Pasaka Confederation of Lumad organizations in Southern Mindanao stages a protest in front of the military Camp Panacan in Davao City , condemning militarization, human rights violation and military encampment in schools and communities on Friday morning, August 26, 2016. (Medel V. Hernani/davaotoday.com file photo)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Human rights group Karapatan said amidst the declared unilateral ceasefire by both the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, government troops are occupying health centers, barangay halls and even civilian houses in some parts of the country.
Karapatan cited human rights abuses in Camarines Sur, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, and Caraga region.
According to Karapatan, soldiers occupied health centers, barangay halls and civilian homes in the villages of Cabadisan, Panaytayan Nuev, San Pablo, and Bagong Silan in Ragay and Del Gallego towns in Camarines Sur.
The group said since July 26, soldiers have been coming in and out of the villages “interrogating residents and conducting surveillance, asking each household, whether residents have relatives who members of the New People’s Army and telling them to surrender.”
Karapatan said, Jovita Argente, wife of political prisoner Ramon Argente, was harassed and interrogated by the soldiers.
“They took her picture and contact number. They also told her that should there be NPAs who would come and visit her, she should inform the soldiers,” it said.
Bayan Muna members and couple Angel and Helen Mendoza were also summoned by the soldiers for interrogation.
“Soldiers even set up fox holes at the barangay halls in case of an ‘NPA attack’. In Bagong Silang, soldiers also took pictures and thumb prints of residents to allegedly ‘clear their names’,” Palabay said.
Similar cases were reported in Caraga region.
Karapatan said soldiers were forcing the residents to “surrender to the fold,” specifically targetting members of people’s organizations who participate in protest actions.
“Encamped in the communities, these soldiers conduct “census” in every household, looked for male residents, summoned the residents for barangay meetings and forced them to be part of so-called Bayanihan teams,” the group said.
In a phone interview, Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said: “If the government is sincere in having a true blue ceasefire agreement that will halt hostile acts from one party to another, why do they continue military operations in communities that affect several civilians?”
“Do not fool us, because as long as Oplan Bayanihan is enforced, you all know and we know that military operations will continue,” Palabay said.
She said even with the ceasefire declaration, “civilians are suspected as rebels and are subjected to interrogations, threats and harassment.”
Attacks vs. IP school
In Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, the Save our Schools Network said there are 10 schools of the Center for Lumad Advocacy and Services (CLANS) that were forced to stop operations due to threats and harassment by the local government. The schools cater to 1,003 students.
The group said town mayor Abubacar Maulana held a caravan in different villages in Palimbang on Oct. 11 spreading word that CLANS schools should be shut down.
The group said tarpaulins and flyers in local language were distributed, saying: “A small group known as CLANS is the first wave of deception in Palimbang. CLANS, along with schools operating under it in different areas in Palimbang have no permit from the government. This school is not recognized by the Department of Education, it is fake and illegitimate. Everyone is encouraged to be vigilant against the school’s activities. Let us stand as one Philippine nation, let us not be deceived by the communist ideology.”
The group said several residents of Brgy. Kidupong heard the mayor say that those who will surrender pictures of CLANS teachers to his municipal administrator will be rewarded with P5,000. SOS also said CLANS teachers were threatened that they will only be given three warnings if they are caught teaching in the CLANS schools or else they will be imprisoned.
Hopeful gov’t
For his part, government peace panel head and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said there is a need to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement to address the reported ceasefire violations.
In an interview at the sideline of a press conference on Wednesday, Bello told Davao Today that a reported a violation should be verified according to the defintion set by both parties.
“Kung may violation, paano mo nasabi na violation? Kaya dapat nga magkaroon ng bilateral (ceasefire agreement) para merong definition of terms (If there is a violation, how can you say it is a violation? So there should be a bilateral ceasefire agreement to have a definition of terms),” Bello said.
He said they are still hopeful that there will be a signing of a bilateral ceasefire agreement on December 10, in time for the International Human Rights Day.
“We want that the existing unilateral ceasefire will upgrade into a unified bilateral and permanent ceasefire,” Bello said.
He said the signing would be possible if the committees can achieve a consensus on the terms and conditions. But he admitted that the schedule that the government is eyeing is “masikip” (tight). (davaotoday.com)
