Press Release
September 29, 2009
Katribu condemns return of 'berdugo' AFP CO, Talaingod paramilitary recruiment
Katribu Partylist, a lumad sectoral group, expressed alarm over the recent installation of Col. Eduardo del Rosario as the new 1003rd Infantry (Raptor) Brigade Commander due to his bloody record of perpetrating scores of human rights violations against Lumads and peasants in Davao city and nearby provinces. It also scored Del Rosario's role in enticing Lumads in Talaingod to be recruited as part of Bagani force, a paramilitary group.
The group said the installation of Col. Eduardo del Rosario as the new 1003rd Commander would surely mean escalation of human rights violations in lumad and farmer communities, him being a' berdugo' during his time as Task Force Davao Chief and 73rd IB Commander.
“In 2001, del Rosario as the former 73rd IB Army Chief was infamous in organizing the dreaded lumad vigilantes called Alamara and Bagani which resulted to massive human rights abuses, terrorizing lumad communities through pitting lumads versus lumads and pitting lumads versus visayan settlers,” said Kerlan Fanagel, Katribu Partylist Regional Coordinator.
Ata-Manobo datus in Talaingod had recently scored military abuses in the area, and had also urged the Commission on Human Rights and the local government to swiftly act on their demand for a troops pull-out. The military's 1003rd under Del Rosario had been recruiting the Lumads to become members of the Bagani Force, an apparent rehash of the dreaded Alamara.
According to Fanagel “It was under the leadership of Col. Del Rosario when soldiers of 73rd IB perpetrated the cold-blooded Pangyan Massacre last April 15, 2002 in Pangyan, Marilog, District, Davao City which killed peasant leader Apolonio 'Tatay Poloy” Enoc along with 5 other innocent civilians, and the youth camp raid in Malagos in 2003 which traumatized more than 30 youth and children.”
“During his stint as Task Force Davao Chief, del Rosario instigated massive human rights abuses in the city and have sown terror in the lumad communities such as Paquibato and Malabog Districts in cahoots of his lumad cohorts Joel Unad and Ruben Labawan," Fanagel said.
Fanagel added that Unad and Labawan are until now facing issues of encroaching and grabbing lands from lumads and visayan settlers alike.
The group said that there is no reason for the military to be proud of Col. Del Rosario's baptismal as “Datu Limbotong” as it is nothing but a defilement to the lumad culture.
“With del Rosario back in Davao Region, we expect the worst for our fellow lumads.
But we vow to double up our defense against militarization and continue our struggles for the respect of lumad's rights and welfare,” Fanagel stressed. ###
For reference:
KERLAN FANAGEL
Regional Coordinator
KATRIBU PArtylist
September 29, 2009
Katribu condemns return of 'berdugo' AFP CO, Talaingod paramilitary recruiment
Katribu Partylist, a lumad sectoral group, expressed alarm over the recent installation of Col. Eduardo del Rosario as the new 1003rd Infantry (Raptor) Brigade Commander due to his bloody record of perpetrating scores of human rights violations against Lumads and peasants in Davao city and nearby provinces. It also scored Del Rosario's role in enticing Lumads in Talaingod to be recruited as part of Bagani force, a paramilitary group.
The group said the installation of Col. Eduardo del Rosario as the new 1003rd Commander would surely mean escalation of human rights violations in lumad and farmer communities, him being a' berdugo' during his time as Task Force Davao Chief and 73rd IB Commander.
“In 2001, del Rosario as the former 73rd IB Army Chief was infamous in organizing the dreaded lumad vigilantes called Alamara and Bagani which resulted to massive human rights abuses, terrorizing lumad communities through pitting lumads versus lumads and pitting lumads versus visayan settlers,” said Kerlan Fanagel, Katribu Partylist Regional Coordinator.
Ata-Manobo datus in Talaingod had recently scored military abuses in the area, and had also urged the Commission on Human Rights and the local government to swiftly act on their demand for a troops pull-out. The military's 1003rd under Del Rosario had been recruiting the Lumads to become members of the Bagani Force, an apparent rehash of the dreaded Alamara.
According to Fanagel “It was under the leadership of Col. Del Rosario when soldiers of 73rd IB perpetrated the cold-blooded Pangyan Massacre last April 15, 2002 in Pangyan, Marilog, District, Davao City which killed peasant leader Apolonio 'Tatay Poloy” Enoc along with 5 other innocent civilians, and the youth camp raid in Malagos in 2003 which traumatized more than 30 youth and children.”
“During his stint as Task Force Davao Chief, del Rosario instigated massive human rights abuses in the city and have sown terror in the lumad communities such as Paquibato and Malabog Districts in cahoots of his lumad cohorts Joel Unad and Ruben Labawan," Fanagel said.
Fanagel added that Unad and Labawan are until now facing issues of encroaching and grabbing lands from lumads and visayan settlers alike.
The group said that there is no reason for the military to be proud of Col. Del Rosario's baptismal as “Datu Limbotong” as it is nothing but a defilement to the lumad culture.
“With del Rosario back in Davao Region, we expect the worst for our fellow lumads.
But we vow to double up our defense against militarization and continue our struggles for the respect of lumad's rights and welfare,” Fanagel stressed. ###
For reference:
KERLAN FANAGEL
Regional Coordinator
KATRIBU PArtylist
posted by Solidarity Action Group for Indigenous Peoples at 12:54 AM
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