The Pasaka Confederation of Lumads in Southern Mindanao said the military is carrying out Oplan Bantay Laya (Freedom Watch) II, a counterinsurgency plan of the Arroyo government which is nearing its June 30 deadline.

Progressive organizations have blamed this operational plan to the death of more than a thousand of its members and leaders nationwide since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo rose to power in 2001.

To meet the OBL deadline, the government has deployed more troops in areas believed to be NPA strongholds, resulting to the rise in the cases of human rights violations.

At least 10 military battalions operate in Southern Mindanao, including the 71st IB from Central Luzon and the 84th IB which recently landed in Tagum port. These two battalions used to be under the 7th Infantry Division, once led by retired General Jovito Palparan, the army commander who earned the moniker “Butcher of Mindoro” because of the unsolved killings of political activists under his watch.

Patufa members and leaders planned to dialogue with soldiers and to challenge the local government to make a stand. They will also file a case against the military in the Commission on Human Rights and to expose and oppose the military encampment in civilian communities. (Marilou Aguirre-Tuburan/davaotoday.com)

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