PRESS RELEASE
October 23, 2009
KATRIBU hits 60th IB for forcibly recruiting lumads into BDS, Bagani in Talaingod
Talaingod, Davao del Norte—Katribu Partylist along with the other peace advocates strongly condemned the continued forcible recruitment of Ata-Manobos to become members of the Barangay Defense System (BDS) or Bagani Force by the 60th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army led by Lt. Col. Adriano Perez in various villages in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
Cases of human rights abuses were documented by members of the Interfaith Peace and Mercy Mission (IPMM) which is being conducted simultaneously in areas gravely affected by militarization in Maragusan and Pantukan in Compostela Valley, Banganga and Lupon in Davao Oriental and Talaingod in Davao del Norte.
According to Datu Sumpo Taosan, Salugpongan leader and council member of Katribu Partylist (S)ince August 15 until the last week of September, military troops under the 60th encamped in the villages of Dulyan, Nasilaban, Sambolongan, Laslasakan, and Banwalay.
“Sa ilang pagkampo sa mga komunidad pugos silang ga-recruit kanamong mga Lumad nga moapil ug mamahimong mga myembro sa BDS o diba kaha sa Bagani, gani adunay upat ka higayon nga gipatawag kaming mga residente aron moapil sa dagkong pulong-pulong nga gipahigayon sa mga military ug hulgaon kami nga kung dili kami moapil sa BDS o Bagani buot pasabot mga supporter kami sa mga NPA,” Datu Taosan said.
Base on the testimonies of the victims, the Lumads were forced to go on duty from 9pm to 4am and to serve as BDS and Bagani. They were commanded by the military led by Lt. Col. Perez, who ordered them to campaign against the NPA in house to house sorties.
“Pugos na lang gyud nga mituman ang among mga sakop sa gisugo sa mga sundalo nga mag duty isip BDS o Bagani bisan walay tulog ug gutom. Wala man gani namo nasabtan ang tumong apan mi-duty na lang tungod kay mahadlok kami nga pasanginlan nga kami kuno mga tig suporta sa NPA. Nahadlok kami nga pamatyon kami sama sa gihimo nila kang Kapis Butod nga gipatay nila tungod lang sa pasangil nga supporter kini sa NPA bisan nga siya usa ka inosenteng sibilyan,” Datu Taosan added.
Presently, there are already 20 members of BDS in Nasilaban village and 11 members in Banwalay village. Both villages are situated in Brgy. Palma Gil, Talaingod.
According to Russ Ybanez, youth coordinator of Katribu Partylist and documentor of the IPMM team said “due to the forcible recruitment and continued military operations launched by the 60th IB, there were at least 248 families from villages of Laslasakan, Labuo, Sasu, Bugni, Sambolongan, Nalubas and Nabalabag in Brgy. Palma Gil, Talaingod who were forced to vacate from their communities and who went into hiding; consequently they suffered hunger in the process.
“After the Fact Finding Mission led by Katribu in September, military from 60th IB had temporarily pulled out from the affected villages but in October 17 a company of military troops led by Lt. Col. Perez came back to the villages and continued recruiting Lumads into the BDS or Bagani. They also plan to put up detachment in Tibukag village despite the residents’ opposition,” Ybanez said.
Katribu patylist reiterated its calls for the pull out of military troops in the Lumad communities, an end to all atrocities of the 60th IB and the 10th Infantry Division against the Ata Manobo and Lumad people., and justice be served to all victims of human rights violations.###
For reference:
Russ Ybanez
Youth Coordinator
Katribu Partylist
Datu Sumpo Taosan
Chieftain/ Leader
Salupongan ta Tanu Igkanugon
October 23, 2009
KATRIBU hits 60th IB for forcibly recruiting lumads into BDS, Bagani in Talaingod
Talaingod, Davao del Norte—Katribu Partylist along with the other peace advocates strongly condemned the continued forcible recruitment of Ata-Manobos to become members of the Barangay Defense System (BDS) or Bagani Force by the 60th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army led by Lt. Col. Adriano Perez in various villages in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
Cases of human rights abuses were documented by members of the Interfaith Peace and Mercy Mission (IPMM) which is being conducted simultaneously in areas gravely affected by militarization in Maragusan and Pantukan in Compostela Valley, Banganga and Lupon in Davao Oriental and Talaingod in Davao del Norte.
According to Datu Sumpo Taosan, Salugpongan leader and council member of Katribu Partylist (S)ince August 15 until the last week of September, military troops under the 60th encamped in the villages of Dulyan, Nasilaban, Sambolongan, Laslasakan, and Banwalay.
“Sa ilang pagkampo sa mga komunidad pugos silang ga-recruit kanamong mga Lumad nga moapil ug mamahimong mga myembro sa BDS o diba kaha sa Bagani, gani adunay upat ka higayon nga gipatawag kaming mga residente aron moapil sa dagkong pulong-pulong nga gipahigayon sa mga military ug hulgaon kami nga kung dili kami moapil sa BDS o Bagani buot pasabot mga supporter kami sa mga NPA,” Datu Taosan said.
Base on the testimonies of the victims, the Lumads were forced to go on duty from 9pm to 4am and to serve as BDS and Bagani. They were commanded by the military led by Lt. Col. Perez, who ordered them to campaign against the NPA in house to house sorties.
“Pugos na lang gyud nga mituman ang among mga sakop sa gisugo sa mga sundalo nga mag duty isip BDS o Bagani bisan walay tulog ug gutom. Wala man gani namo nasabtan ang tumong apan mi-duty na lang tungod kay mahadlok kami nga pasanginlan nga kami kuno mga tig suporta sa NPA. Nahadlok kami nga pamatyon kami sama sa gihimo nila kang Kapis Butod nga gipatay nila tungod lang sa pasangil nga supporter kini sa NPA bisan nga siya usa ka inosenteng sibilyan,” Datu Taosan added.
Presently, there are already 20 members of BDS in Nasilaban village and 11 members in Banwalay village. Both villages are situated in Brgy. Palma Gil, Talaingod.
According to Russ Ybanez, youth coordinator of Katribu Partylist and documentor of the IPMM team said “due to the forcible recruitment and continued military operations launched by the 60th IB, there were at least 248 families from villages of Laslasakan, Labuo, Sasu, Bugni, Sambolongan, Nalubas and Nabalabag in Brgy. Palma Gil, Talaingod who were forced to vacate from their communities and who went into hiding; consequently they suffered hunger in the process.
“After the Fact Finding Mission led by Katribu in September, military from 60th IB had temporarily pulled out from the affected villages but in October 17 a company of military troops led by Lt. Col. Perez came back to the villages and continued recruiting Lumads into the BDS or Bagani. They also plan to put up detachment in Tibukag village despite the residents’ opposition,” Ybanez said.
Katribu patylist reiterated its calls for the pull out of military troops in the Lumad communities, an end to all atrocities of the 60th IB and the 10th Infantry Division against the Ata Manobo and Lumad people., and justice be served to all victims of human rights violations.###
For reference:
Russ Ybanez
Youth Coordinator
Katribu Partylist
Datu Sumpo Taosan
Chieftain/ Leader
Salupongan ta Tanu Igkanugon
Labels: 10th ID, Ata- Manobo, Bagani, del Rosario, katribu, Lumad, mercy, NPA, Perez, Philippines, rights military, Talaingod, violations
posted by Solidarity Action Group for Indigenous Peoples at 5:34 PM
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