by Ben Serrano
July 27, 2009
Lianga, SURIGAO DEL SUR – The 1.753 indigenous people evacuees mostly Manobo children and women or about 294 families now housed at Lianga Municipal Gym here who eagerly wanted to return home are now asking help from Surigao del Sur Bishop Nerio Odchimar who is newly elected Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President.
Some evacuees decided or opted to stay on their relatives’ houses here while others have started to return home since yesterday.
In joint press statements signed by NGO officials of Alternative Learning System for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV), the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) and the MALAHUTAYONG PAKIGBISOG ALANG SA SUMUSUNOD (MAPASU) which means in English (Sustainable Struggle for the Next Generation) furnished to this writer claimed the Philippine military who issued public statement that they belonged to the communist group New People’s Army have made life difficult for them and the indigenous people.
“These unfounded grave accusations that marked us as military target were repeatedly stated by the leadership and elements of the 401st Infantry Brigade in various meetings with the residents and amidst many witnesses” the statement said.
NGO officials and members claimed that as a result of the NPA tagged which they vehemently denied they have become continuing subjects of blatant military surveillance privately at homes or individually, in public gatherings in schools and other public places.
“They openly used binoculars to focus on the residents and schoolchildren, took their pictures and videos of their activities without their knowledge and permission. The soldiers also manned checkpoints that limited the entry of food, especially sacks of rice, into the mountain communities” the ALCADEV, TRIFPSS and MAPASU press statements said.
The press release further stated that because of alleged military harassments which forced Manobo tribesmen to flee homes they are asking Diocese of Tandag Bishop Nerio Odchimar, D.D. who is the current CBCP president through the Diocese’ Presbyterium to intervene and brought the issue and their plight before the hierarchy of Armed Forces of the Philippines and to President Arroyo.
An estimated 1,500 indigenous people majority of whom were Manobo tribesmen are now holed up and carmpled inside the Lianga Municipal Gym who are forced to sleep on cemented floor with only thin plastic mats and canvas to protect their backs from the cold.
.Not meant to accommodate these huge number people, there is now increasing inadequacy of sanitary utilities such as drinking water, bath and toilet facilities, the press statement said.
They have since consumed the rice and other food that they have brought from their homes since July 18 and because they have very little to sell, they are also exhausting their remaining money.
The Lianga municipal government, DSWD, Philippine National Red Cross, Roman Catholic Holy Child Parish in Lianga under Fr. Rommel Guillen, Dominican Sisters of Pompei and other socio-civic and religious organizations and non-government service institutions have provided vegetables and other food assistance to the evacuees.
The NGOs ALCADEV, TRIFPSS and MAPASU were established with the initiatives of the Diocese of Tandag Social Action Center whose aimed was to provide education and welfare to indigenous peoples’ communities in hinterland areas of Lianga, San Miguel\ and San Agustin towns of Surigao del Sur which is near Andap Valley , the gold rich mountain ranges of the province.
Andap Valley is said to be the home or nerve center of the communist movement of Caraga Region.
Military commanders in the area through their press statement released by the Philippine Information Agency Caraga regional office in Butuan City recently have called on the three NGOs and the media to be fair and honest in reporting only the truth.
“I beg our friends in the media and the teachers of ALCADEV to be fair and honest, I call on them to prove their allegations regarding our troops”, Lt Col. Benjamen Petralvez, 58th IB commanding officer, Philippine Army said.
In said press release furnished to newsmen, Petralvez accused ALCADEV of allegedly coercing residents in the area to leave their houses because the military will bomb the school and the indigenous peoples’ communities due to the suspected presence of communist terrorists in the area.
“What ALCADEV is doing is clearly misguiding and misinforming the public os as to taint the image of the military and at the same time spawn chaos” the press release from the PIA Caraga office was quoting Petralvez as saying.
Petralvez in said press release clarified they are not saying that ALCADEV is a front or an NPA group but it cold be that the group was infiltrated by NPA members which could be using the organization to further their own agenda.
But Petralvez in same press release further adds that some members of the ALCADEV are actually members of New People’s Army the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines .
“According to our intelligence reports some members of the organization were symphatizers and even members of the left wing party” Petralvez said.
Petralvez denied accusations that his men were conducting espionage on the residents in the area using binoculars and other gadgets.
He added that his men are well disciplined and good gentlemen.
Petralvez challenged accusers to provide him proofs including photos and affidavits as the military hierarchy will act on it immediately to investigate alleged military abuses.
Earlier, Petralvez’ men claimed both Alcadev and TRIFPS were not recognized under Department of Education’s Alternative Education System or ALS as manifested by certification issued allegedly by Dep Ed Surigao del Sur officials and the provincial government.
But Diocese of Tandag Social Action Center Director Sister Lydia Lascano claimed otherwise saying both NGOs were government ALS accredited.
Lascano and said NGOs have alleged that the military blocked food rations to lumad communities in the hinterlands suspected to be NPA symphatizers.
But during July 21 surprised and unannounced visit of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales in Tandag, Surigao del Sur’s Diocese Office of Bishop Nerio Odchimar who is newly elected CBCP president. Secretary Gonzales allegedly promised to give 500 sacks of rice to the evacuees upon allegedly request of Sister Lydia Lascano.
Report reaching this region’s capital claimed the NSA chief together with two Bishops, Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos and Bishop Odchimar, Sister Lydia Lascano and some military officials were allegedly served with sumptuous lunch with giant locally produced crabs and oysters courtesy of Surigao del Sur Governor Vicente Pimentel. Jr.
Bishop Pueblos in an interview with this writer late afternoon of July 21 in presence of CCPD officials at the Bishop’s Home in Butuan City confirmed the meeting with NSA chief Norberto Gonzales and they were served “sumptous lunch”
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