NEWS RELEASE

October 24, 2009

Talaingod deaths rising --- KATRIBU PARTYLIST


Talaingod, Davao Del Norte --- The Katribu Partylist raised alarm and called for immediate intervention over the rising number of deaths as a result of epidemic and hunger in the militarized hinterlands of this town.

The Katribu Partylist who went with peace advocates in an Interfaith Peace and Mercy Mission in Sitio Nasilaban from October 21 to 22 documented more than 43 deaths that have occurred from August to October this year in various villages in Talaingod. The Mercy Mission provided medical assistance to nearly 300 Ata-Manobo lumads.

KATRIBU partylist coordinator Russ Ybanez said an Ata-Manobo chieftain told them that 17 of his fellow villagers died due to hunger and illness when they were forced to evacuate for two consecutive times, on May and August this year. The Lumads fled from the wartorn areas where the 60th IB soldiers campaigned to have them become members of the Barangay Defense Force or Bagani forces.

“Sukwahi sa kultura sa lumad ang BDS. Makaapekto kana sa amoang pag-uma. Dili mi mosugot niana,” said Datu Ebong Gongotan, village datu in Sitio Bugni.

Acccording to Datu Gongotan, 47 families from Sitio Bugni evacuated on the last week of May this year after some unidentified military elements killed a certain Kopis, a 15 year old Ata-Manobo kid who was accused by the military of being an NPA.

They then sought refuge at Sitio Nasilaban, but the arrival of the 60th IB on August 15 forced the Lumads to go evacuate to the forest without any food supplies or certainty of a shelter just to evade the BDS recruitment.

“A clear act of desperation and cowardice, paramilitary recruitment directly uses civilians as frontliners and pawns in the military’s war,” Ybanez said.

Other areas where residents evacuated due to the September military operations are the villages of Sambulongan (60 families), Labuo ( 47 families), Laslasakan (36 families), Nalubas (37 families), Nabalabag( 12 families), and Sasu ( 20 families). Totaling to 232 families or 1392 individuals.

KATRIBU also said that the creation, maintenance of paramilitary forces or similar groups is categorically prohibited in international humanitarian laws and the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and the International Humanitarian Laws (CARHRIHL) that uphold the protection of the civilian populace from hostilities.

KATRIBU, a lumad sectoral group aiming to represent the indigenous peoples’ concerns in Congress on 2010 called for the immediate intervention of the LGU in the area, particularly for a comprehensive medical assistance for the villagers of Talaingod.

It also urged for the immediate investigation of the military’s policy on paramilitary formation and seeks to dismantle the Barangay Defense System. ###

For Reference:


Russ Ybanez
Youth Coordinator
Katribu Partylist

MEDIA RELEASE


IN CELEBRATION OF THE TRIBAL FILIPINO WEEK

Indigenous People & Advocates Form KATRIBU PARYTLIST


DAVAO CITY-- Land, Life,and Rights. These were the words significant for the indigenous people and advocates who were gathered today (Oct. 9) to launch the newly-formed partylist group KATRIBU. The launching was also timed for the annual observance of the Tribal Filipino Week.


"Amidst the threats to our ancestral lands brought by development aggression and relentless militarization, the danger of climate change due to the plunder of our land and resources, and the obliteration of our identity, our calls to defend our land, life and rights are more urgent than ever," said Kerlan Fanagel, Katribu Partylist Regional Coordinator.


The launching was held at the Salugpongan Hall, UCCP- HARAN, Fr. Selga St., Davao City and attended by some 50 members and supporters. The Katribu Partylist was formed in Metro Manila last August 9, 2008.


The Katribu sees its entry into the mainstream politics as a venue to promote the interest of the IPs through legislative reforms and campaigns.


Fanagel noted that "With the multi-national corporations' greed to loot our lands with their so-called development projects, We Lumads have been displaced and have become squatters in our own land. Projects such as mining, dams, plantations for jathropa, bananas, palm oil, coconuts and pineapple, have only favored the elite and the foreign big businesses."


