND PROSECUTE THE KILLERS OF THE LIANGA MARTYRS UNDERLINGS OF THE 75TH IB AND EXECUTIONERS OF THE BANDIT
BOCALES-BELANDRES-EGUA!
The Lumad people under the Kahugpungan Alang sa Lumadnong Organisasyon sa
Caraga (KASALO Caraga), with the progressive organizations in Caraga are grieving and
angry at the killing of Lumad-leaders Dionel Campos, Chairman of the Malahutayong
Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (MAPASU) and Datu Juvello Sinzo of Kiwagan, San
Isidro, Lianga, Surigao del Sur. Emerito Samarca, Executive Director of the Alternative
Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV) has
struggled with and served the Lumad people for a long time that we consider him a
Lumad by heart and commitment, if not by tribe.
Theirs are only among the latest successive killings done by armed bandits organized and
released like rabid dogs by the 75th IBPA and 36th IBPA. No denial can disuade the
people from knowing the truth that the military control these criminals and assassins
killers of our leaders and members. The 7th IBPA is known in the municipalities and
provinces within its AOR as brutal, killing many as they did in Lianga.
The other units of the AFP in Lumad communities in Mindanao, employ the same brutal
tactics of armed bandits, or soldiers themselves, sowing terror to silence the Lumad
people who have long been struggling for the recognition of their right to selfdetermination, especially on the issue of ancestral lands and its resources. Annihilate the
head and brutally suppress to shock and awe this is the military tactic used in the hope
of declaring a so-called definitive victory in the last days of Noynoy Aquino and the
AFPs Oplan Bayanihan.
We remember what happened. It was not only we, but also the visitors that celebrated the
ALCADEVs Foundation Day with us, who saw that those who occupied our school,
who were in the middle of our community, were soldiers of the 75thIB, 36th IB and
Special Forces, and with them were several known members of the armed bandit group of
Bocales-Belandres-Egua. We are all witnesses to the truth of what happened.
1Lt. Patrick Martinez, Col. Isidro Purisima, Gen. Iriberri, Sec. Coloma and Noynoy
Aquino were not there. Their pronouncements trivialize the killings, disregard our
sufferings and fears, belittle our search for justice and security for our families their lies
insult our dignity as human beings, as honest people and as responsible Filipinos. The
!

1!

continuing vilification of our organization, our schools, our community and our persons
while we are grieving insults us. Is it easy for them to make up stories to fool us into
believing that it was an encounter? Will they again accuse us of being NPA, that our
schools are that of the NPA, that the NPA are teaching us to justify summarily killing us?
WE WILL NOT QUIETLY ACCEPT THESE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL LIES!
IF THEY INTENDED TO SILENCE US, THEY ARE WRONG! They have made a
mistake in killing Onel, Emok and Datu Bello, because instead of intimidating and
silencing hundreds of us who directly witnessed the brutal killing of the three, many have
given strong testimonies, many refuse to be silenced and many refuse to hide what they
know: many are crying for JUSTICE!
We will honor the deaths of our recent martyrs through our strong commitment to the
truth. The threats against us continue, especially against the leaders, teachers and strong
witnesses of what happened in Lianga. Many have been sent threatening texts, our
families who are still in Brgy. Diatagon are being visited to silence those who have been
exposing the truth. The police and military officials are visiting our families, including
the families of those who were killed, to prevent us from telling the truth. BUT WE
WILL NOT BE COWED BY THESE THREATS TO OUR LIVES BECAUSE WE
KNOW THAT WE ARE ON THE SIDE OF WHAT IS RIGHT AND TRUE.
STOP THE BRUTAL OPLAN BAYANIHAN OF NOYNOY AQUINO AND AFP!
Defend our communities! Defend and protect our schools!
TAMBULI TU KALINOW! PANEYTOW TU KAHUSOY! BUGDUKA TU
ANYADAN!
Call for peace! Achieve justice! Defend the right to education!
12-13 September 2015
DAY OF CONDEMNATION AND UNITED ACTION FOR JUSTICE
Butuan City
!
!

2!

