Solon hits AFP chief's denial in Lumad killings

MANILA, Philippines - A partylist lawmaker on Tuesday scored the denial of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Hernando Iriberri that the military has been involved in the atrocities of a government-backed militia in Surigao del Sur. 

 

Anakpawis party-list Rep. Fernando Hicap claimed that the Magahat paramilitary in Surigao del Sur and the 36th and 75th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army are being tagged as responsible for the killings of Lumad school chief Emerito Samarca, Lumad leader Dionel Campos and Juvello Sinzo last September 1 in Lianga town. 

 

"Iriberri is still questioning the motives for implicating them, when it is pretty obvious that it is the immediate stop of violence and justice for the victims.  His denial could only mean two things, it is either they are inutile in addressing the Magahat issue or they are outright guilty of organizing and using them to sow terror," Hicap said in a statement.

 

He said that Magahat paramilitary existed even before the Aquino administration as the Task Force Gantangan in Surigao del Sur and continued to wreak havoc on Lumad communities while there were massive deployment of forces under the AFP.

 

In a report in June 2009 by National Solidarity Mission to Surigao del Sur, more than 2,000 Lumads from 15 communities from Lianga, San Agustin, Tago and Carrascal in Surigao del Sur evacuated massive military operations by the 58th and 36th IBPA under the 405th Infantry Brigade accompanied by government militiamen.

 

Since June 10 this year, there were at least 84 incidents of attacks on 57 Lumad schools, according to Katribu indigenous peoples group.

 

Rights group Karapatan in October last year said that close to 2,000 Lumads again evacuated from 16 communities, affecting 10 schools that enrolled about 900 students, due to military operations in the areas, including the burning of a corn sheller and a school at Barangay Buhisan, San Agustin town.  

 

"The Lumads are already evacuating every year, with the massive military deployment, along with Magahat," Hicap said.

 

Last week, Hicap, together with Makabayan bloc representatives, filed a House resolution calling a probe for the Lumad killings.