Peace group slams military’s ‘peace and development’ teams in Toril

PRESS RELEASE
January 22, 2011


For reference:
BISHOP DELFIN CALLAO, JR
300-5397

Davao City - The intensified militarization in Toril District, this city, is taking its toll on the civilians. 

This was the observation of the peace group Exodus for Justice and Peace (EJP) after conducting a peace and service mission in Barangay Baracatan, Toril last Sunday (January 16). 

Responding to the clamor of farmer communities here, members of the EJP held “Panaw Alang sa Kalinaw ug Tawhanong Katungod" (Journey for Peace and Human Rights), a peace and service mission  that aims to uplift the morale of farmer residents of the district, as they now face the toll of the new internal security plan, Oplan Bayanihan.

EJP said reports from farmer communities that the military, in the form of Peace and Development Teams (PDTs), has massively militarized several barangays in Toril such as Brgys. Tibuloy, Lizada, Sentro Toril, Baracatan, Crossing Bayabas, Tubugan, and other areas.

“We are alarmed about the impact of the Aquino government’s PDTs on the democratic rights of the civilians.  After Paquibato, the military has seemingly shifted its focus on Toril and right now, alarming cases of hamletting, and harassment by the 84th IB – 10th ID are reaching our office,” said Bishop Delfin Callao, Jr, a convenor of the EJP.

Recently, reports about military-perpetrated torture and harassment in Baracatan came out in news reports while a certain “Amanda,” a 17 yo. minor was used as a fake surrenderee of the military. Farmer leaders and residents also complained about military doing dubious censuses or profiling of residents.     

Callao said the widely practiced “hamletting” of civilian communities is causing terrible impact on the socioeconomic and political way of life of the civilians and communities.

“We are saddened that the dynamic political life in the barangays is being overtaken by military rule. This is not the real meaning of ‘bayanihan.’ This instead is an attempt to mask the inhumane agenda of war by mouthing peace and development,” said Callao.     

“What we denounce is the whole agenda of deception of Oplan Bayanihan crafted by the war generals. It is hard to believe that genuine peace can be reached through a mere face-lifting of the military’s legacy of using brute force against the civilians,”  said Callao.

“We urge the government to address the root cause of the armed conflict by sincerely addressing the problems of landlessness, unjust wages,blatant abuse of democratic rights and lack of basic social services. The military’s peace and development teams can never provide land to the landless, jobs for the jobless and full access to basic social services,” he said.

EJP’s Panaw sa Toril provided medical, dental services to more than 300 residents. Children and women were also provided counseling and therapy. #

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