!
STATEMENTS'FROM'DIFFERENT'ORGANIZATIONS,'NETWORKS'AND'ADVOCATES'ON'
THE'INTENSIFIED'ATTACKS'IN'MINDANAO'
'
'
'
'
!
!
!
September!2,!2015
!Stop'the'killings'of'indigenous'peoples'and'advocates'in'Mindanao!
The! Cordillera! Peoples! Alliance! (CPA)! is! outraged! by! the! killing! rampage! of! paramilitary!
groups! and! State! security! forces! in! Mindanao! against! Lumad! activists,! environmentalists,!
human! rights! defenders,! educators! and! advocates! for! the! indigenous!
peoples.!CPA!condemns!these!killings!in!the!highest!terms!possible.
The! longFtime! collusion! of! notorious! paramilitary! groups! and! State! security! forces! in!
Mindanao!resulted!in!the!long!list!of!killings,!enforced!disappearances,!evacuations!against!
the!Lumads!and!advocates!for!peace,!human!rights!and!environment.!The!recent!spate!of!
killings!in!Mindanao!mirrors!the!height!of!impunity!under!the!BS!Aquino!regime.!In!his!last!
year! in! power,! BS! Aquino! is! unleashing! its! deadly! attack! against! human! rights,!
environmental!defenders!and!peace!advocates.
Based!on!data!provided!by!KARAPATAN,!on!September!1,!2015,!two!Lumad!leaders!and!a!
champion! for! indigenous! peoples! education! in! Mindanao! were! killed! in! Surigao! del! Sur.!
Emerito! Samarca,! the! executive! director! of! ALCADEV! (Alternative! Learning! Center! for!
Agricultural! and! Livelihood! Development)! was! gunned! down! by! paramilitary! forces!
Mahagat/Bagani! within! the! ALCADEV! campus! in! Lianga,! Surigao! del! Sur.!Samarca! was!
found!dead!in!a!classroom!in!Alcadev!with!a!stab!wound,!and!his!neck,!arms!and!legs!tied!
up.!On! the! other! hand,! Dionel! Campos,! chairperson! of! Malahutayong! Pakigbisog! Alang! sa!

Sumusunod!(MAPASU)!and!his!cousin!Aurelio!Sinzo!were!killed!by!the!same!paramilitary!
forces!while!they!were!coming!out!of!a!house!in!Diatagon,!Surigao!del!Sur.
KARAPATAN!further! stated! that! two! days! prior! to! the! killing,! the! paramilitary! group!
Magahat/Bagani! Force! and! elements! of! the! 36th! IB! encamped! at! the! ALCADEV! school!
compound! and! occupied! the! function! hall! and! parts! of! the! school! grounds.! During! the!
encampment,! the! Magahat! group! threatened! the! school's! faculty! members,! staffs! and!
community!members!that!they!will!massacre!the!community!if!the!people!will!not!leave!in!
two!days.!
On!August!31,!2015,!the!MAGAHAT!group!burned!down!the!community!cooperative!store!
of! MAPASU! while! indiscriminately! firing! around! the! community.! Samarca,! according! to!
initial! report! was! held! and! detained! by! some! armed! members! of! Magahat! before! he! was!
killed.!!On!the!evening!of!August!31,!the!Alcadev!faculty!and!most!of!the!residents!in!HanF
ayan! went! to! Km.! 16! for! safety.! !At! around!4! a.m.,! Magahat! Forces! went! from! house! to!
house!in!Km.!16!and!ordered!the!residents!to!get!out!of!their!houses!and!go!to!the!center!of!
the! community.! That! was! when! Campos! and! Sinzo! were! met! by! a! volley! of! gunfire! from!
brothers!Loloy!and!Bobby!Tejero!of!the!Magahat/Bagani!Force.!!
Magahat! members! also! confiscated! all! cellphones! and! cameras! from! the! residents! and!
ALCADEV!staff!and!remaining!visitors!in!the!community.
ALCADEV! is! an! alternative! learning! system! especially! designed! to! provide! secondary!
education! to! indigent! indigenous! youth! ! the! Manobo,! Banwaon,! Higanon,! Talaandig,! and!
Mamanwa! of! Surigao! del! Norte! and! Sur! and! Agusan! Norte! and! Sur.! ALCADEV! have! been!
established! by! Lumads! themselves! with! the! help! of! causeForiented! groups.! However,!
instead!of!recognizing!their!valuable!contribution,!the!Lumad!community!school!has!been!
subjected! to! harassment! and! malicious! accusations! of! the! 36th!IB! and! their! rabid!
paramilitary!groups!that!ALCADEV!is!a!NPA!school.
The!killing!rampage!by!the!Magahat!forces!also!resulted!to!the!massive!evacuation!of!more!
than!4,!000!Lumad!families!from!their!communities!in!Surigao!del!Sur.
We!should!hold!BS!Aquino!accountable!to!these!heinous!crimes!committed!against!people.!
We!also!call!on!peace!loving!people!to!support!the!indigenous!peoples!in!Mindanao!at!these!
difficult!times.!We!should!support!them!in!their!calls!to!demand!justice!for!the!victims.!We!
also!urged!the!government!to!conduct!an!investigation!and!prosecute!the!Mahagat/Bagani!
forces.! Lastly,! we! call! for! the! immediate! pull! out! of! military! in! indigenous! communities,!
disbanding!and!dismantling!of!paramilitary!forces!in!Mindanao.!***

