Some 300 Matigsalug evacuees were dismayed to learn that upon returning home to Side Four village, Barangay Mangayon, their water system was cut off, rice supplies and livestock were missing and their houses were riddled with bullets.
Somewhere in Davao City’s night life avenues, where darkness is punctuated with neon signs from bars and videokes, young girls have hard time coping with jeers and frowns from passersby.
The death of a peasant leader on September 13 has left the community of Barangay Kauswagan, a highway village of Loreto town, Agusan del Sur, in fear, scared of the possibility of another victim.
Datu Serrano Mambay-an, a Matigsalug leader of purok 4b, Barangay Mangayon said military presence has something to do with the mining operation in the area saying “gigamit jud na nga kompanyaha ang mga military, gibayaran gyud na karon nga panahon sa pag operasyon sa among bukid (the firm uses the military and pays them to operate in our villages).”
Sister of Benjie Planos, slain leader of the Agusan Manobo group, wails and clings to his body during his burial on Tuesday. Planos’ murder comes weeks after the Manobos returned to their community after an agreement to stop militarization in their community in Loreto, Agusan del Sur. The Manobos pin his murder on paramilitary and soldiers. (davaotoday.com photo by Earl O. Condeza)