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Philippine indigenous villagers decry troop deployment

Anxiety soars in aftermath of Mindanao tribal leaders' killings
Philippine indigenous villagers decry troop deployment

Indigenous Manobo tribesmen, including the relatives of recently killed community leaders, joined activists Sept. 8 in Manila at a protest outside the Philippine Congress to demand justice for victims. (Photo by Vincent Go)

Published: September 09, 2015 04:23 AM GMT
Updated: September 08, 2015 08:25 PM GMT

Indigenous villagers in Mindanao who fled their homes in fear of further attacks by paramilitary groups decried the Philippine government's decision to deploy more soldiers in their communities. 

"Why would they send soldiers? The soldiers were behind the killings. They accompanied the paramilitary group," said Eufemia Cullamat, 55, an indigenous Manobo from the village of Diatagon in Lianga town, Surigao del Sur province.

Cullamat is a cousin of Dionel Campos and a niece of Aurelio Sinzo, who were killed by members of the paramilitary group "Magahat" on Sept. 1. The group is also suspected to have executed Emerico Samarca, director of a tribal school in the village.

"The decision [to deploy troops] is crazy and an insult to us," said Imelda Belandres, 47, a volunteer health worker who also witnessed the killing of the two tribal leaders.

In a Sept. 6 statement, the presidential palace said the government is "doing its best to address the problem", adding that the Philippine army "has sent forces from the Fourth Infantry Division to support ... law enforcement operations" in the area.

Piya Macliing Malayao, secretary-general of indigenous peoples' alliance Katribu, said the "Magahat" is part of the government's counter-insurgency program to organize paramilitary units from tribal communities.

"They are used as the running dogs to do the dirty job for the [military]," Malayao said, adding that there are already at least 25 paramilitary groups formed among indigenous peoples in Mindanao.  

President Benigno Aquino on Sept. 8 said "there is no campaign to kill anybody in this country" when asked about reports that military-backed gunmen attacked the tribal villages.

"Serving the people does not entail killing any of our citizens ... There is a campaign to go after everybody who commits crimes, regardless of who they are," Aquino told a round table discussion with editors of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

On Sept. 7, charges of murder, arson, coercion, threats and robbery were filed against at least 23 members of the "Magahat" over the Sept. 1 killings.

Narciso Verdadero, provincial police director of Surigao del Sur, told ucanews.com that the suspects belonged to the paramilitary group led by Datu Calpet Egua.

"I hope Datu Calpet Egua will come out and clear his name if he is not the leader of these suspects," said Verdadero. The police officer said several witnesses have already come forward to support the charges filed against the suspects.

The suspects remained at large as of Sept. 8.

Katribu's Malayao said if the government wants to ensure peace in Mindanao, Aquino should "pull out military troops and stop militarization of tribal communities".

She said the government should address key problems like land-grabbing and destructive mining and logging in traditional indigenous territory.

Human rights group Karapatan said at least 2,700 villagers from 21 tribal communities have already fled their homes as of Sept. 8 for fear of attacks.

The group said nine tribal schools have also been closed down due to the evacuation, affecting some 676 students.

 

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