A Journey of Solidarity in Defense of the People Resisting Oppression in Southern Mindanao

International Solidarity Mission 
A Journey of Solidarity in Defense of the People Resisting Oppression in Southern Mindanao 
Philippines * May 14-18, 2009 

Press Conference Statement
May 14, 2009

We are participants –local, national and international delegates-- of the International Solidarity Mission:  A Journey of Solidarity in Defense of the People Resisting Oppression in Southern Mindanao. In the next two days, we will be visiting areas of armed conflict to probe the effects of the government's counter-insurgency campaign among the peasant folks of New Bataan, Diwalwal, Monkayo, Compostela town, all of Compostela Valley; Paquibato district and Sta. Cruz town, Davao del Sur, and Polomolok and Marbel, and Tampakan in Socsksargen.

We consider the solidarity mission opportune especially in the light of the recent report released by Prof. Philip Alston, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. We find it fitting to validate the points raised by Prof. Alston, one worth noting is the report’s premise that: “Since the Special Rapporteur’s visit, there has been a drastic reduction in the number of leftist activists killed.”

This early on, we take note of statistics obtaining from Karapatan Southern Mindanao which show that the number of extra-judicial killings in the region have not declined over the years, but have in fact increased. In the year 2001, only four were listed, by the end of 2008, 17 were listed. Between 2001-2006, the number of extra-judicial killings posted 11 victims a year. From April 2006 to April 2009, there was an average of 16 cases of extra-judicial killings.

Prof. Alston may take note of the figures nationwide, but we find it disturbing that in these parts of the country, here in Southern Mindanao, the wave of torture, abduction and salvaging or extra-judicial killing of activists and militant leaders have intensified. This, especially that these killings occur while the operation of the 10th Infantry Division of the Eastern Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines began last quarter of year 2006.

One thing more that motivated us to organize this mission is to scrutinize the prevailing human rights situation in the region was the barbaric killing last March of Rebelyn Pitao, a 21 year old teacher last March and daughter of a known New People’s Army leader. To this day, we remember the grief and outrage which echoed not only here in Davao but both at the national and international levels. Even as we prepare for the mission, we take note of last week’s pronouncement by the local police authorities, particularly the Task Force Rebelyn, which practically exonerated the military intelligence agents linked to the killings. We find this disturbing especially as the police had not only cleared the involvement of these soldiers, it appeared to be more seriously considering the culpability of the victim’s father, Leoncio Pitao and his organization, the New People’s Army.  We find the need for further investigation by a more independent body for this case.

As yet, the pattern of killing continues. Two more deaths occurred after Rebelyn’s death—that of  anti-mining activist Eliezer “Boy” Billanes who was gunned down inside the public market in Koronadal City on March 9, and that of  Leodinio Monson, an indigenous Manobo-Mandaya leader from the Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Boston, Davao Oriental who also opposed the large-scale mining activities in the area who was shot dead last April 29.

And even as the families of these victims have continued to grieve and are seeking justice, a Barangay Defense System is being set up in many areas in the region. What is the Barangay Defense System, and are the peasant folks and residents in the barangays of Compostela Valley, Davao City and Davao del Sur truly feel safer, their areas more peaceful with these structures?
 
Prof. Alston has taken note of the Supreme Court’s promulgation and improvement of the operation of the writ of amparo and writ of habeas data. We intend to validate how these writs have been utilized by the human rights advocates in the region.  

Over all, we intend to see how the local institutions have responded to reported cases of abduction, killings and civilian dislocation. Still glaring in the face of intensified human rights cases is the fact that, as Prof. Alston accurately points out, “not a single member of the armed forces has been convicted for killing leftist activists.”  The Arroyo administration has prevailed in implementing the counter-insurgency policy of Oplan Bantay Laya, and in its second phase has particularly targeted the Southern Mindanao as its priority area of jurisdiction.  

We shall endeavor to document the peace and unpeace situation in the areas of armed conflict. We cannot simply disregard the persistent reports of unrest and how the killings occur like everyday occurrence in the region, even as the Arroyo administration attempts to downplay the Alston report on the human rights situation. We firmly believe that as freedom and peace-loving citizens in our country and elsewhere, we will continue to uphold the cause to defend the fundamental rights to liberty, life and human dignity.

Finally, “True strength of character is not calculated by how well we manage to carry sizeable loads under challenging conditions. It is best measured by our ability to remain kind, light-spirited and compassionate, with our readiness and willingness to participate in the cause even when we are loaded with a lot of weight that life brings.”

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BISHOP CONSTANTE CLARO        
Convenor, Exodus for Justice and Peace        


BISHOP DELFIN CALLAO, JR.        
Convenor, Exodus for Justice and Peace                


Sr. Elsa Compuesto, MSM        
Executive Secretary                
Sisters' Association in Mindanao


REP. SATUR OCAMPO
Bayan Muna


REP. LUZVIMINDA ILAGAN
Gabriela Women’s Party


REP. RAFAEL MARIANO
Anakpawis


REP. JOEL MAGLUNGSOD
Anakpawis

ANNA TERESA SANTOS-BONJE, M.D.
Executive Director                
Urban Integrated Health Services – Southern Mindanao

This post was written by: Exodus for Justice and Peace

Exodus for Justice and Peace is a clergy-led peace group. Follow EJP on Twitter