Posts by tag: Loreto

Families of five barangay officials make their plea with peace advocates here in Davao for the release of their relatives captured by the New People’s Army in Sabu, Loreto, Agusan del Sur. The officials were captured last October on allegations they are members of paramilitary groups that harassed the community. The National Democratic Front orders the release of the captured officials after the latter’s apology. . (davaotoday.com photo by John Rizle L. Saligumba)

The New People’s Army has given a “prisoner of war” status to “five Cafgu paramilitary forces” who were “captured” in the village center of Barangay Mansanitas, Loreto town, Agusan del Sur after they raided a detachment of the Philippine Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion, 11am of October 24.

Kasaka said Alindao was its second leader to be killed in a month, after another officer, Benjie Planos, was also hacked and shot dead last September 13 in his farm in Kauswagan.

Agusan Manobo tribal leader Datu Librando Peres from Barangay Sabud, Loreto, Agusan del Sur, narrated during the Karapatan press conference narrates how the agreement between residents, Loreto Mayor Dario Otaza and the miltary were violated as the Philippine Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion encamp in their communities’ schools and houses, and also strafed houses and places of worship. Peres demanded for the pullout of troops so the communities can return in peace. (davaotoday.com photo by Medel V. Hernani

Benjie Planos, a Bisaya settler living among the Manobos, and other leaders of KASAKA had been receiving death threats from the Philippine Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion and the paramilitary group Bagani. the militarization, KASAKA leaders said, is linked with the entry of New Britain Palm Oil Ltd, which is eyeing KASAKA’s ancestral domain.

While an international monitoring group points to increased armed conflict between the military and the communist rebels
as the culprit of the Lumads’ dislocation, the heart of the matter is the Lumads’ right to control over their rich ancestral domain.

Before the Agusanon Manobos were displaced due to intense military operations in this province, they were Typhoon Pablo survivors who had to rebuild all over again their ravaged houses and damaged farms.

Part 1 in a 3-part series

While the streets of Davao reverberated with dances and chants during the Kadayawan parade over the weekend, 500 Lumad evacuees saluted their own escape from threats to their lives and safety.

The other day, more or less 500 Agusanon Manbo from Loreto, Agusan del Sur sought refuge in the City of Davao, not to rejoice for the “good harvests” as the city annually celebrates KADAYAWAN, but to tell their stories of fear, anger and desire for justice, peace, equity and inclusion.

“Unsaon namo pag-uli nga naa pa may gyera didto sa amoa?(How are we going home when there’s still a war going on there?)” said Jocely Andaliki “At least diri, safety among paminaw, di pareha didto sa amoa nga giabog mi mismo sa among gobernor, (Here, we feel safe, not like there where our governor drove us out).”