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In Southern Mindanao region alone, the Children's Rehabilitation Center documented at least 41 instances of attacks on both DepEd schools and Lumad community learning centers since 2011.
“The soldiers came and burned our school. They said it was a school of the New People’s Army.” – Epoy, 19, a Manobo from Mindanao
Armed men have killed two Lumads, ransacked a store, started fires, and knocked on houses, in the middle of military operations.
“It is not true that soldiers on the ground are after rebels. They are really after civilians who are protecting their ancestral domains.” – Dulphing Ogan, secretary general of Kalumaran
“Instead of protecting the indigenous peoples, the NCIP served as a bridge for the entry of destructive projects.”
Two people were killed, while two went missing in three separate incidents during heavy military operations in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur.
The indigenous peoples in the Sierra Madre mountain range and other parts of the country are mounting opposition to the mega structures that threaten to wipe out not only their ancestral homes, but also their age-old culture and identity.
“I see the need to fight because we will lose our life, our livelihood and our culture. We’re doing this for the generations to come.” Arnel delos Santos, secretary general of Balatik
“If States are really in good faith in adopting the UNDRIP and adhering to international human rights standards, why did they not accept and consider our proposal and call for an end to militarization of indigenous peoples and their territories?” – Windel Bolinget, Cordillera Peoples Alliance
"OceanaGold’s operations should immediately be stopped by DENR to prevent further pollution, and should immediately hold these environmental criminals accountable.” – Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE)
During the dark days of Martial Law and up to the present, the mountains and rivers of the Cordilleras have been a flowing source of inspiration and hope, because of heroes who dedicated their lives to defend the right to life, land and self-determination.
“It is evident that government forces had put civilians’ lives at risk and have also hampered the children’s right to education. Therefore, it is just to call for the military to immediately stop their operations in the said communities, and to call for the government to disband the paramilitary groups in the area, particularly the Bagani Forces.” -- Rural Missionaries of the Philippines - Northern Mindanao
“I even attended this press conference and I am active most recently in relief missions for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan),” said Genasque Enriquez.
“Even with the capture of notorious Gen. Jovito Palparan recently, his butcher mentality and his bloody human rights record have been well-entrenched in the AFP’s bureaucracy and is carried on by no less than his protégé, Gen. Ricardo Visaya. The continuing Palparan-like killings and tactics is proof of that.” – Jomorito Goaynon, chair of Kalumbay Regional Lumad Organization
Indigenous peoples answer the Aquino administration’s “deception, dispossession and destruction” with defiance.
“This petition highlights the unity of indigenous peoples’ communities against large-scale, plunderous, destructive mining.” – Piya Macliing Malayao, KAMP spokesperson
“More than 100,000 indigenous peoples from 39 tribal groups all over the country will be dislocated or will lose their livelihood as an effect of the all-out mining liberalization under Aquino. Even more indigenous communities will be displaced in energy, water, and plantation projects under the Public-Private Partnership program.”– Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas
“Why are they depriving people of their lands?” – Mayeth Corpuz, an Agta, secretary general of the Samahan ng mga Katutubo sa Sierra Madre (SKSM)
“When Camp O’ Donnel was built, they drove away the Aetas. Now they (US and Philippine military) are expanding, and they are once again driving away Aetas.” – Edwin Danan, Central Luzon Aeta Association
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