Duyog sa Panaw 2011 Mission Statement

A Call for Justice to Victims of Extra-judicial killings
A Call for the Respect Human Rights and International Humanitarian Laws
Mission Statement
May 23, 2011

Duyog sa Panaw
National Interfaith Peace and Mercy Mission
May 20-23, 2011

National peace and mercy mission confirms extra-judicial killings continue under PNoy admin; Oplan Bayanihan continue dark legacy of Oplan Bantay Laya


“Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”
Isaiah 1:17

The Exodus for Justice and Peace (EJP) spearheaded a national interfaith peace and mercy mission dubbed as Duyog sa Panaw, May 20-23, 2011 in two mission areas, in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur and in Pantukan, Compostela Valley.

Duyog sa Panaw was an effort from peace advocates, human rights defenders and peoples organizations to continue the pursuit of justice and genuine peace by way of an independent fact-finding mission on the recent cases of extra-judicial killings in the aforementioned towns.

The killings of Rudy and his son Rudyric Dejos in Sta. Cruz and that of Santos Manrique in Pantukan brought to light the real face of Oplan Bayanihan: that it was far from being a peace and development program and that it was a carryover of the previous counterinsurgency policy, the Oplan Bantay Laya 2.

As in the past, militarization is not entirely within the purview of the government’s thrust to curb the country’s insurgency, but actually forms part of the state’s continued subservience to foreign capitalist interests, in this case, in Southern Mindanao region.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, through its spin-doctor’s, has tried hard but failed to repackage Oplan Bayanihan as a deadly policy when, this early, such policy has again claimed lives and properties of civilian communities.

Duyog sa Panaw now puts forward the following results of the fact-finding mission:
1. On the killing of the Dejoses
Rudy Dejos had served as Vice-Chairperson of Zone 1 Farmers’ Association (ZOFA) – a farmer’s organization in Sta. Cruz affiliated with the progressive Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas. His son Rudyric who is also a member of ZOFA.

Before he died, Rudy Dejos served as a tribal chieftain of the B’Laan community and acted as a Barangay Human Rights Officer. He actively campaigned against the Barangay Defense System which forces the recruitment of residents.

Testimonies from Rudy’s colleagues tell of a peasant leader who rendered good leadership in their former organization Patulangon Farmer’s Association (PATUFA). Some time in 2009, the PATUFA was dismantled by the 39th Infantry Battallion of the Philippine Army when the latter accused the former of having links with the underground New People’s Army. Since then, full blast human rights violations committed by the 39th IB against residents had escalated.

Rudy Dejos, was steadfast in reviving the PATUFA. That was then they were able to form the Zone-1 Farmers’ Association (ZOFA) where he served as Vice-Chairperson. He sought the support of Karapatan, Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights, in exposing the rights abuses, to the consternation of the military.

During one of the meetings initiated by the military in the community, they gave out warnings not to attend rallies, not to go to Karapatan and to isolate Dejos. The military was also reported to have told residents: “Kana sila dili makahatag og yuta sa inyoha kami makahatag sa inyo og yuta, 6-feet below the ground. [They (Karapatan and other progressive groups) cannot give you land; we can give you land--6-feet below the ground].”

On February 27, 2011 in their farm house located at Upper Malusing, Brgy. Zone-1, Sta. Cruz Rudy and Rudyric Dejos were found dead. The bodies of both father and son bore stab wounds, gunshot wounds, and signs of torture. The post-mortem report has yet to be released from the Municipal Health Office.

According to Chief of Police Demetrius Taypin, the Dejos killing was jointly investigated by the municipal Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Provincial Crime and Investigation Detection Group (CIDG). The police investigation concluded that the NPA killed the Dejoses; a case was already filed in court.

On the other hand, the Dejos family and the officers of local organizations believe that only the elements of the 39th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has the motive of killing the activists.

In the information gathered by the mission team, a testimony from a resident (name withheld) of Zone 1 revealed that before Rudy was killed, he had already received death threats and harassments from the elements of the 39th IB. Said testimony narrated that possible reasons for these threats are: 1) Rudy’s refusal to attend meetings called for by the military particularly regarding the Barangay Defense System, 2) Rudy’s active membership in ZOFA, 3) The military believes that Rudy is a member of the New People’s Army.

The testimony also revealed there are two witnesses to corroborate the fact that the military is behind the killing.
2. On the murder of Manrique

Santos Manrique, 50 years old, was barangay councilor of Barangay Kingking in Pantukan, Compostela Valley. He was also the chairperson of Panalipdan Pantukan, a progressive environmental group opposing the entry of large-scale and foreign mining operations in the area.