For!reference:
Abigail!Anongos

Secretary!General!
STOP THE ATTACKS ON OUR SCHOOLS, COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE!
SUPPORT THE PEOPLE'S RESISTANCE TO MILITARIZATION AND PLUNDER IN
MINDANOW!
On Thursday, September 3, 2015 10:45 PM, SOS Mindanao <sos.mindanao@gmail.com> wrote:

Statement
SAVE OUR SCHOOLS-MINDANAO NETWORK
September 3
Attacks on Mindanao Lumad schools and communities intensify as
Aquinos military goes berserk for Oplan Bayanihan
The last year of the Benigno S. Aquino presidency has meant a bloodbath for indigenous
peoples and for Lumad education, two months after his State of the Nation Address
where he gloated of figures that have purportedly addressed classroom shortages and
increased the quality of Philippine education.
Emerito Tatay Emok Samarca, executive director of the Alternative Learning Center for
Agriculture and Development, Inc. (ALCADEV) and a convenor of the Save Our Schools
Network was killed by government-backed indigenous paramilitary forces. His body was
found lying in a pool of blood, with stab wounds on his neck, and his throat slit. While
Dionel Campos, chairperson of MAPASU (Persevering Struggle for Future Manobo
Generations), and his cousin Aurelio Bello Sinzo, were strafed dead before the terrified
community of Han-ayan, Lianga town, Surigao del Sur province.
The paramilitary group Magahat--- armed, controlled, and commanded by the
36th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army--- burned down the school cooperative
building and threatened to massacre the entire community if they would not leave the
area two days before the killing of the Samarca, Campos, and Sinzo in the morning of
September 1, 2015.
The dastardly crime which was perpetrated at dawn and later carried out in broad
daylight, terrified the erstwhile peaceful Manobo school and community. As of this
writing, the number of evacuees in Caraga has swelled to 3,000 individuals or more
than 500 families coming from the municipalities of San Miguel and Lianga, with some
70 families still lost in nearby forests.
The Philippine militarys attack on ALCADEV using indigenous paramilitaries is by far
the gravest and most vicious violation of indigenous peoples right to education and
constitutes a wholesale violation of childrens rights.