He also said that "twin to the so-called development is the militarization of our communities." Intensified military operations in the hinterland communities is abetted with the Investment Defense Force and the National Internal Security Program for Indigenous Peoples.


Militarization has resulted to displacement, harassments, threats, forced recruitment for Task Force Gantangan, and physical assault. The worst is the extra-judicial killing Lumads leaders namely Ludenio Monzon and Marcial Latiban of Davao Oriental, Agustin Cumawas in North Cotabato, Datu Dominador Diarog of Kahusayan, Tugbok District, and Datu Aladino Badbaran of Agusan del Sur.


"Instead of protecting the welfare of the indigenous peoples, the Arroyo government has sold our patrimony through the implementation of the Mining Act of 1995 and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA)," Katribu lamented.


The groups also said that Lumads continue to fall prey to discrimination and are deprived of the much-needed social services by the state.


"Thus, we in KATRIBU Partylist are emboldened to carry on this urgent call to protect our communities, our rights, our resources and patrimony for the welfare of the Lumads and the nation. We carry on this legacy of the indigenous people to defend our ancestral land and the right to self-determination. Furthermore, we believe it is time to put our stake in the political arena, by asserting our rights and voice in the party-list system," Katribu said in their yesterday's declaration.


The Katribu also declared that: "On this significant occasion, we in KATRIBU Partylist strive to unite our collective voice, to pursue our long dream of a just society where the rights of the indigenous peoples along with other basic sectors are realized to the fullest.


We shall draw from the support of our communities, along with those in solidarity with the Lumads and environment, to push for reforms to serve the interests and protect the rights of the poor and marginalized sectors. With that, we particularly call for ways to stop the plunder of our resources, ask for the repeal of laws that tolerate this plunder, and seek repatriation to communities that have been damaged by these activities.


For the defense of our rights, we shall pursue all avenues to attain justice to victims of militarization, especially here in Southern Mindanao where the 10th Infantry Division of the AFP has wreaked havoc to our communities with the implementation of Oplan Bantay Laya 2 and the NISP-IP. We call for the pull out of military troops in communities, and an end to forced recruitment of Lumads to paramilitary forces.


We shall unite the Lumads and other sectors with similar ideals of promoting the rights and welfare of the marginalized. This is a great and formidable task for the indigenous peoples, but we believe that in our unity comes the strength to take on this challenge, guided by our history of struggle and the vision of a just society for us all." ###


For Reference:


KERLAN FANAGEL
Regional Coordinator
Katribu Partylist



DULPING OGAN
National Vice Chairperson
Katribu Partylist

PRESS RELEASE


YOUTH GROUPS SUPPORT KATRIBU PARTYLIST


Davao City-- At least 50 youth leaders vowed to support the newly-launched KATRIBU, a partylist group for indigenous people saying that "it is high time for Congress to hear the voice from the Lumads and other tribes in the country."


Katribu Partylist aims to win three seats in Congress during the the 2010 election to represent and fight for the issues on the preservation and protection of ancestral doman and the environment.


Various youth groups led by Kadumahan Youth, a city-wide school based IP youth and advocates' organization, declared their support to KATRIBU Partylist as one of it's major resolutions in a Mindanao-wide consultation on Indigenous Youth held here today. The youth leaders representing indigenous peoples and advocates' organizations, student councils, and student publications gathered at the Salugpongan Hall of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines for a consultation on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change.


"We believe that the youth as the catalyst for change can voice out our common vision of protecting the Lumads and supporting their right to ancestral domain and the preservation of their culture," said Russ Angelo Ybanez, Kadumahan spokesperson and a delegate to the said consultation.


Ybanez added that "(T)he Katribu will complement in the struggle for justice for the indigenous people who have long been victimized by relentless militarization, evacuation, extra-judicial killing and landgrabbing as a result of development aggression."


Ybanez also said that "Arroyo government's plunder of natural resources poses alarming impact to climate change which will eventually result to more disasters just like what happened in Luzon".


