Makabayan solons seek inquiry on alleged martial law abuses, attacks

Smoke billows from burning houses as fighting between government troops and Islamist militants continues in Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao on July 3, 2017./ AFP PHOTO / FERDINANDH CABRERA

Militant lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc urged their colleagues to investigate the alleged human rights violations and aerial bombings affecting the lumads and peasant communities in Mindanao under martial law.

In separate resolutions, the militant lawmakers sought an inquiry in aid of legislation on the airstrikes, arbitrary detention, and attacks on lumad schools since President Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law in Mindanao.

In House Resolution 1127, the lawmakers listed the airstrikes, which were part of the “counter-insurgency operations and all-out war under martial law” against alleged New People’s Army “hotbeds,” in implementing Duterte’s Mindanao martial law:

• On May 25, 2017, on Moro farmer communities in Sitios Pedtobawan, Campo, Apulan, and Centro Salat in Brgy. Salat, and in Sitio Libpas in Brgy. Tuael, President Roxas, North Cotabato by elements of the 39th and 72nd IBPA using MG520 attack helicopters and 105mm howitzers;
• On the barangays of Tangkulan, Anggaan, and Damulog in Bukidnon that triggered the mass evacuation of at least 1,600 Moro and farmer residents.

Makabayan said the aerial bombings since Duterte’s martial law declaration “caused massive destruction of the city and mass evacuation of more than 300,000 residents.”

“With this aerial bombings or strikes turning out to be a standard-operating procedure (SOP) for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and its perpetuation is an outright manifestation of government neglect on the resultant impact on farmer communities, such as violation of their basic rights to life, liberty and safety, to land and livelihood, to self-determination and right to a peaceful environment, hence, these authors are compelled to file this resolution,” their resolution read.

The Makabayan solons also filed House Resolution 1129 seeking an inquiry into the July 2 arrest and filing of trumped up charges against Compostela Farmers Association (CFA) leader and members, Alicia Tindasan, Jhona Rose Baugto, Estanislao Talledo and Rolan Segovia.

The lawmakers accused the military of harrassing farmers especially in Compostela Valley.

“Abuses against farmers have been incessant as rural communities in Compostela Valley province have been subjected to massive militarization since the past administration,” the resolution read.

In another resolution the lawmakers wanted investigated the June 28 arrest of Anakpawis Party-list Regional Coordinator and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Southern Mindanao Region (KMP-SMR) Chairperson Pedro Arnado, peasant leaders Gerry Alborme, Secretary-General of KMP North Cotabato, Lito Lao, Spokesperson of Unyon ng Manggagawang Agrikultura Southern Mindanao Region (UMA – SMR) and Karapatan Southern Mindanao Region (Karapatan SMR) Secretary-General Hanimay Suazo, by the imlitary for supposedly looking “suspicious.” They were later released from detention.

“The incident among the many demonstration of military supremacy over civilian as endorsed by the Proclamation No. 216, where legal-democratic activists could be held and detained arbitrarily simply based on an order of their superior, hence, this is an outright violation of the people’s right to liberty, freedom of movement, expression, self-organization and to seek grievance,” the resolution numbered 1128 read.

In a separate statement on Thursday, Act Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio and France Castro condemned the attacks on Lumad schools, numbering 68 incidents under the Duterte administration from July 2016 to July 2017.

The lawmakers said the attacks worsened since Duterte imposed martial law in Mindanao.

Moreover, the attacks worsened since the declaration of martial law in Mindanao. Solons will file house resolutions to call for the urgent investigation into the attacks.

These 68 incidents include include forced evacuation (one case); extrajudicial killings (six cases); frustrated EJK or indiscriminate firing (five cases); threat, harassment, intimidation, vilification, red-tagging and surveillance (28 cases); closure or threat of closure of school (one case); military encampment in schools, public places or use of civilians as shields (17 cases); destruction and divestment of school property (four cases); trumped-up charges, illegal or arbitrary arrest and detention (four cases); enforced disappearance (one case); and torture (one case).

The lawmaker said a total of 52 schools and 1,663 students were affected by these attacks.

“Schools independently put up by IPs themselves are still being targeted under President Duterte’s year-old government. Up to 80% of reported attacks on Lumads even happened in his home region of Southern Mindanao,” Castro said, citing information from the Save our Schools Network.

The members of the Makabayan bloc are Tinio, Castro, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, Gabriela Representatives Emmi De Jesus and Arlene Brosas, Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago. JE