“The military said, this is Nelson Villanueva, a wanted communist rebel, a.k.a Commander Lala,” Fanagel told Davao Today. Fanagel said his nickname is “Lala” but he said he does not know anything about Nelson Villanueva.
The military told the sitio leaders that Villanueva operates in Compostela Valley but is now in Davao City because he is ill and is undergoing medication,” Fanagel said.
After the presentation, the military left their contact numbers to barangay leaders, telling them to inform them when they hear anything about the wanted person. They also dangled an unspecified reward to those who can catch him dead or alive.
It was after this meeting that Fanagel’s friends noticed the posters in bus terminals and restaurants.
Lt. Col. Rolando Bautista, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division, denied that the 28th IB had anything to do with the posters.
“Anybody can put those posters there, even the NPAs,” Bautista said. He said that the NPAs usually turn the table against the military when they were at the losing end.
“Every time they suffer defeats, they attribute incidents like that to discredit the soldiers,” he said.
Bautista said that the military is now stepping up information drive in Compostela to expose the “deceptions” of Communist rebels.
He promised to check with the 28th IB whether or not they were really showing the photo of Fanagel in one of their lectures. “If there are complaints, they should file them in the proper venue,” he said.
Progressive groups denounced the harassment of Fanagel.
“He is being persecuted for defending the indigenous peoples’ rights,” said Myfel Paluga, an anthropology professor at the University of the Philippines Mindanao and chairperson of the Solidarity Action Group for Indigenous People (Sagip).
Pasaka filed complaints against Lt. Col. Ferdinand Buding, commanding officer of the 28th IB before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for the malicious power point presentation, showing the picture of Fanagel as a Communist rebel. They also accused the 28th IB for posting his picture on the wanted list of Communist rebels in Compostela town.
Kelly Delgado, secretary general of the human rights group Karapatan, said his group has filed a case before the government panel of the Joint Monitoring Committee for the violation of human rights under the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (Carhril).
Delgado said his group will also file a case before the United Nations on the issue of securing and guaranteeing the rights and freedoms of rights defender.
He had earlier asked the help of the UN after he received death threats.
As a result, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights to Freedom of Opinion and Expression and the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders ordered the Philippine government to investigate his case.
Delgado linked Fanagel’s case to the recent incidents where members and leaders of progressive groups are being harassed, threatened or killed.
“This is another conscious effort by the elements of the State to demonize legitimate organizations that criticize and oppose the bankrupt policies of the Arroyo administration,” said Delgado.
Among the militant leaders killed recently were Roel Dotarot, a member of Bayan Muna shot dead on August 15 in barangay Banlag in Monkayo town; Noli Llanos and Diego Encarnacion, members of Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas killed on July 2 in Linda, Nabunturan. He also said a barangay kagawad who was a Bayan Muna supporter was also killed on the night of August 15 in Mawab, Compostela Valley and another activist was arrested in Maco on August 19.
Delgado said the series of harassments and killings is only part of the military’s Oplan Bantay Laya program, the government’s operation to end the 40-year-old armed Communist insurgency by targeting progressive organizations.
“The OBL 2 is being intensified in Compostela Valley Province because of the presence of mining projects,” he said. “The military is getting rid of those who are critical of their economic interests.”
Pasaka, accompanied by residents of barangay Ngan and barangay Mangayon in Compostela, brought Fanagel’s concern before the municipal council of Compostela on August 22. They also complained against the soldiers’ encampments in their communities.
Compostela local officials promised to call a public hearing on August 29.
Pasaka also blottered Fanagel’s case before the Compostela police station. The police removed the posters.
Fanagel said he is not afraid amidst threat to his life. He said he will continue to join forums, rallies, pickets, to show that he is an active lumad leader, and not an underground rebel commander, that the military wants people to believe him to be.
“The people know me,” he said. “It is the military who is lying.” (Grace S. Uddin/davaotoday.com)
Indigenous Peoples