Moreover, as schools are an integral part of communities, the attack is an open

declaration of the Philippine states war of annihilation against peoples organizations
and communities resisting foreign largescale plunder of ancestral domains.
The 36th IB Philippine Army-Magahat rampage at the ALCADEV School shows that the
Aquino government has dropped all pretenses of adhering to the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international human rights
instruments. It also demonstrates the irrefutable crimes of the Philippine Army against
indigenous children which the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General on
Children and the Armed Conflict has continually glossed over, understated, or
consistently concealed in its annual reports.
The Philippine governments attacks on the ALCADEV School clearly shows its
contempt towards self-determined development asserted by indigenous communities.
Alternative Lumad schools are pushing for their own culturally-relevant pedagogy that
liberates indigenous peoples from the yoke of institutionalized discrimination and
corporate plunder of ancestral lands.
These Ethnocidal attacks on indigenous education, indigenous leaders and their staunch
advocates and supporters are but the latest in a string of Aquinos orders to tighten the
noose on Lumad schools:
1. Since April of 2014 up to present, 25 Lumad schools and community schools were
forced to halt operations for the entire month of June due to harassment by the AFP and
sanctioned by the Department of Education (DepEd).
2. At least 84 cases of attacks on 57 community schools have displaced and disrupted
the education of over 3, 000 Lumad children.
3. Three minors were brutally killed by the elements of 3rd Company of the1st Special
Forces Battalion under the ground commander Capt. Balatbat with Col. Nasser Lidasan
as Battalion Commander on August 19, 2015 in Pangatukan town, Bukidnon province.
They were part of 5 Manobo tribals strafed and killed on suspicion of being NPA
combatants.
4. The schooling of Lumad children under the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del
Sur (TRIFPSS) was disrupted when residents of Brgy. Siagao, San Miguel, Surigao del
Sur were displaced. The victims were killed by an armed group led by Hasmin and
elements of the 36th IBPA.
5. A Lumad child was among 14 farmers in White Culaman, Kitaotao, Bukidnon who
were illegally detained and arrested by elements of 8th IB ug 23rd IB headed by Nicolas
Rivera and an official named Tocmo. All were accused as members of the New Peoples
Army in contrast to the fact that they are members of organizations Nagkahiusang Maguuma sa Barangay White Culaman ( NAMABAW) and Tinananon Kulamanon
Lumadnong Panaghiusa sa Arakan (TIKULPA). The Army threatened to burn down the

MISFI-run (Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Incorporated) school which offers

7th and 8th grade education in Sitio Dao, Bukidnon.
6. Adding to these abuses is the ongoing mass evacuation of the Talaingod Manobo
people in Davao City since April of this year due to intensified military operations and
threats from the terrorist paramilitary group ALAMARA. Around 1, 000 individuals
from San Fernando Bukidnon, Kapalong and Talaingod, Davao del Norte have sought
sanctuary at UCCP Haran, Davao City. Learners from Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanugon
Community Learning Center Inc (STTILCI) in Talaingod have been holding their classes
at the refugee camp since the evacuation started. Worse, three soldiers of the
1003rd Infantry Brigade raped a 14-year old Manobo grade 4 student of the Butay
elementary school while conducting military operations in the area.
7. Last month, the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao schools in
Agusan del Sur and Bukidnon have earlier reported harassments and threats from
suspected state forces in the form of anonymous text messages, private message via
facebook, and surveillances. In March 18, 2014, an RMP-NMR school grounds in
Binikalan, San Luis, Agusan del Sur was strafed by 26th IB troops disrupting the
graduation practice of the school. In Sarangani province, administrators and faculty of
the Center for Lumad Advocacy and Services (CLANS) which provides education to
indigenous Blaan children have been filed with false criminal charges of serious illegal
detention of evacuees and inciting to sedition.
The Aquino government should be held accountable for all these violations. It is
responsible for the formation and arming of the paramilitary groups, the paving the way
for the enty of largescale destructive projects in the ancestral domains, the sowing of
disunity among IPs, and the killings that have claimed the lives of many.
The Save Our Schools Network demands Justice for Samarca, Campos, Sinzo and all
victims of human rights abuses! End all forms of attacks on schools and communities!
!
Reference:
Prof.+Mae+Fe+Templa,+MSW
Convenor,+Save+Our+Schools+Network
+639256682458
Press Statement
September 2, 2015

Rural missionaries group condemns murder of a Lumad school

executive, Lumad leader and cousin in Surigao del Sur
Manila, Philippines - The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) strongly condemned the merciless killing
of Emerito Samarca, Executive Director of Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood
Development (Alcadev) together with Malahutayong Pakigbisog alang sa Sumusunod (Mapasu) chairperson
Jionel Campos and his cousin Aurelio Sinzo who were killed by alleged members of para-military group
Magahat yesterday September 1, 2015 early morning. The gruesome crime took place inside the Alcadev
compound in sitio Han-ayan, Brgy. Diatagon, Liangga town in Surigao Del Sur.

