DAVAO CITY – The number of families evacuating from the towns of Lianga, San Agustin, San Miguel, and Tago in Surigao del Sur continue to rise as the Army continues with its military operations against the New People’s Army.
According to Caraga Watch, community members from Barangay Bolhoon from the town of San Miguel, joined the evacuation seeking for sanctuary at the Provincial Sports Center in Barangay Telaje in Tandag City.
The group said that there are additional 83 families with 432 individuals who came from the different communities of San Miguel and sought shelter at their municipal gymnasium since August 9.
The Caraga Watch said on Friday that the total number of evacuees have reached to 445 families with 2,236 individuals from 21 neighboring communities in four municipalities in the province.
Caraga Watch said that the lumads evacuated their community after “members of the Bocales bandit group told them to leave their community or they will be massacred.”
Teachers of Nalindong Tribal Community School, the group said, decided to join their fellow lumads in Tandag after they have been accused of being members of NPA.
Eliza Panganiban, secretary general of human rights group Karapatan in Caraga also said there are already nine tribal schools that have been closed down because of the evacuation which affected 676 students and 47 teachers.
The lumads in Surigao del Sur, according to the group, evacuated after the death of Emerito Samarca, the executive director of the Alternative Learning Center for Livelihood and Agricultural Development (ALCADEV).
Samarca was killed early morning Tuesday with other community leaders Dionel Campos, chairperson of Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (Mapasu), and Bello Sinzo, member of MAPASU in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga.
Caraga Watch said that they demand justice for the killings of the three. They also call for the immediate dismantling of “paramilitary forces”, arrest and persecution of the killers; and to end militarization in the communities.
The Army’s 402nd Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division (4th ID), in a statement, said they are supporting the investigations conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The Army said it sent troops to support the PNP in the incident of killing of civilians in Lianga.
“We shall not let these criminals roam around and threaten the peace loving people of Surigao del Sur. We will let them face the crimes they’ve committed,” said Col. Isidro Purisima, commander of 402nd brigade.
However, Caraga Watch claimed that the “members of the Bocales bandit group continue to be used and coddled by the AFP despite its members being positively identified as killers.” (davaotoday.com)