The consultation was held coinciding with the celebration of the Tribal Filipino Week. Advocates and representatives from the different government agencies, peoples organizations, non-government organizations and various schools also participated in the first part of the said event. They expressed concern over the militarization and encroachment of multi-national corporations in lumad areas.


Leaders from PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao and KALUMARAN graced the event challenging the indigenous youth and advocates to be involved in solving the pressing issues of our times, stressing on how these problems link each and every sector of the society.


“It is inspiring to see young leaders having the time, commitment and passion to learn from the issues confronting the Lumads and to join in the struggle for the rights of Lumads," said Dulping Ogan, National Vice Chairperson of Katribu Partylist.


During the consultation's solidarity ritual, youth leaders gave soil, seedlings, musical instrument, ballpens and liyang (lumad basket) to the lumad leaders.##





For Reference:


Russ Angelo Ybanez

Spokesperson

Kadumahan Youth

PRESS RELEASE
August 19, 2009


PASAKA denounces AFP's classic scheme of pitting lumad vs lumad, reiterates call to stop militarization in lumad areas and stop assaulting progressive lumad organization

PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao denounces the recent attempt of the military under the 10th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to cover up and deny the recent atrocities they have been enforcing in peasant and lumad communities by employing their old tactics of pitting the lumads versus lumads.

“It has been the AFP's classic scheme to use lumads not only during their counter-insurgency operations but also in their witch-hunting campaigns against progressive legal organizations who have been exposing the barbaric acts and massive human rights violations that the military have relentlessly inflict against the hapless lumad civilians in the countrysides,” PASAKA Secretary Kerlan Fanagel said.

“It is not surprising at all that Joel Unad of the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development (MIPCPD) defended the AFP instead of supporting the calls of the lumads to stop the militarization and human rights abuses in lumad areas since MIPCPD in the first place is an infamous military-backed organization that has been recruiting lumads into paramilitary and vigilante groups,” Fanagel added.

PASAKA recalled that the MIPCPD has a standing Memorandum of Understanding with the Eastern Mindanao Command of the AFP executed last November 28, 2007 which is a defilement of the lumad culture and warned the military that not all lumads are party to the agreements or negotiations entered into by the MIPCPD.

“It is just unfortunate that there are lumads who pretend to be tribal leaders but in fact they are tribal dealers who have given their loyalty and bias to the military, the number one aggressor of the lumads' rights, instead of directing their efforts in serving the interest of the lumads and to find ways into alleviating the dire situation that the hapless lumads have long been suffering,” Fanagel lamented.

Fanagel said, “10th ID Chief Maj. General Reynaldo Mapagu who have recently dared PASAKA to file charges in the proper courts should check the long list of cases and better read the hundreds of affidavits filed against his abusive troops in the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) office and we challenge him to readily face and be accountable for the gross violations perpetrated by his men if he is sincere in his words about wanting fairness, impartiality and justice to reign.”

“We are reverberating our call to immediately pull out military troops who have been terrorizing the lumad communities and to stop targeting the civilians, we are alarmed with the recent reports that military under 60th Infantry Battalion is again terrorizing the Ata Manobo lumads in Talaingod by staying in their houses and in the schools in Sitio Dulyan and Sitio Nasilaban, Brgy. Palma Gil in Talaingod town which started five days ago and until now the said soldiers hamletted their community,” Fanagel said.

PASAKA is also alarmed with the recent report from one of it's local organization that 400 farmers and lumads coming from 7 barangays (Sto. Niño, Tumanding, Mari Caridad, Kinawayan, Kabantian, Duruluman, and Malibatuan) in Arakan Valley North Cotabato left their homes and are now staying in Arakan gym as fears continue to escalate after military soldiers under 57th IB occupied the public halls in Brgy. Sto. Niño and Brgy. Tomanding. The victims are now lobbying to the Sanguniang Bayan to pull out the military troops under 57th IB from their communities.

PASAKA also decries continuing assault on progressive peoples' organizations as lumad members and staff staying in PASAKA office have experienced being tailed and harassed by some armed burly men for 2 consecutive days this week.