We firmly believe that this is part of the comprehensive violation against Lumad communities and their
alternative schools in northern and southern Mindanao, Socsargen and Caraga regions by state forces and its
para-military groups under the framework of the Aquino administrations counter-insurgency program Oplan
Bayanihan, Sr. Francis Aover, RSM, RMP National Coordinator said in astatement.
Alcadev is an alternative learning system especially designed to provide secondary education to indigent
indigenous youth the Manobo, Banwaon, Higanon, Talaandig, and Mamanwa of Surigao del Norte and Sur
and Agusan Norte and Sur.
RMP said that the latest violation of the peoples right to life, more of the people who strive hard to uplift the
lives of many Lumad indigenous people who were marginalized and neglected by the state is a worst form of
disgrace. It added that since 2004, when Alcadev was established as the first alternative school for Lumad
youth in Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, the list of rights abuses
against its staff and Lumad has been piling up. Since 2010, military forces have been harassing and attempting
to shut down Alcadev.
According to a report of Karapatan Caraga human rights group, two days prior, around 20 elements of 36th
Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) and Special Forces of AFP have been coercing the community
to evacuate or else be massacred.
We encourage different sectors especially the church people to join and support in condemning the continuous
attack to Lumad communities and their alternative learning schools. We challenge the Aquino government to
immediately act and stop the political killings, harassment and militarization not only in Suriagao del Sur but the
whole Mindanao region, Aover said.
We also urge the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to condole with the victims by condemning
the offense and the implementation of Oplan Bayanihan, she added. ###
Reference:
Sr. Francis Aover, RSM
National Coordinator, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP)
Tel. no: (632) 961-5094

Philippines: Stop turning Mindanao into a killing field of

Lumads
Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP)
Public Statement
13/Sep/2015 - AIPP strongly condemns the continued brutal killings of Lumads in Mindanao
of the Philippines at the hands of paramilitary groups and security forces. At least 13 Lumad
human rights defenders and community members, including two children, have been killed
in five incidents of extrajudicial killings and four massacres in the past eight months, with
the recent killings of Emerito Samarca, Executive Director of a tribal school, and two other
Lumad leaders in Surigao del Sur on 1 September. In the aftermath of the killings, more
than 4000 Lumads evacuated to a neighboring village due to fear for their safety, and
schools have been closed down.

The targeted killings of Emerito Samarca, regarded as pioneer of alternative education

system for disadvantaged indigenous youth, and the two tribal leaders, once again
unleashes the spate of state-sponsored terror against its own people, especially the
Lumads in Mindanao. Less than two weeks ago, military had allegedly massacred five
farmers in Bukidnon two of them were minors. This has brought the total number of
extrajudicial killings to 68 under the incumbent Aquino regime. In almost all of the killings,
the victims were falsely framed as members and supporters of New Peoples Army. Ground
reports show that all the victims of recent spate of killings were innocent civilians among
them, some were leaders and advocates of the Lumads rights.
The increasing figure of extrajudicial killings under the current Aquino government,
particularly targeting Lumads and other indigenous peoples in the Philippines, is a clear
indication of its failure to protect and respect the inherent rights to life and dignity of its
citizens. Killings of innocent civilians at the hands of paramilitary and security forces are
gross violations of human rights that demand immediate justice.
AIPP is deeply alarmed by the fact that the reason behind heavy militarization of Lumad
communities in Mindanao half of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines are deployed in
the region is merely to protect the interests of mining companies and other corporate
entities to loot and plunder the vast mineral resources from Lumad lands and territories. The
use of excessive violence by State security forces to respond to the Lumads legitimate
defense of their rights to land, territories and resources against plunder and land grabbing is
resulting in gross human rights violations. By now, thousands of Lumads are living in
evacuation camps across the region because of this militarization.
Fresh incidents of violence, despite strong recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur
on the human rights of internally displaced persons after his recent country visit to the
Philippines, including to the region of Mindanao, in August clearly demonstrate the lack of
political will of the Government to adhere to its international human rights obligations. They
also exemplify the worsening discrimination against and unjust treatment of indigenous
peoples, including the right to education of indigenous children. Asserting that some leaders
and members of the indigenous communities have been killed over the past years
reportedly due to their anti-mining activities, the Special Rapporteur urged the Government,
in consultation with indigenous peoples, to give greater attention to addressing the causes
of displacement whether it is due to the militarization of their areas or development
projects.
Victims of any of the killings and massacres have not been provided justice. AIPP
denounces, in the strongest terms, the prevailing culture of impunity for such heinous

