Help farmers against political persecutions, farmers urged CBCP

Military accusing indigenous farmers of being NPA in Davao del Sur
Help farmers against political persecutions, farmers urged CBCP

The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines) and Tanggol Magsasaka (Peasant Network for Land, Justice and Human Rights) are urging the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to actively help farmers who are being persecuted and accused of fabricated charges by the Arroyo government, particularly by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The group said that they are calling the attention of CBCP’s Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace and Commission on Indigenous Peoples to help out “Sta. Cruz 7,” composed of peasant and Lumad leaders against the charges made by Corporal Bert Ulao of the 39th IB and Antonio Omo Tongon of the CAFGU unit of the 72nd Infantry Battalion, under the 10th Infantry Division of the Phil. Army as being “companions” of NPA members who staged an ambush last January 21 at Brgy. Coronon, Sta. Cruz, Davao Del Sur.

“This is very alarming as after the Morong 43, they are now accusing 7 peasant and Lumad leaders in Mindanao. The military is running like mad dogs in accusing activists just to bloat their ‘accomplishments’ in line with the counter-insurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya,” said Antonio Flores, KMP Spokesperson and Co-Convenor of Tanggol Magsasaka.

KMP Southern Mindanao Region (SMR) and Katribu Partylist reported that the military is accusing Gina Bernardo, Edgardo Piadopo, Pasing Lopez, Lino Lumana, Amy Elio, Cording Elacion and Benjie Paldas to be collecting “revolutionary taxes” during the January 12 ambush. However, KMP Southern Mindanao Region and Katribu Partylist said that they are PASAKA, KATRIBU, United Farmers Association of Sta. Cruz (UFASA), Fatulangon Farmers’ Association (FATUFA), and Urban Integrated Health Services Foundation Incorporated (UIHSFI).

Amy “Mel” Elio, 52 years old, is a veterinary doctor who in 1980 chose to be an organizer of indigenous people and became a founding member of Senabad-dun ka Bagobo Mekatanud (Association of Awakened Bagobos). He is also member of the Board of Directors of the Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc, and member of the Conference Council of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP) Southern Mindanao District Conference.

Presently, Elio is active in leading various people’s campaigns such as the opposition to the Mt. Apo Geothermal Power Plant back in the 1980’s, and in the current campaign against the construction of Sibulan Hydropower Plant by HEDCOR – Aboitiz.

KMP said that the farmer victims are members of local chapters of NAMASDDS (KMP Davao del Sur) under KMP – SMR.

“The farmers and indigenous peoples are actively opposing projects that would definitely destroy the environment. The area is being militarized to terrorize them with the 39th Infantry Battalion and 72nd IB CAFGU occupied barangays Coronon and Sibulan. They are fiercely opposing it as they have complained and dialogued with provincial gov’t officials to demand the pull-out of military units,” said Flores.

The military’s complaint is awaiting the decision of Fiscal Cabardo of Sta. Cruz Davao Del Sur. Meanwhile, There are also reports reaching Katribu Office that Katribu volunteers and supporters in Cateel and Boston in Davao Oriental were being harassed and threatened by military elements under the 67th Infantry Battalion of the AFP.

“We are being plagued by political persecutions, recently our national leader Randall Echanis have been accused with the ‘mass murders’ but through resolute campaign and support, he was released. At present, organizer of UMA (agri-workers) Felicidad Caparal is in jail in Bubon Provincial Jail in Northern Samar, accused of being an NPA though she was here in Manila with her children, joining us in our campaign against the rice crisis and for justice for the victims of Mendiola Massacre in 2008 and 2009. I myself have become a political prisoner, internal refugee and included in the order of battle (OB) list. The gov’t seems untiring in filing fabricated charges against our ranks,” Flores said.

“Thus, we are calling the CBCP to support our struggle. During our National Rural Congress in July 2008, we had a covenant that included identifying and discerning of urgent national and local issues confronting the rural poor, recommendation of policies and programs for both the church and gov’t to address the issues, identification of potential actions and concrete mechanisms for the church and rural poor. This is really the time we need the church’s actions,” called Flores. #