“We also noticed surveillance being conducted by suspicious persons and noticed that our office is constantly being monitored. If anything untoward incident happens to any of our members and staff, there is no one to blame but the the military who have labeled our organization as one of the “enemies of the state,” it only proves that the government's offensives against people’s organizations are in accordance with the objectives of Oplan Bantay Laya 2 (OBL), which apparently remains operational,” Fanagel said.#


For reference:

Kerlan Fanagel
Secretary General- PASAKA
Regional Coordinator – KATRIBU Partylist
Contact Number: 09192714767

PRESS RELEASE
August 17, 2009

LUMADS MARK WORLD'S IP MONTH WITH PROTEST ACTIONS AGAINST MILITARIZATION

In commemoration of the World's Indigenous Peoples' Month as declared by the United Nations, lumad leaders representing various tribes in Southern Mindanao came together in a 3-day PASAKA Council meeting and discuss the recent plight of the lumads in the region and reaffirm their vows to continue the lumad struggle for the rights to ancestral lands and to self-determination. “As part of our culmination activity in commemorating IP month, we are conducting protest actions in the form of picket rally to register our call to stop killing lumads and stop militarization in lumad areas,” PASAKA Secretary General Kerla Fanagel said.

On top of the demands and recommendations crafted by the PASAKA council is the immediate pull-out of the military troops holding massive military operations which resulted to massive human rights violations against the lumad civilians in Paquibato in Davao City, Talaingod in Davao del Norte, Laak and Monkayo in Compostela Valley and in the towns of Lupon, Baganga, Cateel, Boston in Davao Oriental and Lianga Surigao Del Sur.

“Lumad communities in Southern Mindanao and its neighboring regions is besieged with military offensives such that civilian communities continue to experience human rights abuses and falls prey to the military’s terrorist war under the counter-insurgency plan Oplan Bantay Laya II (OBL II) and specifically in the National Internal Security Plan on Indigenous Peoples (NISP-IP) being implemented by the AFP in the lumad communities,” Fanagel said.

According to Fanagel, “The long list of indigenous martyrs in Southern Mindanao like Datu Dominador Diarog of Davao City, Ludenio Monzon of Boston, Marcial Latiban of Cateel, Kapis Butod of Talaingod, Agustin Cumawas of Matalam and many others who were slain by the state’s bullets magnifies the fact that the Arroyo government has no respect for indigenous peoples’ rights. The killing of civilians and activists who are resistant to the encroachment of military might and pseudo-development projects in farmer and indigenous communities is also under the AFP's implementation of OBL II.”

PASAKA is alarmed with the recent reports of human rights violations. “We received area reports that several families from 13 barangays in Baganga, Davao Oriental have again experienced military hamletting and abuses. Some victims have already sought assistance in the province as fears continue to escalate in Davao Oriental after military abuses have been committed against the local residents,” Fanagel added.

Meanwhile troubles also hound Davao City’s suburbs as military operations continue unabated in Paquibato District. According to the reports of the local organization, last August 9 , the regular mass in a chapel in Fatima, Paquibato did not take place because the military spread threats that there were bombs around their areas, sowing fear among the people.

Also in time of the 3rd founding anniversary of the 10th ID of the AFP, PASAKA called on the military’s regional command to put the welfare of civilian communities before the military’s target quota of killing and to heed the call of the lumads to pull-out military troops from the peasant and lumad communities since these military soldiers have never protected the civilians and in fact have gone frenzy on abusing the hapless lumads and farmers.

PASAKA also called on the church leaders, local government units, and peace advocates to call for the immediate pull-out of military troops in civilian communities and stop targeting the civilian populace.

“Amidst the dire poverty and hunger aggravated by the grim economic crisis, the most impoverished sectors which are the peasant and lumads are subject to gross military abuses. What the people need is food, jobs and education, not unjust war being launched by the Arroyo government,” Fanagel said.#


For reference:


KERLAN FANAGEL
Secretary General
PASAKA

Contact: 09192714767

PRESS RELEASE

Reference:

Kerlan Fanagel

Secretary General

PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao

MILITARY HAMLETTING OF LUMAD VILLAGES IN NEW BATAAN DENOUNCED

PASAKA lumad confed protested the reported hamletting of Mandaya and Mansaka indigenous communities in New Bataan, an incident which preceded and triggered the evacuation of the more than 260 families (New Bataan Municipal Social Work Department (MSWD)data) who are now staying at the Poblacion gymnasium.

