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Relatives of three Lumad tribal leaders and teachers who were murdered in front of their community recently came to Manila to tell their story, and to call on the military to leave their village.
Members of the Manobo community in Han-ayan, Surigao del Sur said that in the early morning of Sep 1, a paramilitary group known to them as Magahat/Bagani entered the community and gathered all students and teachers of Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Livelihood (ALCADEV).
The armed men then isolated and murdered three of their educators.
Emerito Samarca, executive director of ALCADEV, was allegedly hogtied and stabbed, with his throat slit from ear to ear.
Dionel Campos, a Manobo and chairman of community-based educational NGO Mapasu, was allegedly made to lie face down in the ground before being shot in the back of the head right in front of their community.
Bello Sinzo, another Manobo, was allegedly tortured, bones broken, before being killed.
All these were recounted by Gary Payac, an ALCADEV teacher, who said he was among the community members who were gathered that morning.
Payac said on that night, the armed killers told the community to stop supporting the New People’s Army, and to let major companies operate in the area.
Eufemia Cullamat, another Manobo who came to Manila, said they were certain that the Magahat/Bagani paramilitary group was organized by the Philippine Army itself because their own relatives and members were recruited.
Payac said that soldiers were already sleeping and staying in the community before the raid, but that they did nothing when the commotion happened.
He said it was impossible that the soldiers did not hear the gunshots and screaming when their houses and dormitories were being raided, and when the Lumad were being forced to gather at the center of the community. This further cemented their belief that the raid was sanctioned by the Army.
The Manobos who spoke denied they were members and supporters of the NPA.
Imelda Belandres, a cousin of the slain Campos, said they were taught by their father never to carry arms. Jose Campos, her brother, confirmed there are NPA fighters in the area but denied they are part of the group.
Lilian Laurezo of the group Save Our Schools CARAGA said the Han-ayan community is now deserted, and more than 2000 lumad are now in an evacuation center, similar to the situation in Haran, Davao City where another set of lumad are staying.
Those who spoke blame the Eastern Mindanao Command for the militarization of the tribal areas, and the human rights abuses.
AFP Public Affairs Chief Col. Noel Detoyato said these were mere allegations, and that the military would never sanction nor take part in any of those murders.
A military source said the CARAGA region has been identified as a recruitment hotbed for the NPA, and often community schools are used as a front for actual rebel training facilities.
Text: Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
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