Teachers defy threats by militiamen

TEACHERS IN THE CROSSFIRE Grade 4 teacher Rick Balilid narrates the terror he encountered when armed men stopped the vehicle that he, other teachers and school staffers were riding in. They were told they’d be chopped up but no threat could dissuade them from returning to their pupils in one of the country’s remotest areas in Kapalong, Davao del Norte. KARLOS MANLUPIG

A white pickup truck came to a sudden halt after a man carrying a rifle stood in the middle of the road in the hinterland village of Gupitan in Kapalong, Davao del Norte province.

More armed men jumped out from the bushes and surrounded the vehicle, telling the people on board that they could not pass and should turn back.

It was Jan. 6 and teacher Rick Balilid felt his pulse and heartbeat race, thinking that this would be the end of his life.

He identified the leader of the gunmen as Onging Masaloon, belonging to a militia known as Alamara. “We were on our way to our school to resume our classes after the holiday break, but apparently they did not want us to return to the school in Sitio Muling,” Balilid said.

Traveling with three other teachers and two staff members of Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc. (MISFI) Academy , which offers free education for indigenous communities, Balilid and his team were expected by the children who were eager to attend their classes.

MISFI Academy serves four subvillages, catering to 248 students from preschool to Grade 5 in three school buildings.

Military target

But the community, Balilid said, has been the target of military operations and intimidation by the Alamara militia, causing massive displacements, which have also affected the operations of the school.

The teachers, Balilid said, sought a meeting with Edgardo Timbol, mayor of Kapalong town, to get a letter from the mayor “so what we could show something if ever someone would stop us.”

Timbol didn’t see the need for a letter for the teachers, Balilid said.

The group proceeded and tried to meet with Ebanghelyo Warag, chief of Gupitan village, who was on leave, so they tried to talk instead to the Sitio Patil tribal leader, Datu Laris Masaloon, who refused to let them proceed without an endorsement letter from the mayor.

The teachers relayed Timbol’s message, but Masaloon would not budge and instead took the teachers to a military detachment.

Datu Laris and Onging are brothers and both are leaders of Alamara, Balilid said.

Balilid narrated that Onging Masaloon told them, “Why would you believe in Timbol who only rules in Kapalong and in Warag who is only in the village hall? We are here and our rule must be followed.”

With no other option, the rest of the team of teachers and school staffers decided to stay in the area for the night while two of the teachers went back to the town hall to talk again with the mayor, which would take time.

Hellish night

The entire night was hell, they said.

“The armed men continued to visit us until morning. And Onging threatened us that we would be tied up and chopped to death like carabaos if we would insist on going back to the school,” Balilid said.

The next day, the team, which went back to the municipal hall, returned with the letter from the mayor and accompanied by municipal tribal chieftain Art Dabaw.

“Dabaw tried to convince Masaloon to allow us to proceed to the school but he failed,” Balilid said.

With no hint of Masaloon budging, the group and representative from the local government unit opted to return to the municipal hall where Mayor Timbol vowed to intervene.

On Jan. 8, the teachers received a text message from the Parent, Teachers and Community Association (PTCA) members of Sitio Muling that 17-year-old Bryan Moluhinday, a student of Balilid, was arrested by government soldiers while he was on his way with three other students to meet with their teachers who had not arrived.

The 10th Infantry Division said the Armed Forces of the Philippines was recognizing the right of Masaloon’s group to arm themselves, but it asserted that it should be within the bounds of law.

“As long as they do not have terroristic actions like the burning of [pieces of] property or any attacks and as long as it is within the boundaries of the law then there are no problems,” said 10th Infantry Division spokesperson Lt. Vergel Lacambra.

Not military group

Lacambra also clarified that Alamara was not armed or trained by the government and was not a component of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu).

“Alamara is not a part of the Cafgu although there are some members who wanted to join the regular force,” Lacambra said.

Lacambra claimed that Moluhinday was not arrested but he “voluntarily sought the help of the village leaders and the military because he was being recruited by the NPA (New People’s Army).”

“After he was interviewed by the military, he was also immediately brought back to his parents,” Lacambra said.

The military also finds offense in being dragged into the alleged abuses committed by Alamara, with officials saying they, too, support efforts to bring education to the remotest parts of the country.

Balilid said that despite the opportunity to teach in relatively more stable teaching positions in schools in urban areas, they opted to teach in indigenous communities in the mountains.

“Just to reach the school, we have to travel by bus and by motorcycle for hours from Davao City and then walk for about two days, crossing rivers 42 times,” Balilid said.

“We can only go home to our families twice—during vacation and the Christmas break. We can endure that, but we cannot endure this harassment just to bar us from teaching the kids,” Balilid said.

Balilid said the militia looked at the MISFI teachers as “teachers of the rebels.”

“But that is not true. We are legitimate teachers teaching in a legitimate school recognized by the Department of Education,” Balilid said.

Education important

“Education is important to give these children a better life. Education is important for the development of the community. We are hoping that this harassment would stop. We hope that the conflict would be addressed so that the children can attend and finish their studies without any worries,” Balilid said.

Balilid appealed to the local and national governments, most especially the education department, to intervene and secure schools as places for learning and peace.