“To be displaced from one's home is already a violation of the right to peace and security. To deny the people access for safe refuge while military elements occupy their villages as it gears for combat is inhumane, indeed a violation of the peoples' very right to life,” said Kerlan Fanagel, secretary general of the PASAKA, a lumad confederation in SMR.

Fanagel said that as early as October 24, the military led by the 66^th Infantry Battalion have started to cordon and hamlet Sitio Taytayan and Sitio Camarin in Brgy. Andap in New Bataan .

The residents left their homes and headed towards the town center for refuge but they were prohibited from leaving their communities even at the insistence of New Bataan Mayor Lorenzo Balbin who personally sent a rescue vehicle for the evacuees but was denied entry by the soldiers hamletting the areas.

Fanagel protested the prevalence of military – led operations in indigenous communities. He attributed this to the military stereotype that indigenous communities are guerilla bases, thus making them targets of RSOT operations. This he said is stipulated in the military counter-insurgency plan called the Oplan Bantay Laya 2.

“This is the second time this year that the lumads of Taytayan were forced to evacuate and subject to such harassment and discrimination. This vicious cycle illustrates the situation in all lumad communities and this has far worsened this year after GMA unleashed an all-out-war policy that victimizes civilians more,” Fanagel said.

PASAKA called for the immediate stop to the military operations in New Bataan and other areas in Mindanao . It said it will forward the gathered documentation and complaints at the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples and other international HR monitoring agencies.

SOLIDARITY MESSAGE for the Asian Religious Youth Leaders Summit

By Kerlan "Lala" Fanagel

PASAKA Secretary General

In behalf of PASAKA, Confederation of Indigenous Peoples (Lumad) Organizations in Southern Mindanao, I wish to convey warmest greeting of solidarity to the Asian Conference on Religions for Peace (ACRP), to the youth leader delegates all over Asia and the world, secretariat and all the guests of the Asian Religious Youth Leaders Summit.

Indeed, with the society's unrest and the continuous war happening not only in our country today but also in other parts of the world, apparently this convergence of the youth is timely and very significant as history have proven that it is the youth that plays a major role in bringing about genuine peace that we have been longing for.

With the theme "Youth As Peacemakers: Gathering in Hope, Pledging Common Action," it is clear that expectations are high among the people that the youth will take its leading role in arousing, organizing, mobilizing and forging alliances in order to advance the peoples' struggle for freedom and democracy.

In the brink of leaving the stage of youth myself, I have seen and realize the importance of our role in building a just and peaceful society. Even as this youth summit is yet about to start, allow me to congratulate you in advance for this historical gathering of hope. Congratulations to the youth present here today! We salute you! Your presence alone already showed that you are ready to face the challenges of being a youth—not only as a peacemaker but also as a change-maker.

Let this youth summit be an occasion not only in forging unity for peace but also a right time for reflection and action to actively participate in our pursuit to achieve a just and peaceful Asian society.

As I stand proudly before you here today representing one of the most marginalized sector in the country, the Indigenous People, I am here not only to inspire you but I am here because I am inspired of you. This gathering of youth, also with our sector's representation, is an inspiration to me, to us lumads, to relentlessly carry on with our struggle for our rights to ancestral lands and right to self-determination.

As we, Indigenous Peoples, continue to defend our rights, I urge you, the youth of today, to strengthen your ranks as we intensify our common efforts to uphold, defend and advance our rights to democracy, social justice, self-reliant development, a healthy environment and the conservation of natural resources for future development independent of the colonizers and imperialists. These are things imperative of just and peaceful society.

