PHILIPPINES: Constant violence and harassment due to military presence in Mindanao

Dear Friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you about the harassment and killings perpetrated allegedly by the 68th and 73rd Infantry Battalions of the Philippines Army, and paramilitary groups attached to them, in Mindanao. In the first case one person was killed as retaliation for the killing of the kin of leaders of a paramilitary group. In another instance, community schools were disrupted and used as military camps. Lastly, soldiers enforced a food blockade on certain villages.

CASE DETAILS: (Based on the documentation by Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights (KARAPATAN))

CASE 1: “Siblings attached to military sow terror in the village” 

On 28 March 2015, Frenie Landasan, chairperson of Dalacutan-Higaonon Tribal Association was killed at Purok 3 baangay (village) Dalacutan, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon. Frenie was the cousin of the De la Mance brothers, who were involved in the killing, as retaliation for the death of their kin Dorlito de la Mance. 

The de la Mance brothers Dante, Romulo, Dominador and Haiward are known leaders of an armed group attached to the Philippines Army. They are also responsible for the attempted killing of Rosella Cahanggan, her nephew and her three children, including a baby. The Cahanggan family were hiking along the provincial road in Malaybalay, when they were ambushed by the de la Mances. Rosella’s nephew was hit by a bullet on the right shoulder. 

On 8 June 2015, around 20 families or some 200 individuals evacuated their village and went to the Provincial Capitol of Malaybalay, Bukidnon due to the series of killings, attempted killings, continuous threat and harassment faced by their community.

CASE 2: “Indigenous schools were use as camps”

The alternative learning schools of the Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center or Unity in Defense of Ancestral Land (STTICLC) have been used as military camps of the 68th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army (IBPA).

The 68th IBPA tagged the STTILC as an “NPA school”. They also threatened to kill the Salugpungan teachers. They lobbied the Department of Education to close down the Lumad learning centers and open a similar alternative school to be operated by the military. 

The presence of the army and its paramilitary groups led to the evacuation of the Ata-Manobo families from Kapalong and Talaingod, Davao del Norte to the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. 
For the Lumad, the establishment of the Salugpungan alternative learning schools is a priceless gift of education for the next generation, which the elders never had. These schools bear their hope to uplift their lives away from poverty and illiteracy. The schools teach the children to read, write, count, analyze, criticize, and fight in defense of their tribe and their land.

CASE 3: “Civilian community under military restrictions” 
On 30 March 2015 at 6 a.m., soldiers of the 73rd Infantry Battalion Philippine Army (IBPA) forcibly entered civilian homes in Malapatan, Sarangani for refuge. At 1 p.m. the soldiers started firing indiscriminately despite being in a populated area. 

At 4 p.m., eight bombs were dropped on a nearby village, and soldiers fired machine guns four times. Crops, animals, and the community’s source of water were destroyed by the bombing. 

On 5 April 2015, the military enforced a food blockade in 10 villages in Saranggani. The residents were only allowed to buy less than a kilo of rice daily. If they exceeded the allowed quantity, the residents were accused of supplying food to the rebel New People’s Army. 

SUGGESTED ACTION: 

Please write letters to the authorities listed below expressing your concern about the following cases.
The AHRC is also writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous people, and the Special Rapporteur on the right to education.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER