Instead, they were met by Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III who told them that De Lima was with President Noynoy Aquino to visit the areas in Mindanao devastated by typhoon ‘Pablo.’ De Lima was present in the post-Typhoon Pablo briefing with Aquino, cabinet officials, government agencies and local chief executives in Davao City. During the briefing, she made no statements.
By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today
MANILA, Philippines — Delegates of the ‘Manilakbayan’ (Journey to Manila) and church leaders here criticized Justice Secretary Leila De Lima for failing to appear in their scheduled dialogues Friday morning.
Benedictine nun Sister Stella Matutina said previous arrangements made to the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed the secretary’s attendance. But, “We were surprised upon knowing that the secretary would not be able to sit with us,” Matutina told davaotoday.com.
Matutina is one of the ‘Manilakbayan’ delegates set to meet with De Lima.
Leaders of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) were also dismayed over De Lima’s no-show, saying their meeting with the secretary is so important because they are going to present “life and death” matters involving the safety and security of Mindanao leaders.
UCCP Pastor Jurie Jayme said there are pressing issues “that must be heard and must be discussed with De Lima in order to arrive with solutions.”
Instead, they were met by Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III who told them that De Lima was with President Noynoy Aquino to visit the areas in Mindanao devastated by typhoon ‘Pablo.’ De Lima was present in the post-Typhoon Pablo briefing with Aquino, cabinet officials, government agencies and local chief executives in Davao City. During the briefing, she made no statements.
Genasque Enriquez, Katribu Party-list’s second nominee, asked about the purpose of Delima’s visit to the victims of ‘Pablo. “Unsa ma’y himoon niya didto sa mga nabiktima sa bagyo? (What’s the business of the Justice Secretary to the victims of the typhoon?).”
“Amo untang ipahibalo kaniya ang mga tomo-tomong kaso batok sa mga lider sa katawhang lumad sa Mindanao. DOJ Secretary man siya, naa unta siya’y ikatabang kanamo. Apan tua man hinoon siya sa panghitabo nga dili na concern sa iyang opisina (We intend to inform her about the fabricated cases filed against the IP leaders in Mindanao. She’s the DOJ secretary and she could do something about it. Instead, she attended an incident not directly the concern of her office),” he added.
“I cannot comprehend why the DOJ Secretary must visit typhoon victims when it is the task of the social welfare department and those in charge with the local government,” Jayme said in an interview with davaotoday.com.
He pointed out that they were supposed to bring to De Lima’s attention the warrant of arrest issued against the perpetrator of the killing of tribal leader Jimmy Liguyon, which until now, has not been served.
Indigeous peoples (IP) leaders from Bukidnon who joined Manilakbayan complained of the continued disregard of the authorities in Kibawe to arrest Alde Salusad alias ‘Butsoy’, the person who shot and killed Jimmy Liguyon.
But DOJ’s Baraan told the UCCP leaders that it’s the local police in the area who are responsible for Salusad’s arrest.
“There was no clear resolution to our queries,” Jaime said, adding that “the local police in Kibawe, Bukidnon had already expressed they have no capacity to arrest the perpetrator.”
‘Superbody’
With De Lima’s absence, representatives of the ‘Manilakbayan’ discussed with Baraan instead.
They disclosed that Baraan was “surprised” to the information they presented especially on the cases of political killings in Mindanao due to the entry of large-scale mining and other agribusiness ventures.
“It appeared that he has no knowledge on the cases of extrajudicial killings in Mindanao,” Enriquez said.
Baraan assured them that a “superbody” was already created by President Aquino to investigate reports of human rights violations.
However, ‘Manilakbayan’ delegates “do not believe this so-called superbody will fairly and effectively resolve” cases of human rights violations in Mindanao, saying this is only “a gimmick” of the Aquino administration “to improve its image in the international community on human rights.”
Rights group Karapatan said the ultimate objective behind the creation of such “superbody” was “to secure the more than USD 13 million in US military assistance to the Aquino government.
‘Appeal’
Manilakbayan delegates and the UCCP, in their separate statements Friday, appealed to Aquino over the “worsening human rights situation in Mindanao.”
UCCP particularly asked for the President’ urgent action to the worsening situation in Barangay Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon.
“In 2012 alone, three UCCP members have been extrajudicially killed at the hands of the New Indigenous Peoples Army Reform (Nipar) and the Special Civilian Armed Auxiliary (SCAA) of the 8th IB, Philippine Army,” the statement said.
On January 11, 2012, Abundio Mantugohan, a Matigsalog who is a member of Kasilo organization was murdered by Fernand Perez and Apol Sabuwan, both members of SCAA headed by Benjamin Salusad.
Salusad’s group is allegedly under the command of a certain Lt. Col. Fallar of the Philippine Army’s 8th IB.
On October 10, 2012, Datu Erning Mantugohan was also shot and killed by members of SCAA under Salusad and Aso Ansumbong, Jonas Likawan and a certain Piansa. Cornelio and Danilo Mantugohan were also harassed and threatened to be killed by the same group of SCAA the same day.
Benjamin Salusad is the father of Alde Salusad, the subject of a warrant of arrest for killing Liguyon.
The UCCP leaders recommended for deeper investigation on the activities of Nipar and SCAA and their immediate dismantling due to the continued human rights violations they committed against the residents in the area.
Meanwhile, Manilakbayan delegates criticized the AFP “for its continued mockery of the rights of indigenous peoples in Mindanao.”
They commented on the “distorted projection” made by the AFP as “human rights advocates in its equally warped celebration of the human rights week from December 4-10.”
“While we are here in Metro Manila for a ten-day mobilization to demand for the cessation of large-scale mining and related political killings, the AFP still has the guts to wear an angel’s face despite its being a demonic violator of human rights,” the statement added. (Alex D. Lopez/davaotoday.com)