With peace initiatives like this, we are one with you in your quest. As you embark with this activity to reflect and act, remember to join us also in our struggle against exploitation and oppression in the most comprehensive and profound way. Recently, we have been facing difficult times especially with the on-going mining plunder and state terrorism. Your support on acting against these evil works will be far reaching significance and consequence.

Even as we suffer, as we are told, let us overcome evil with good (Rom.12:21). Let also this gathering be a gathering for harmony among religious communities and let us work together to build trust and mutual respect among youth, among people.

The hope that you have shown to us is inspirational and tangibly relevant to the struggle of the entire Filipino people and the people of the world for national and social liberation. I am positive that you will actively participate this event in order to share your experiences and concerns and propose resolutions and definite courses of action for carrying forward your struggle in concert with the struggles of the people of the world to achieve justice and genuine peace.

I hope that this message can shed some light on what the youth can do to strike deep roots and strengthen itself in order to advance our rights and interests and to maximize the role of the youth in the people's quest for genuine peace and to carry forward the long-term struggle for freedom and democracy.

May the God of peace/ Magbabaya fill our hearts and minds with love so that we may all strive to establish the reign of peace, justice and life for all. Thank you very much and have a pleasant evening! ###

Lumad group PASAKA decry harassment, repression!

PASAKA, Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao files complaints against Lt. Col. Ferdinand Buding, commanding officer of the 28th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) today for the malicious power point presentation entitled “The Army” which showed photo of Kerlan “Lala” Fanagel being accused as a rebel communist operating in Compostela Valley and for the wanted posters where photo of Mr. Fanagel appeared which are posted in populated areas such as the bus terminal and restaurants in Compostela, Compostela Valley.

PASAKA has been receiving reports from the local residents in Sitio Valma, Brgy. Ngan, Compostela that the 28th IB, PA who is continuously launching military operations through the Re-enginnered Special Operations Team (RSOT) had been instigating their “pulong-pulong” or meeting with the local officials and residents in Compostela since July this year. According to the reports, it has been a strict policy that nobody must take any minutes or photos from the said pulong-pulong, which is actually part of the counter-insurgency operations of the military.

Last July 27, 2008, the same pulong-pulong was launched by the 28th IB,PA at Brgy. Ngan, Compostela, Compostela Valley .

One of the residents recalled that the main part of the said “pulong-pulong” was the showing of the power-point presentation entitled “The Army.” “Natingala na lang man mi nga anaa man ang dagway ni Lala, ang nailhan namong lider sa organisasyon sa mga lumad sa rehiyon nga PASAKA sa power-point ug matud pa ni Lt. Col. Buding nga mao kuno to ang dagway sa usa ka wanted nga rebeldeng NPA nga ginganlag Nelson Villanueva alyas Kumander Lala nga naga-operate sa Compostela Valley ug si si bisan kinsa kuno nga makakita sa maong dagwaya isumbong dayon sa mga kasundalohan nga anaa sa lugar,” one of the residents recounted.

The military also claimed that the person who appeared in their power-point presentation known as Commander Lala is now seen in Davao City because according to their intelligence report that he is in sick-leave and that their intelligence team has been monitoring him in the city.

On August 11, 2008, Mr. Tony Salubre, spokesperson of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) who personally knows Kerlan “Lala” Fanagel went to Compostela, Compoetela Valley for a speaking engagement. Upon arriving at the Compostela terminal, he noticed several wanted posters posted in the vicinity of the terminal and what he saw was a wanted list with photos of accused leaders of Communist Rebels operating in the region. He was surprised to see that among the photos shown was the face of Kerlan “Lala” Fanagel but his name in the said poster was Minandro Villanueva @ Nelso/ Bos – NMRC Secretary, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley , portion of Agusan del Sur, Davao del Sur and Cotabato.

