By DANILDA L. FUSILERO
Davao Today
“Unsaon pa namo pag-tapping sa goma kay mahadlok man mi nga dudahan mi (nga mga NPA) kung naa nami sa among kaumahan (How could we go to work when they might find us in our farms and charge us as NPAs?)” one of the evacuees from Sto. Nino village told a local radio station here.
By DANILDA L. FUSILERO
Davao Today
Manobo mother Aisa Pinantao, 23 from Sitio Kalingahon, Noa village said they were forced to evacuate because the military has dropped bombs to their farms, just few meters away from their house. With her three children and other neighbors, they left their homes and livelihood and forced to stay at the village center for safety last December 3.
By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today
“The extrajudicial killing of Quijano by suspected state security forces clearly shows that the culture of impunity prevails under the Aquino administration,” says KMP spokesperson Antonio Flores in a statement. He added that Quijano’s relatives and colleagues believe his death was “due to his active opposition to large-scale mining and illegal logging in Zamboanga Del Sur.”
By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today
Instead, they were met by Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III who told them that De Lima was with President Noynoy Aquino to visit the areas in Mindanao devastated by typhoon ‘Pablo.’ De Lima was present in the post-Typhoon Pablo briefing with Aquino, cabinet officials, government agencies and local chief executives in Davao City. During the briefing, she made no statements.
By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today
The delegates also displayed at the front gate of the DENR effigies representing the dead bodies of the victims of Tampakan massacre and black crosses bearing the names of leaders and environment defenders who were killed since the former Arroyo administration to present.
By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today
“This typhoon would not have been this tragic if not for the logging and foreign mining companies ravaging our mineral resources,” Sr. Stella Matutina, convener of Manilakbayan said.
By DANILDA L. FUSILERO
Davao Today
On Wednesday, Katribu, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Kabataan Party-list, women’s organization Gabriela and Mapa community leaders representing the evacuees joined together to stage a picket-rally in front of the municipal hall of Magpet and called for the immediate pull-out of all military troops in the municipality.
By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today
Tuesday’s session was attended by Congressman Arnulfo Go of Sultan Kudarat, who chairs the committee together with Representatives Luz Ilagan of Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP), Nancy Catamco of the 2nd District of Cotabato, Florencio Flores of Bukidnon 2nd District and House Deputy Majority Leader Daisy Avance-Fuentes of South Cotabato.
By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today
“We were surprised to learn the details,” a nun who requested anonymity reacted. She added that rights abuses have been happening in Mindanao, yet, “all the while, President Aquino’s been informing the Manila people that there were no human rights violations in Mindanao.”
By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today
On Saturday, Manilakbayan delegates held a protest outside the Camp Crame in Quezon City where they denounced the continued human rights violations in Mindanao due to the implementation of the counter-insurgency plan, Oplan Bayanihan, and the displacement of the indigenous peoples due to the presence of foreign-owned and large-scale mining corporations.
