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.
By KENETTE JEAN I. MILLONDAGA
Davao Today
However, they weren’t able to approach the children right away. When they reached the house, government troops were already milling around in the area. “We were almost shot,” Aileen said. “They told us not to go near the house because Daguil Capion (Aileen’s brother) was still present,” she added.
By DANILDA L. FUSILERO
Davao Today
“NPA man kaha ilang kalaban, nganong kung tudluan namo asa padulong ang mga NPA, dili man lagi nila gukdon. Kami man noon pasanginlang NPA (The NPAs are their supposed enemies. Yet how come that even when we tell them where the NPAs are, it is us that they chase after? Instead, they accuse the civilians as NPAs,” Stella Imbud, a Manobo lumad said.
The community’s fear of the military is not without history. In 2002, a paramilitary group called Alamara, which the community alleged as military-backed and whose members wear camouflage uniforms like ordinary soldiers, have threatened to kill and rape women including Bigkay.
By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN
Davao Today
The Women Studies and Resource Center (WSRC)-Southern Mindanao noted that the Davao Region has the highest incidence of VAW cases accounting 34 percent of the total national incidence. In the last 10 months this year, it said, the Davao City police recorded 1,391 cases of domestic violence or an average of five cases per day. The top three forms of gender violence among women are domestic violence, sexual harassment and rape.
By DANILDA L. FUSILERO
Davao Today
Protesters here are not only calling for justice for the victims of the Ampatuan massacre. They said that impunity continues from Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s reign to Noynoy Aquino with the increasing cases of rights abuses and growing numbers of rights victims.
By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN
Davao Today
Brad Adams, Asia director for the Human Rights Watch, said the Ampatuan massacre has “brought to light” the dangers posed by private armies, militias, and paramilitaries in the country “but the administration of President Benigno Aquino III has not seriously addressed the problem.”