The texts in the aforementioned wanted poster (where photo of Kerlan “Lala” Fanagel appeared) is in vernacular (Bisaya) when translated reads: “Wanted Rebel Communist, People who are in pretense but big impediment in the development of our economy, brains of poverty and chaos in our country. [Shown: 15 photos with names and areas where they operate]. These people are the brains in making the Filipino people fight. Lazy versus hardworking, poor versus rich, students versus the school owner, workers versus the company owner, but behind the flame they fanned to make the people fight, there is their extortion face against the hard-working people and businessmen, putting in fire the vehicles and the properties of the businessmen, and killing the people who won’t give money every month in the area where the NPA are operating. Whoever helps in arresting these people “DEAD or ALIVE,” will receive a reward-money from the Government. For more information, call or approach the officials of the Barangay, Municipality, Provincial or the Military Soldiers or cell NR: 0921.729.8341”

“It is clear that this is deliberately done and obviously a desperate attempt of the military specifically Lt. Col. Ferdinand Buding of the 28th IB,PA to discredit my credibility as a legal officer of PASAKA and worst tainting my personality by red-baiting thereby creating them a license to kill me anytime, anywhere. This is mind-conditioning the public that it would be fine if I get killed, now if something bad happens to me, you already know who’s to blame, PASAKA Secretary General Kerlan Fanagel said.

Fanagel also said “the military hopes that their dirty old tactic will work and this time against me, but just like what they did to other leaders of progressive groups, I will fail them again especially that their accusation is totally malicious, baseless and unfounded. I have already met with some of the 28th IB,PA elements face to face at the Compostela Gym before, that was during the evacuation of the lumads just this month of May where they took photographs and videos of me and I am willing to face them again to make them answer all these ill intentions and political harassment against me.”

“We are reporting this political repression deliberately done to harass, intimidate and scare us to silence to the office of the CHR as we adhere to the legal remedies and we hope CHR would act on this incident and ensure that our rights will be protected,” Fanagel urge.

Human rights groups and other progressive organizations also denounced this recent accusations against Fanagel as a form of harassment and political repression. “He is being persecuted for having firm commitment to defend the Indigenous peoples rights.” Said Prof. Myfel Paluga, chairperson of the Solidarity Action Group for Indigenous People (SAGIP).

This case is another reflection of the military’s strong effort to demonize progressive organizations. “This is another conscious effort by the elements of the State to demonize legitimate organizations that criticize and oppose the bankrupt policies of the Arroyo administration, particularly in the context of the worsening human rights situation of the country specifically in the province of Compostela Valley,” said Kelly Delgado, Secretary General of Karapatan-Southern Mindanao.###


For Reference:



Kerlan “Lala” Fanagel
Secretary General
PASAKA, Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao



Media Desk: Ms. April Calam (0928.605.9209)

PASAKA denounces killing of tribal leader in Tugbok;

calls for immediate and in-depth investigation on the case

DAVAO CITY—PASAKA, Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao condemns in the strongest possible term the recent atrocity that killed Lumad Datu Dominador Diarog; wounding Emily Diarog (wife),and her daughters Mimi (4 y.o) and Jenely (8 y.o.) in Sitio Kahusayan, Manuel Giangga, Tugbok, Davao City on Wednesday, April 30.

“This is an alarming incident that needs urgent and in-depth investigation especially that, “men in uniform with TF arm-band under 73^rd IB” are allegedly involved in the strafing attack that took away the life of Datu Doming who have been known to be fighting for ancestral land rights,” PASAKA Secretary General Kerlan Fanagel said.

According to local residents, military soldiers of Task Force Davao under 73^rd Infantry Battalion are seen operating in the area and it has been widely known that they have close links with Quiboloy’s private army. According to the reports reaching PASAKA office, Military soldiers from 73^rd IB are not only silent spectators but they are direct backers and protectors of the congregation of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

“We challenge Col. Alexander Ambal that instead of pointing fingers and diverting the pressing issue at hand, he must check on his men and their involvement in this case and he must ready himself to face command responsibility on this matter,” Fanagel added.

Davao City police suspect a land dispute was the motive behind the predawn killings. Probers said the armed men with TF arm-band encircled and strafed the house of the Diarog family in Manuel Guianga village in Tugbok district. The police also cited information that Diarog was involved in a bitter land dispute with an “influential” group who wanted to buy the lot. The Diarog farm is found in-between the Prayer Mountain and a forested area bought by Quiboloy.

