Peace mission in Davao reveals rights, humanitarian law violations under Oplan Bayanihan

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

Sidebar: Resistance to mining exploration gave rise to rights violations

“The killings of Rudy and his son Rudyric Dejos in Sta. Cruz and of Santos Manrique in Pantukan brought into the limelight the real face of Oplan Bayanihan and revealed what was concealed in the peace and development coating of the Aquino administration’s continuation of the wicked legacy of past counterinsurgency programs,” the mission said in a statement.

By RONALYN V. OLEA

MANILA — The Aquino administration and the Armed Forces of the Philippines claim that its new counterinsurgency program dubbed as Oplan Bayanihan is fundamentally different from the previous Arroyo administration’s bloody counterinsurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya. But the results of a recently-concluded peace mission in the Davao region revealed otherwise.

Duyog sa Panaw, a 73-member National Interfaith Peace and Mercy Mission led by Exodus for Justice and Peace (EJP), documented violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) by state agents victimizing more than 3,664 individuals in a span of only three months.

Participants to the mission visited Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur and Pantukan, Compostela Valley from May 21 to 23.

Bishop Modesto Villasanta, EJP convener, said violations documented ranged from extrajudicial killing, harassment, attack or use of public places for military purposes, illegal checkpoint, and land-grabbing of ancestral lands of indigenous peoples, and disrespect for indigenous traditional leadership and cultural rights.

“The killings of Rudy and his son Rudyric Dejos in Sta. Cruz and of Santos Manrique in Pantukan brought into the limelight the real face of Oplan Bayanihan and revealed what was concealed in the peace and development coating of the Aquino administration’s continuation of the wicked legacy of past counterinsurgency programs,” the mission said in a statement.

Father and son Dejos were found dead with gunshot and stab wounds inside their house on February 27. Manrique was shot dead by four unidentified armed men riding on motorcycles on April 12.

According to a testimony of one of the residents interviewed by the mission, Rudy, who actively campaigned against the military’s Barangay Defense System (BDS), received death threats from soldiers of the 39th IB. The testimony also revealed there are two witnesses who saw how the soldiers killed the Dejoses.

Based on the mission’s investigation, Manrique had also received death threats through text messages. In March this year, Manrique was held and harassed by elements of the 1001st Brigade in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley on his way home after meeting fellow small-scale miners.

In Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, the mission recorded 26 cases of human rights violations with 851 victims. The mission found out that elements of the 39th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) violated the international humanitarian law prohibiting the use of schools, medical, religious and other public places or facilities for military purposes.

The 39th IB also violated the rights of 22 individuals by coercing them to join the Barangay Defense System (BDS), the mission reported. The mission also said that soldiers of the 39th IB warned residents against joining rallies and progressive organizations.

The situation seemed no different in Pantukan, Compostela Valley. The mission reported that elements of the 71st IB violated IHL for using public places and facilities for military operations, affecting 480 individuals and 80 families.

The mission deemed that large-scale foreign mining interests resulted in violations of the IHL and the human rights of small-scale miners and their families of Gumayan, Brgy. Kingking. Americna firm Russel Mining and Minerals, Inc. is operating in the area.

Mission team harassed

On May 22, the 73-member mission was held at a surprise checkpoint by a composite team of police and soldiers belonging to the 71st IBPA.

Police Inspector Dwayne Ducducan, head of the 10-man composite team ordered male members of Duyog sa Panaw mission to alight from the truck they are boarding at around 4: 30 pm near the Pantukan poblacion.

“We were falsely accused of carrying firearms. It was pure harassment against us,” Rev. Angelico Confreros, Jr. of EJP said. “We resisted and asserted that it was an illegal search they were doing, therefore it was unnecessary for any of us to disembark from the truck.

We were willing to submit to a checkpoint in plain view only. But the police insisted. We even showed them the approved letter and permission from Pantukan Mayor Celso Sarenas, but they ignored it and proceeded with their search. Under duress, our male contingent disembarked and raised their shirts to show that we were not carrying firearms,” said Hanimay Suazo, acting deputy secretary general of Karapatan Southern Mindanao.The group filed a police blotter on the illegal search and checkpoint, which prompted the police to later ask for an apology. “We condemn this act of arrogance from the state’s law enforcing agencies, the PNP and the Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP). They can never silence or stop us from seeking justice,” Villasanta said.

Recommendations

Duyog sa Panaw called on the Aquino administration to immediately investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of the violations committed by state security forces and law enforcement agencies. In particular, the mission called for the prosecution of those involved in the killings of the Dejoses and Manrique.

The mission also asserted that the Aquino administration should end the continued forced recruitment of civilians and to dismantle the Barangay Defense System (BDS), in adherence to the principles regarding the protection civilians from being forced to take part in the hostilities provided for by international humanitarian laws and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Laws (CARHRIHL).

The mission also called for a review of the Oplan Bayanihan that, it asserted, has facilitated the use of schools, medical, religious and other public places or facilities for military purposes thereby endangering the lives of civilians. They also demand the immediate pull-out of all military personnel “who are taking over civilian communities in the guise of peace and development.”

In a separate statement Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Southern Mindanao, said that Oplan Bayanihan is no different from Arroyo’s much-hated counterinsurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya.

“Aquino is delusional in bragging about Oplan Bayanihan as a program that is for peace and development. The deployment of the Peace and Development Teams (PDTs) is a malicious maneuvering of the AFP and Malacañang to make its presence in the communities justified and to further suppress the people’s movement and disenfranchise our legitimate demands,” Franchie Buhayan, deputy secretary-general of BAYAN-SMR, said.

Bayan said that there are already 53 reported cases of human rights violations within the region in just the first three months of the year 2011.

“Aquino cannot hide the ugly truth behind Oplan Bayanihan. Without doubt, this seeks to protect the interests of the ruling elites, particularly that of the multi-national corporations, even if this will mean the murder and displacement of the people,” Buhayan said. (https://www.bulatlat.com)

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