Days after policemen raided a church compound here, indigenous peoples organizations held their own version of State of the Nation Address inside the Haran Mission Center compound on Sunday.
Bai Bibyaon Bigkay, a Matigsalog leader from Talaingod, Davao del Norte, said she is dismayed with the attitude shown by North Cotabato Representative Nancy Catamco who is now under fire after a dialogue with lumad (tribal) evacuees in Davao City turned sour.
A Datu (tribal leader) of Manobos from Talaingod, Davao del Norte met with with a United Nations official on Monday in Quezon City to discuss how the alleged human rights abuses forced them to leave their communities.
Indigenous peoples’ group Kusog saKatawha ng Lumad sa Mindanao (Kalumara n) continued its advocacy to defend and uphold the rights of the lumads, particularly the children, who have been long victim of abuses brought about by militarization in tribal areas.
Philippine-based non-government organizations and victims of alleged human rights violations filed cases against the government before an international tribunal in the United States.
Leaders of lumads who evacuated to Davao City starting May because of alleged Army harassment in their areas said a legislator insulted their leaders, deceived them into a dialogue and are forcing them to go home despite threats in their lives.
The survivor of the alleged massacre of a tribal leader and two other farmers in Paquibato district here asserted that those who were killed by the Army are civilians.
Overseas Filipino Workers rights group Migrante International launched “Tanggol Migrante,” a program that aims to provide assistance to OFWs and their families by creating local chapters that will provide paralegal, medical and psychological aid, among others.
A farmers’ organizations said they are worried about the successive kilings, attempts and threats on the lives of its members after the killing of another farmer today.
Juvenile crimes here are on a decline and the city agency catering to the welfare of children ascribed it to the various social interventions.
