For daughter of slain ‘Lumad’ leader, quest for justice continues

The daughter of slain Lumad leader Dionel Campos had to stop her studies when her father died but her quest for justice continues.

Michelle, 17, was the daughter of Dionel Campos, who was brutally killed by paramilitary forces in front of his tribal community on September 1.

Michelle, who was a freshman student at the Surigao del Sur State College in Tandag City, was at school when she learned of her father’s death.

She said her family, including her three younger sisters, witnessed how their father was shot in the head by paramilitary forces.

READ: ‘Lumad’ evacuees recall day of killings

The older Campos was a leader of tribal group Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod which was against the operation of large-scale mining in their community.

“Ang kanilang paninindigan ay hindi papasukin ang mga dambuhalang kumpanya ng pagmimina dito sa lupa ng mga ninuno namin. Kaya naging hadlang ‘yung organisasyon nila sa interes ng ating government,” she said.

(They were against the entry of giant mining companies in the land of our ancestors. So their organization was an obstruction to the government’s interests.)

She said many Lumad children, who witnessed the killings of tribal leaders, were traumatized.

“Maraming mga bata ang trauma pa rin kasi saksi sila sa kaganapan, sa pagpatay (Many children are still traumatized because they witnessed what happened, the killings),” she said.

Since the arrival of paramilitary and government forces in their tribal communities, thousands of Lumads have transferred to evacuation centers due to fear and threats, which they claim were from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

She said Lumads have been tagged by the military as members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

The AFP, she said, has formed paramilitary forces comprised of their fellow Lumads, which they used in their “Oplan Bayanihan” or the government’s anti-terrorism campaign.

Michelle called on the Aquino administration to disarm the paramilitary forces and hold accountable those responsible for her father’s death.

She also urged the military to leave their tribal communities so they could return to their homes.

“Hangga’t hindi naibibigay ‘yung tootong hustiya du’n sa mga biktima, hindi matatapos itong ginagawang ganito ng mga Lumad,” she said.

(As long as justice is not served to the victims, the Lumads will not stop what they are doing.)

Around 700 Lumads or indigenous people from 18 tribes in Mindanao arrived in Manila on October 26 and camped out on UP grounds as part of the caravan protest against violence in their tribal communities.

READ: ‘Lumad’ spill blood on UP Diliman campus | As way of gratitude, ‘Lumads’ plant trees at UP Diliman

Michelle said the government has not responded to their plights, saying thousands of Lumad evacuees remain sheltered in evacuation centers in Mindanao.

“Wala silang tugon (They have no response),” she said, adding that they would continue their protest caravan in Manila until the Aquino government would listen to their concerns. IDL

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