Antipolo folk score army moves to flush out NPAs in the area

Antipolo residents belonging to the Dumagat tribe yesterday condemned the military operations to flush out the New People’s Army (NPA) in their area.

In a press statement, the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (EMJP) said some 15 Dumagat families were flushed out of their communities in military operations conducted last week by Task Force Makiling of the 1st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. At the same time, the EMJP joined the Dumagat residents in their call for the immediate cessation of military operations in Brgy. San Jose, San Ysidro, Antipolo City in Rizal.

EMJP secretary general Dani Beltran said the families are presently taking refuge at the barangay hall of Brgy. San Juan, Antipolo, after the exodus that followed in the course of aggravating attacks aimed at their community.

"The military’s outright deception caused alarm on the residents whose side of the story was hidden from the full view of the public. Overshadowed by erroneous military publicity, civilians are unsafe and disturbed with all the operations going on in their locality," said Beltran.

He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) tries to wash their bloodied hands in public and confidently declares their gratefulness to the residents of Brgy. San Juan, Antipolo in view of the successful operations aimed to wipe out alleged rebel groups.

"Military operations that intrude the very fibers of people’s lives in the countryside open threats to further violation of human rights," he said.

He said they endanger communities under their power with exposure to aimless displacements, arrests, harassment and death. Reckless military operations continue to render economic and cultural dislocation for numerous civilian communities that depend on their domestic livelihood for survival.

"The Dumagat families want to return to their communities and reclaim their right to their lands, culture and peaceful socio-economic life," said Beltran.