Four activists are held in a military checkpoint in Lasang, Davao City on Wednesday night, June 28. From L-R: Hanimay Suazo, Secretary General of Karapatan-Southern Mindanao Region , Jerry Alborme, secretary general of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas in North Cotabato, Lito Lao, spokesperson of Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura in Southern Mindanao and Pedro Arnado, chairperson of KMP in Southern Mindanao region. (Photo by Bong Artil/Kilab Multimedia)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The Task Force Davao said the four activists they flagged down in a checkpoint Wednesday evening were “suspicious individuals.”
A human rights worker and three leaders of farmers’ organizations were held for at least four hours in a checkpoint of the TF Davao in Lasang here yesterday.
In a statement issued Wednesday night, the civil-military operations of TF Davao said four “suspicious individuals” were held at their checkpoint onboard an Isuzu Trooper vehicle bearing plate number MGL 495.
“The Task Force Davao personnel manning the Lasang checkpoint immediately called Bunawan (Philippine National Police) to conduct further verification of the identities of the said individuals,” the statement said.
TF Davao said after verification, the suspected individuals were later identified as Karapatan Secretary General Hanimay Suazo, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Southern Mindanao Region Chairperson Pedro Arnado, his colleague and Also Secretary General of KMP in North Cotabato Gerry Alborme and Unyon ng Manggagawang Agrikultura Southern Mindanao Region Spokesperson Lito Lao.
The three: Arnado, Alborme and Suazon were released after verification but Lao was further held after being found out of having a standing warrant of arrest for qualified theft with Criminal Case No. 1395-12 at Branch 32 in Lupon, Davao Oriental.
TF Davao said Lao was brought to Bunawan Police Station for further legal proceedings.
The TF said Lao was released at around 11:30 pm on the same date after presenting documents proving that the said criminal case was already dismissed. In the previous news report, Davao Today interviewed Karapatan spokesperson Jay Apiag who said Lao was released at around 11:55 pm.
Read related story: 4 activists held in Davao’s military checkpoint
Apiag said the peasant leaders were on their way home from a meeting in Tagum City with local farmers on reports of human rights violations when held by the members of the TFD.
The TF said they are working in accordance with the rule of law and respect for human rights even with the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.
“Security of everyone is a primordial concern and TF Davao is continuously intensifying its security measures to ensure that no lawless elements can enter the city hence the public is being requested to cooperate with our security forces particularly those manning the checkpoints,” TF Davao said.
The KMP, meanwhile, hit the government for the arrest of the four activists.
In a statement sent to the media here, KMP secretary-general Antonio Flores said: “The continuing arrest and harassment of leaders of progressive organizations will mark Rodrigo Duterte’s first year in office.”
The peasant group also held the Armed Forces of the Philippines, defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana and AFP chief of staff General Eduardo Ano accountable for said arrests and crackdown.
Flores said that martial law in Mindanao is also obviously directed against national democratic and progressive organizations opposing the government’s all-out war against the people.
“Arnado, Lao and Alborme are active in leading peasant struggles in the Southern Mindanao Region, the latest is the campaign for installation of the Madaum Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Inc (MARBAI) to the disputed banana plantation land grabbed by Lapanday in Tagum City,” he added.
KMP-SMR, Flores pointed out, is also at the forefront of the campaign against the killing of farmers, peasant leaders and Lumad in the region, while KARAPATAN-SMR consistently condemned government-sponsored human rights abuses in the region that victimized farmers and indigenous peoples.
The national office of Karapatan also issued a statement, emphasizing on the escalation of illegal arrests after President Rodrigo Duterte declared an all-out-war in February this year.
“The AFP has long fumbled to justify why the martial law declaration covered the whole of Mindanao, now it seems the answer is becoming more apparent. Intentions to further counterinsurgency operations through martial rule are evidenced by this recent arrest of progressive leaders in Southern Mindanao. The open fascist rule in Mindanao will ultimately lead to more arrests, as well as the continued targeting and persecution of peasant and human rights advocates who have worked in service of marginalized communities in Mindanao,” Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan said.(davaotoday.com)