crimes. The immunity provided to paramilitary and security forces as an integral part of
Aquinos counter-insurgency program Oplan Bayanihan must end if it is to provide any
justice to the victims.
AIPP calls on the concerned Filipino authorities to promptly conduct an independent and
transparent investigation of all the extrajudicial killings under the current regime. It appeals
for an immediate end to the militarization in indigenous communities, including termination
of the counter-insurgency program Oplan Bayanihan, withdrawal of military and
paramilitary troops from the communities and dismantling of private armies. It also urges the
Government to revoke the Executive Order 546, which legitimizes formation of such
paramilitary groups.
Further, AIPP appeals to the Filipino government to immediately stop all destructive projects
in ancestral territories, including mining, hydroelectricity and logging and uphold the rights of
indigenous peoples, including their rights to lands, territories and resources and selfdetermination, in line with its international human rights obligations. AIPP also calls on the
government to implement the recommendations of the former Special Rapporteur on
extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, contained in his report to the
Human Rights Council A/HRC/11/2/Add.8 29 April 2009 and the recommendations of the
Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Chaloka Beyani,
with regards to the situation of internally displaced indigenous peoples.
Please see the attached Urgent Appeal for additional information and send letters of
concern to the concerned authorities.
For media inquiries
Joan Carling, Secretary-General, AIPP, +66-(0)85-694-0100, joan@aippnet.org
Prabindra Shakya, Human Rights Campaign and Policy Advocacy Programmme
Coordinator, AIPP, +66-(0)90-319-7751, prabin@aippnet.org
Cathedral of the Resurrection Church Compound, Lower Magsaysay Avenue, 2600 Baguio City
Cordillera Administrative Region, Northern Luzon, Philippines
Telefax: (074) 424-3764 Email: cdpckordi@cdpckordilyera.org; cdpc.envi@gmail.com;
Web: cdpckordilyera.org

CDPC DEMANDS JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIMS OF SEPTEMBER 1

LIANGGA SURIGAO DEL SUR MASSACRE

JUSTICE FOR EMERITO, DIONEL AND AURELIO!

The CDPC (Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera) network strongly condemns the
inhumane murder of Emerito Emuk Samarca, Executive Director of Alternative Learning
Center for Agriculture and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV), Dionel Campos, Chairperson
of MAPASU (Persevering Struggle for the Next Generation), and his cousin Aurelio Sinzo. The
massacre of the three colleagues in alternative development work in a remote and deprived
community of Liangga, Surigao Del Sur on September 1, 2015 is a very recent act of genocide
because it systematically eliminate Indigenous People. This is part of fascism by the Aquino
government; Oplan Bayanihan.
As NGO partner in advocating pro-people alternative development, ALCADEV since its
establishment in 2004 has been providing educational assistance to as well as enhancing
sustainable agricultural practices among lumad communities in the CARAGA region through its
partnership with Peoples Organizations represented by MAPASU. Emerito or Emuk to many
and Dionel together with community members and other leaders like Aurelio have gone through
many difficulties and trials in their struggles to reach the better living situation that they had
achieved before the massacre happened.
Alcadev, successful running alternative school is one of the fruits of the struggles, unity and
perseverance of the Lumads in Liangga Surigao Del Sur. ALCADEV and MAPASU was given
recognition by the national government through the Department of Education, Culture, and
Sports (DECS) for its noble achievement in literacy program for the lumad people.Even with
such recognition, they continuously faced threats for their lives and vilification from the
government through the Armed Forces of the Philippines and para-military groups
(MAGAHAT/BAGANI FORCES) ) assigned in the area until this extra-judicial killings of
these 3 leaders and champions of the Lumads.
More development programs and activist development workers in the country are experiencing
the same fate. State security forces try to stop and hinder pro- people development programs and
efforts by the communities by filing trumped-up charges against community development
activist workers and human rights defenders and advocates.
We are deeply saddened and angered for losing collegues in the advancement of peoples rights
to genuine development, by this systemic vicious act of the state against development activist
workers and human rights defenders and advocates.
As we mourn and turn over our anger to positive action, we join hands with partner NGOs and
POs and other civil society organizations at the local level and in the international community to
demand for immediate justice for Emerito, Dionel, Aurelio, and to all victims of this horrible
and inhumane act. These injustices and impunity will bring more people to rise and fight for
peoples rights and genuine development of the people.

Respect peoples rights to development!

Immediate Justice for the victims of Lianga massacre!
Stop vilification and extra-judicial killings of development and human rights
activists!