Manrique had been leading small-miners in opposing the operation of large-scale mining companies that include: Philippine Mining Corporation (PMC); Minerals Resource Incorporation (NMRI); Nationwide Development Corporation (NADECOR) known to be the local partner of US-owned Russel Mining and Minerals, Inc.

As an active anti-foreign and large mining, Manrique was consistent in gathering petitions from local residents to firmly oppose the entry of environmental plunderers.

Manrique was also one of those who reported to the regional office of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Southern Mindanao Region regarding the presence of US soldiers involved in the US-RP Balikatan exercise last January 26-27 at Batiao Beach Resort, Pantukan.

With his involvement in the said campaign, Manrique had received death threats and harassments through text messages. He was even tagged as a supporter of the New People’s Army. In March this year, Manrique was held and harassed by elements of the 1001st Brigade in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley on his way home after meeting fellow small-scale miners.

Before he was killed, Manrique, was said to be visited by a certain personnel from Russel Mining to ask him to sign a document giving permission to the operation of said mining company.

On April 12, 2011, Manrique was shot dead by four (4) unidentified armed men riding on motorcycles.

The mission further learned of the following cases of human rights violations:
1. In Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, residents of Brgy. Zone 1 are living daily in terror, afraid of the 39th Infantry Battalion living among them.
a. The mission team recorded a total of 26 cases of human rights violations with 851 victims;
b. The 39th IB violated the international humanitarian law prohibiting the use of schools, medical, religious and other public places or facilities for military purposes, which has affected around 25 families;
c. The 39th IB also violated the rights of 22 individuals by coercing them to join the Barangay Defense System, using them as shields against the military’s enemies;
d. Two hundred nineteen (219) residents were victims of harassments and intimidation and one hundred forty-five (145) were violated of their right to freedom of association, when the 39th IB threatened them from joining rallies and progressive organizations;
2. In Pantukan, Compostela Valley, large-scale foreign mining interests resulted in violations of the international humanitarian laws and the human rights of small-scale miners and their families of Gumayan, Brgy. Kingking:

a. Three thousand (3,000) individuals or around 500 families were victims of land grabbing resulting from the Russel mining company’s claim of the ancestral domain of the Lumads in the area;
b. The elements of the 71st IB violated IHL in their use of public place and facilities for military operations affecting 480 individuals and 80 families;
c. The mission has also documented of the formation of a private army initiated by Russel mining company;
3. Human rights defenders are victims of human rights violations too
a. Mission delegation that went to Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur were harassed by the presence of elements of the 39th IB who were in the activity area. Their presence also intimidated other residents who were prevented from giving their testimonies to Mission team members;
b. Delegates who went to Pantukan, Compostela Valley, were harassed when a composite team of Pantukan police and soldiers belonging to the 71st Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army held a surprise checkpoint;

Duyog sa Panaw believes that the mission has found revealing data and information on the continued sufferings of our peasant and lumad brothers and sisters who, in their fight for life and liberty, are being targeted by the state’s military apparatus who violate their basic human rights with impunity and without compunction.

Duyog sa Panaw thus puts forward the following demands and calls:
1. That the PNoy administration immediately investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of the violations committed by state security forces and law enforcement agencies against the people. We demand, in particular, the prosecution of responsible elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines belonging to the 39th and the 71st Infantry Battalions of the Philippine Army-10th Infantry Division as having masterminded and perpetrated the killings of the Dejoses and Manrique;
2. That the PNoy administration order to immediately end the continued forced recruitment of civilians into and to dismantle the Barangay Defense System (BDS), adhere to the principles regarding the protection of civilians from being forced to take part in the hostilities as provided for by international humanitarian laws and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Laws (CARHRIHL);
3. Review and stop the AFP’s counterinsurgency program under the Oplan Bayanhihan that has facilitated the use of schools, medical, religious and other public places or facilities for military purposes endangering the lives of civilians;
4. Immediately pull-out all military personnel who are taking over civilian communities in the guise of peace and development;
5. Stop all counterinsurgency programs that only aim to stifle people’s struggle for life and put in place instead socio-economic reforms that address the root cause of armed conflict in the country.
6. Sustain the peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines

We shall not be deaf when we hear the cry of the oppressed. We shall not close our eyes when we see our people’s suffering. We shall speak out to condemn all that has caused the misery of the poor.

We have taken the challenge to seek justice and continue with our commitment for the respect of human rights.

Let this mission’s undertaking continue to challenge others to join the journey and encourage the oppressed to rise as one in our quest for a just and lasting peace.

Signed

“Duyog sa Panaw”
National Interfaith Peace and Mercy Mission
May 23, 2011
Davao Episcopal Mission Center
Davao City, Philippines