Human Rights

JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA
Davao Today

The Agusanons endured a grueling two-day travel circuiting two provinces. Starting Thursday, they walked four hours from their evacuation center in Barangay Kauswagan, Loreto, Agusan del Sur, crossed a river to reach the neighboring Laak, Compostela Valley. Then they took a bus that brought them to Tagum City in Davao del Norte at night. Friday morning they traveled to Prosperidad and held a camp-in until provincial officials responded.The Agusanons took this circuitous route to steer clear of the military.

TYRONE A. VELEZ
Davao Today

Bernard Mondragon, spokesperson of Child Alert Mindanao, asked “What did ‘Tokhang’ accomplish?”

He said government’s view of ‘gangsterism’ as a peace and order concern shows government failure “to look at why poverty pushes them towards it.”

By JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA
Davao Today

Juanita Loreto said prior to the military operation, the Bagani members had been going around the community forcing them to sign a “tie-up” agreement with a company to build a plantation for tuba-tuba (jathropa) and biograss.”We refused their demand for us to ask to sign a blank paper that would sell-off our land to the company,” she said.

City Councilor Danny Dayanghirang said the Council needs to firm up a resolution in the next two weeks before it’s too late to oppose the entry of two mining companies in Paquibato district, this city. Otherwise, “(M)aybe we will wake up and see the companies excavating the mountains,” he said.

by John Rizle Saligumba
Davao Today

Initial reports from Karapatan Southern Mindanao showed that Agusanon residents fled on Sunday from Barangays Kauswagan, Sabud, Mansanitas and San Mariano. The residents along with 224 children evacuated to Barangay Kauswagan Elementary School.

In a press release from the Armed Forces’ 1002nd Brigade, Maria Loida Magpatoc, 52 years old, was arrested by joint elements of the Davao del Sur Police Provincial Office and 1002nd Infantry Brigade in the city’s Old Terminal, Barangay Zone III.

“Mao nang NPA, pagpamatya ninyo na mga NPA na! (They are NPAs, kill them!)”

Two Lumad minors in Loreto town, Agusan del Sur were on their way last Monday to register for the Barangay and SK elections, when they were accosted by government troops.

The farmers expected their distress calls to be heard but the City Council session ended Tuesday without a resolution, as the councilors prioritised the approval of a new liquor ban.

By TYRONE VELEZ
Davao Today
Luzviminda Ilagan, who represents Gabriela Women Partylist, said she was aghast that there was no mention of justice in Pres. Aquino’s SONA for the killing of indigenous peoples and their defenders.