End impunity and the fascist nature of the Philippine government!

For reference:
Jane L. Yap-eo
Executive Director
he PAN Asia Pacific (PANAP) is deeply appalled by the brazenness and brutality of the recent
killings of the top official of a lumad school and a local leader and his relative by alleged
military and paramilitary forces in the Philippines.
As we have noted in our previous appeal (read here) on the state of human rights of the lumads
(indigenous people in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao), such systematic repression is
clearly tied to the communities opposition to corporate mining and plantations that will grab
away their ancestral lands and resources.
We are sharing below the statement issued by the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural
and Livelihood Development (ALCODEV) where one of the victims was the executive director.
We urge our partners and allies to join our lumad brothers and sisters and their supporters in
condemning the atrocious and intensifying attacks allegedly being perpetrated by the Philippine
governments armed forces. Please circulate the statementbelow to your own networks, friends
and allies.
Defend human rights! No Land, No Life!
PANAP Secretariat
Statement of Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development
(ALCODEV) and Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS)
September 1, 2015
WE DEMAND JUSTICE FOR THE KILLING OF TATAY EMOK, ONEL, BELLO BY
THE 36TH IBPA AND THE MAGAHAT PARAMILITARY FORCES!
https://www.facebook.com/PNFSP/posts/871854529517247
We strongly condemn and demand justice for the killing of EMERITO Tatay Emok
SAMARCA, Executive Director of the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and
Livelihood Development (ALCADEV); DIONEL Onel CAMPOS, Chairperson of the
Malahutayong Pakigbisog alang sa Sumusunod (MAPASU) and his cousin BELLO SINZO.
The three were killed by members of the bandit group Magahat/Bagani paramilitary forces early
morning today, September 1, at the school grounds of the ALCADEV and Han-ayan Tribal
Community School in Han-ayan and Km. 16, Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur respectively.
We also condemn the indiscriminate firing and burning of the community cooperative of

MAPASU of the 36TH IBPA and the Magahat bandit group and the resulting forced evacuation
of communities within and surrounding these tribal schools.
The bandit Magahat/Bagani paramilitary forces are with the 36th IB PA and Special Forces in
their military operation and encampment of the community since August 30. The military and
paramilitary forces threatened the school's faculty, staff and community members of massacre
and were given two days to leave the community. EMERITO SAMARCA was held and detained
by some armed Magahat. He was last seen tied around the neck, his hands and feet also tied and
brought inside one of the classrooms. He was tortured and stabbed to death and left inside one of
the ALCADEV classrooms. DIONEL CAMPOS and his cousin, AURELIO SINZO, were about
to go to the center of the community as demanded by the paramilitary forces when MAGAHAT
MEMBERS, BROTHERS LOLOY and BOBBY TEJERO, opened fire on the two men.
These latest killings and attack against the teachers, staff, tribal schools and community leaders
and members are meant to destroy the unity of the lumad people who have been strong in
resisting the plunder of their ancestral lands within and surrounding the Andap Valley Complex
by large scale mining and plantations pushed by the Benigno Aquino government. The AFP,
Aquinos investment security forces have employed the foulest means to deny the lumad
people education and development because it means resistance against anti-people projects and
steadfast defense of ancestral lands.
The AFP has to answer for having organized and backed up the Magahat/Bagani paramilitary
forces in their rampage because the Magahat/Bagani paramilitary forces was organized and is
under the command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The lumad communities of Lianga,
San Miguel and San Agustin have been demanding the dismantling of these paramilitary forces
since last year.
Complaints have been filed against them along with public condemnations of such acts. Instead
of disbanding these paramilitary forces, the operating troops of the AFP, particularly the 36th IB
PA and the Special Forces have stepped up their recruitment and employed them in their military
operations, committing human rights abuses. They have been attacking tribal schools run by the
Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) and ALCADEV and our institutions.
JUSTICE FOR TATAY EMOK, ONEL, BELLO!
STOP THE KILLINGS!
IMMEDIATELY DISBAND AND PERSECUTE THE KILLERS!
STOP THE COLLUSION OF THE PARAMILITARY FORCES AND THE ARMED FORCES
OF THE PHILIPPINES!
Reference:
Annabelle Campos 09073301184
Aivy Hora 0948901 7029
Bp. Modesto Villasanta, UCCP 09286920141