DOJ seal, sign defaced at end of Mindanao lumads’ rally in Manila

The Department of Justice’s seal and sign were found defaced at the end of the Mindanao lumads’ picket at the DOJ on Nov. 5, 2015. Photo by Jerome Aning, Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — The peaceful assembly of indigenous peoples backed by leftist groups in front of the Department of Justice in Manila, was marred when DOJ personnel discovered that the seal and signage of their building were defaced and vandalized, on Thursday.

“They covered that area during the rally. So even the security forces there thought it was really a peaceful assembly. But after their voluntary dispersal, that’s when we all discovered what happened,” Supt. Albert Barot, chief of Manila Police District Ermita station, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The blue seal or logo of the DOJ was painted black. The letters D, E, J, T, I, C, E, P, A, E, which used to form the words “Department of Justice, Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila,” were taken off the wall.

Curiously, the letters “US” from justice was left behind and marked with a big x. The leftist groups have been campaigning against the United States.

On top of the letters US, they wrote the word “injustice.”

“Some rallyists, including support groups among the youth in Manila blemished the seal of the DOJ as it deserves,” read the official statement of the Manilakbayan, the protest action of the Mindanao lumads who fled from the armed conflict that has beset their communities and which they believed to have been instigated by large corporations interested in mining and logging their areas.  The group of indigenous people who protested in Manila has accused the military and police of trying to eject the lumads from their communities to give way to big mining and logging corporations.

“It is the expression of the seething rage of victims of injustice in Mindanao. It is a forceful redefinition of the DOJ as the DOJ is consistent with its abandonment of due process and its supposed unblemished search for justice for those extra judicially killed by state security forces like the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police),” it added.

This group is the same group that plans to launch a series of protests during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meet this month.

In an earlier interview, Manilakbayan spokesman Jomorito Guaynon said they have been planning to hold daily rallies during the world leaders’ stay in the country for the international meet. They will allegedly protest against large-scale mining, plantations, and creation of dams.

Barot said the DOJ security group asked the police to put the incident in the blotter “for future reference.”

No cases were filed yet. But should the DOJ pursue the criminal charges, Barot said those responsible for the damage could face malicious mischief and violation of the Anti Vandalism Act.

If proven that the protesters did not a have a rally to permit, the DOJ could also file a case of illegal assembly against them.

The indigenous people were in Manila to protest the murders of members of their tribes in Mindanao and the on-going violence against their tribes.

On Monday, the Commission of Human Rights said both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and rebel group New People’s Army have been actively trying to recruit the lumads into their war.

On Tuesday, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines asked the AFP and NPA to the leave the lumads alone.

Manilakbayan said the main purpose of their protest in DOJ was to condemn the snail-paced progress of cases against the suspects in the murders of the Mindanao lumads.

“Two months have passed since the gruesome September 2 massacre but justice remains elusive despite the DOJ’s creation of a task force to look on the case,” Manilakbayan said.

The group added that Thursday was the fourth-leg of their series of protests in front of selected government offices. More demonstrations are expected until the culmination of APEC on November 22. SFM