Manila-based rights advocates and partylist representatives joined a week-long fact-finding mission starting Monday to look into the region’s “rampant human rights violations” in farflung communities.
Author Archives: JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA
Union members who participated for the first time in a Labor Day demonstration call on other workers to “form your unions to protect your rights.”
Some Manobo evacuees unload sacks of rice provided by the Davao del Norte local government. Earlier, both parties reached an agreement to pullout military troops to ensure their return to Talaingod, Davao del Norte. (John Rizle L. Saligumba/davaotoday.com)
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (seated, center) assured barangay officials of Paquibato District in a dialogue that soldiers would not force residents to sign documents claiming themselves as rebel surrenderees. (John Rizle L. Saligumba/davaotoday.com)
Datu Doloman Dawsay, leader of the Talaingod Manobos listen intently to the finalization of the agreement between them, the provincial government of Davao del Norte and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The parties agreed that the Manobo evacuees will return to Talaingod, Davao del Norte upon the temporary pullout of military troops in their communities. (John Rizle L. Saligumba/davaotoday.com)
Lumad Manobo evacuees squatted around a projection screen, some kids clung to a mango tree to get a better vantage point while women held their tots tight as they intently watched the boxing fight.
The New People’s Army (NPA) announced Sunday they are intensifying their total log ban campaign in Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte and Agusan del Sur, starting with the capture of a “protector” of big loggers—a soldier belonging to the 72nd Infantry Battalion.
A return to the “militarized areas” is also a violation to international human rights instruments, said Bishop Felixberto Calang, of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and chairperson of Barug Katungod Mindanao.
The Ata-Manobo Lumads repeated history as they fled from heavily militarized villages on foot and upon reaching access roads, boarded trucks to seek refuge in Davao City. Along the way, a mother gave birth, while a 12-day old infant died.
Datu Doloman Dawsay, spokesperson of the Manobo organization Salugpongan Ta’ Tanu Igkanugon (Unite to defend the land) said that military operations of 68th Infantry Battalion, 60th IB and 4th Special Forces displaced 1,353 individuals comprising 309 families from the sitios of Pongpong, Nalubas, Bagang, Bayabas, Saso, Lasakan, Sambolongan and Bugni of Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
