Santiago seeks probe of ‘lumad’ evacuation center fire

Presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago demanded an investigation of the “state agents” who burned a lumad evacuation center in Davao City, the latest act of violence against members of indigenous tribes in Mindanao.

Santiago said the government failed to protect the lumad who were driven out of their homes by the military and paramilitary groups and continued to be hounded in refugee sites.

“I condemn in the strongest terms the alleged arson of the lumad evacuation center in Davao City and I urge authorities to investigate the incident promptly,” she said.

“The indigenous peoples at the UCCP (United Church of Christ in the Philippines) Haran compound were driven out of their homes by violence. The lumad are now again rendered homeless. They deserved state protection but were instead harassed by state agents who once attempted to forcibly evict them,” Santiago added.

“We have failed the lumad. Let us not renege further on our obligation,” she added.

Reports said two unidentified men were seen setting fire to dormitories used by lumad evacuees at the UCCP compound in Haran, Davao City around 2 a.m. Wednesday. The fire razed the building and injured five people, including two children.

Militarization

Santiago earlier asked for a Senate inquiry into an earlier harassment in June 2015 when the Davao police and other armed personnel reportedly attempted to forcibly evict the lumad evacuees from the church compound.

She also sought an investigation into the reported militarization of indigenous communities and closure of schools for lumad children.

Santiago urged the next Congress to pass a law on the rights of internally displaced persons, which President Aquino vetoed in 2013.

Advocates for Mindanao indigenous people blamed the paramilitary group Alamara for the fire.

Hours after the fire, the Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns issued a statement expressing belief “the incident was intentional.”

“The lumad evacuees have been experiencing harassment from paramilitary group Alamara, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Rep. Nancy Catamco and government agencies to return to their respective communities,” Salinlahi information officer Eule Bonganay said in a statement.

Intention to terrorize

The lumad have been seeking shelter at the church compound since last year, allegedly fleeing militarization in their areas.

The leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) also believed the fire was intentional.

Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes noted that “witnesses smelled gasoline on their roofs prior to the fire. Gasoline containers were also recovered outside the compound, according to reports.”

“There appears to be an intent to terrorize the lumad evacuees and their supporters,” Reyes said.

Sought for comment, AFP East Mindanao Command spokesperson Capt. Alberto Caber said it was “unfair” to immediately blame the fire on state forces.

“It is not fair to just make accusations. Anyone can accuse anyone, but for the truth to come out, let’s wait for the results of the investigation” of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Caber urged, in a phone interview with the Inquirer.