According to Fanagel, “National Commission on Indigenous Peoples/ NCIP’s power in protecting the lumad rights to ancestral lands and self-determination amidst this hideous incident is found no where. With these recent human rights violations, land-grabbing and dastardly attack against lumads who stood up for their ancestral rights only proves that IPRA Law has shown no teeth and claws to genuinely defend the lumads which then must be immediately scrapped. ”

PASAKA extends deepest condolences to the bereaved family, friends and colleagues of Datu Dominador Diarog, who is set to be buried today. Together with the Diarog family, PASAKA also calls for the immediate action on the part of Davao City Local Government Unit headed by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in this case and to help bring justice to Diarog family.*

For Reference:

KERLAN FANAGEL

PASAKA, Secretary General

LUMADS: The fight against HEDCOR’s hydro-powerplant is never over

Tagabawa Lumads under the Sinūb-badan ka mga Lumad Bagobo Mekatanod (SILUBAME) are not giving up the fight against the Tudaya Hydro-Powerplant, a multi-million project of the Hydroelectric Power Plant (HEDCOR) in Sitio Tudaya, Brgy. Sibulan, Sta. Cruz Davao del Sur.

“We have brought our opposition against HEDCOR’s hydro-power plant before the local government of Davao del Sur. We hope that they would heed our just demands. All we want is for our inherent rights over our ancestral lands to be respected,” said Roger Limokon, SILUBAME Chairperson.

On February 2, 2008, the Peoples’ Consultation, a dialogue with the provincial board of Davao Del Sur was initiated by SILUBAME. Provincial Board Members Molina and Bello of the province’s Committee on Environmental Concerns and Committee on Tribal Affairs attended the consultation. Strangely, the military soldiers also showed interest in joining the event, in fact together with more than a hundred military soldiers, a certain Lt. Renin of the 39^th Infantry Battalion actively participated in the consultation.

In the said consultation Hon. Bello promised that committee hearings will be aptly conducted based on SILUBAME’s complaint that HEDCOR violated genuine consultation processes when it did not disclose to the whole community the adverse impacts of the project. The local officials also said they will review the memorandum of agreement between the community and HEDCOR.

The board members were toured around the almost 10- hectare head-pond being constructed above the Tudaya Elementary School . They cited the experience of Ormoc, Marinduque among others as tragedies wrought by private companies’ interest for profit.

According to the PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao , the construction of a hydro-power plant, within Tudaya falls, a sacred ground for the Bagobo -Tagabawa lumads violates their cultural and ancestral land rights. The project also violates environmental preservation since it is located in Mt. Apo , a declared protected area.

Mel Elio, PASAKA Chairperson said that according to the Technical Working Group which initiated the feasibility study of the project, water shortage after 20 years may arise. Other environmental impacts include the possibility of flash floods, endangering the school children and the communities below. The hydro-power plant will also affect land and water biodiversity and resources, contributed by the wastes from the plant.

During the consultation, more than 100 military elements from the 39^th and 72^nd Infantry Battalion have assembled in Sitio Tudaya. Lt. Renin of the 39^th IB said a detachment of the 72^nd IB will be built a kilometer away from the Tudaya Falls . According to local residents, additional elements of military soldiers were deployed and arrive in their area the day before the scheduled consultation. SILUBAME strongly believe the soldiers’ presence in the area was deliberately done to intimidate the people.

“The militarization of Tudaya at the height of the Tagabawa lumads’ assertion of their ancestral land rights over capitalist interests shows clearly which master the military serves. Instead of siding with the people, they are used as instruments of violence in order to protect the profits of capitalists,” Elio said.

Board Member Bello also challenged the presence of the AFP, saying it should not get in the way of the people’s political affairs. He encouraged the people to report instances of military abuse in the area.*

For Reference:

ROGER LIMOKON MEL ELIO

SILUBAME Chairperson PASAKA Chairperson

Media Officer: 0929-265-8967