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The last four years for Lumad students like Inday and Toper seemed like a tug-of-war struggling for their right to learn, and fighting for their return to their ancestral lands.
“It hurts to see our school built on our unity as a community being shut down. It hurts that they are not respecting our rights.”
“They told me we wouldn’t be released unless we admit to being rebels.” -- Lumad teacher
“When does it become wrong to protect our lands? When does it become wrong to go to school, to learn and to dream of becoming a graduate?”
“The victory of the Bakwit School 7 is a testament to the truth and the legitimacy of the calls of the Lumad and the existence of the Bakwit School. This victory only proves that the NTF-ELCAC only peddles lies and that their stories bear no truth nor any weight when it comes to the fight for social justice."
According to their lawyer, there was no preliminary investigation conducted. The accused also did not receive a copy of the subpoena, affidavits of the complainants and other pertinent documents about the case.
As President Rodrigo Duterte feasted during his “humble” birthday celebration yesterday, a detained Lumad student was deprived of celebrating her 18th birthday with family and supporters in a social welfare facility in Cebu City.
Caraga police has announced late this afternoon that they arrested Renalyn Tejero.
Detained Grade 10 student Esmelito Oribawan and Datu Benito Bay-ao have fallen ill in jail.
PCol. Robert Limbawan said volunteer teacher Roshelle Porcadilla has been brought to the Police Regional Office-7 under the orders of Philippine National Police chief Debold Sinas.
"Conventional wisdom and education taught us about “balance” and “objectivity” and even “neutrality”. These do not always translate to fairness and sometimes can mask the context and nuances of events amid deadlines."
The SOS Network denounced what it called "illegal transport of minors" by authorities.
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown imposed last year, students were not able to return to their communities. But with the government's easing of travel restrictions, the university said plans have been made for their return. Four of the delegates, in fact, have already returned to their respective communities.
“The NCIP’s so-called ‘datus’ vaguely label Rep. Cullamat’s participation in the protest as a ‘disrespectful act.’ We ask these datus: how is speaking in a peaceful protest action ‘disrespectful?’ How is the exercise of one’s democratic rights a rational basis for banning an elected representative from her own ancestral community?”
In their petition, the two Aetas decried that the law’s definition of terrorism is “impermissibly vague.” They also argued that it is “overly broad that it sweepingly stifles even innocent and legitimate acts, including the exercise of protected freedoms.”
Contrary to military claims that they were members of militia of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the slain indigenous peoples in Panay had long been asserting their right to land and life in the face of so-called development projects. In return, they had been tagged as enemies of the state and subjected to intense militarization over the years.
“We will defend UP, our sanctuary, as much as it has defended us.” - Lumad student
“It is part of the government’s acts of historical revisionism or distorting and erasing the true history of the people’s resistance and heroism which remain relevant until today.”
Cordillera People's Alliance and Bolinget’s family fear for his safety, noting that he can be subjected to a “tokhang-style execution” if he gets arrested and transported to Davao Del Norte for his case.
12th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (12IBPA) troopers and the Philippine National Police in Western Visayas swooped down on Tumandok communities in Calinog in Iloilo and Tapaz in Capiz and killed nine civilians in a Synchronized Enhanced Management of Police Operation (SEMPO).
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